Squeeze-Count Basie Theatre 4/25/2012

Last night Squeeze and The English Beat performed at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank New Jersey.
The current line up of Squeeze features Glen Tilbrook and Chris Difford of course, the brilliant songwriters who have written some of the best songs of the past 30+ years. They are joined by bassist John Bentley who was with the band for 3 of their best albums; Argy Bargy, East Side Story & Sweets From a Stranger. Simon Hanson and Stephen Large on drums and bass respectively, are from Glen's band The Fluffers.
I have seen Glen several times solo, but this is only the second time I have seen Squeeze, the first being in 1985. They were great and will hopefully continue to tour for years to come. Glen and Chris' voices sound virtually unchanged since last time I saw them.The setlist contained 22 songs and not one bad choice among the 22. I can think of probably 25 more songs off the top of my head that I would love for them to have done in addition to those. They could easily make 3 setlists without any duplications and they would each be great.
Opening for Squeeze were the English Beat. Dave Wakeling is the only original member of this line up of the English Beat, with Ranking Roger fronting the U.K. version of the band.
Still, the Beat were loved by the crowd, and performed several of their hits, along with Tenderness, a hit for Wakeling's other band General Public.
Opening the show was local band River City Extension, who got a very warm reception. Glenn Tilbrook even joined them on guitar for Mexico.
Here is the setlist. Although The Knack was listed on the Squeeze setlist, it was not performed.

                     The English Beat
                  I'll Take You There
                  I Confess
                  Tears of a Clown
                  Tenderness
                  Ranking Full Stop
                  Mirror in the Bathroom
                  Save it For Later

                      Squeeze

                  Take Me I'm Yours
                  If I Didn't Love You
                  Tough Love
                  In Quintessence
                  Revue
                  Model
                  Who's That
                  Is That Love
                  Points of View
                  Melody Motel
                  Heaven
                  Bang Bang
                  Cool For Cats
                  Up the Junction
                  Another Nail in My Heart
                  Goodbye Girl
                  Annie Get Your Gun
                  Hourglass
                  Pulling Mussels(From the Shell)

                  Slap and Tickle
                  Tempted
                  Black Coffee in Bed

In Memoriam-Levon Helm

       The great Levon Helm, drummer and singer for The Band, passed away today at the age of 71. Mr. Helm was also an accomplised actor, probably best remembered for his portrayal of Loretta Lynn's father in Coal Miner's Daughter.

        I was fortunate to see Mr. Helm perform in the first incarnation of Ringo Starr's All Starr Band back in 1989. He performed such classic Band songs as Up on Cripple Creek and The Weight. He also played The Shape I'm In which was sung by fellow All Starr Rick Danko who was also one of Levon's Band mates. If that wasn't enough, he played alongside 4 other great drummers during that show: Ringo Starr, Jim Keltner, Zak Starkey and Max Weinberg. I imagine they felt pretty lucky too.
        My thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends, and i wish him much peace. Take a load off.
       

Dick Clark R.I.P.

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

          This weekend the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame will hold its annual induction ceremony. Congratulations to all this years inductees.
           Sadly, the Rock Hall has failed to include a few bands who, like them or not, should probably be included. Don't get me wrong, the Rock Hall is great. I have been able to visit it a couple times and find it to be one remarkable place, despite disagreeing on several omissions over the years.
           Here are some of the performers I would like to see inducted, in no particular order.

       Dire Straits: Some of the best pub rock you can imagine with one of the most distinctive guitar sounds ever.

       Rush: Not a big fan, but surely deserving of being inducted.

       Kiss: See Rush, plus they created rock marketing.

       Chicago: Great musicianship and a killer horn section.

       Emerson Lake & Palmer: The Rock Hall is not a fan or Prog rock. Genesis was inducted more for the Phil Collins era.

       Yes: Ditto

       Jethro Tull: A great band who made so many themed albums, and continually had great musicians. Barrimore Barlow is one of the greatest drummers ever.

       Cliff Richard: The British Elvis. Never a huge chart act in the United States, so he may never get in.

       Bon Jovi: Amazing live shows. One of the greatest criteria of rock music is that it can be fun. As my wife says, if Jon looked like Tom Petty they'd be in.

       Squeeze: Great songs about life for young adults living in London. Pulling Mussels, Black Coffee in Bed, Tempted, Annie Get Your Gun are some of their best, most popular songs, and they have about 50 more that are even better.

       Go Go's: One of the first popular all girl groups who played their own instruments. Incredibly catchy songs, that are still good.

      
    

Happy Birthday

           For our little angel.

Well now on a summer night in a dusky room
Come a little piece of the Lord's undying light
Crying like he swallowed the fiery moon
In his mother's arms it was all the beauty I could take
Like the missing words to some prayer that I could never make
In a world so hard and dirty so fouled and confused
Searching for a little bit of God's mercy
I found living proof


                                                  From  Bruce Springsteen's Living Proof

Loretta Lynn-Morristown Community Theatre 3/30/2012

    I finally was able to see the legendary Loretta Lynn in concert in Morristown New Jersey the other night. At 76 years old, and with 2 broken ribs, she sounded pretty amazing and performed for close to an hour.
   Her back up band The Coalminers opened with a couple songs, who were followed by Loretta Lynn's twin daughters Peggy and Patsy then performed a few of their own songs before thelegendary Ms. Lynn performed.
  Ms. Lynn took requests and performed many of her songs which are considered country classics. Towards the end of the set, the Coalminers took center stage to perform a couple songs.
  An acoustic version of Citizens Band Radio performed a well received set to warm the crowd up prior to Loretta Lynn's band.

  Here is the setlist.

               The Coalminers

  Love's Gonna Live Here Again

 When I'm Gone

               Peggy & Patsy Lynn

 All I Gotta Say About That

 One of These Lonely Nights

 Livin' on Tulsa Time


               Loretta Lynn

 They Don't Make 'Em Like My Daddy Anymore

 You're Lookin' at Country

 When the Tingle Becomes a Chill

  I Wanna Be Free

 Here I Am Again

 You Ain't Woman Enough to Take My Man

 Blue Kentucky Girl

 Fist City

 She's Got You

 Lead Me On

 Honky Tonk Girl

 One's on the Way / The Pill

 Your Squaw is on the Warpath

 Somebody Somewhere(Don't Know What He's Missin' Tonight)

 Don't Come Home a Drinkin'(With Lovin' on Your Mind)

 Hole In The World / How Long (Eagles Cover) - The Coalminers

 Man of Constant Sorrow - The Coalminers

 Gospel Medley(Everybody Wants To Go To Heaven/Who Says God's Dead/Where No One Stands Alone)

 Coal Miners Daughter