Power Trios
happy gnu year!!!---sorry i've been baking, christmasing, other end of year thingys, so i now finally have some night time energy to write. since one of the purposes of this blog is for me to "talk music"-growing up in the 60's after the beatles/english invasion/era of music in "my life"-things that were important to me-I want to talk about a band which came along that shook my world-CREAM,
yes, i knew of eric clapton, yardbirds, mayall -- but knew little of bruce and baker-wow FRESH CREAM-one of those hippie albums-your friend who all of a sudden burned incense owned that album followed by disreali gears which was just so influential to what would come later in life,and my musical tastes.shortly followed by "god"-jimi.........(that's for my e-llipse fans)-yes there is probably no artist-who after hearing first song/first side/first album-that made me just sit there and go-wha who where?-what was that!--but mr. hendrix and company--incidententally--(yea on purpose)-and cream were are and always will be POWER TRIOS-a term/name whatever that speaks for itself-its a trio that's powerful- right mr kotter?
so then why when in conversation and i'm describing the name of ADRIAN BELEW POWER TRIO--is that usually followed by--'what's that?" well i'm quite ecstatic it's american idol season-knowing full well IF i watched--i'd probably-never have to worry one of the acts would be--a power trio--second little tidbit from me on this name/subject---beyond the two earlier bands i've mentioned here ---how's this for "others": robin trower-also b-l-t-and truce-all trower things--but bruce, lordan, trower -- killer but so is truce--i really love jack-and robin--actually got to meet jack--in new york--during the first adrian and les paul-meeting-(wow am i a name dropper)and what a weekend--which really did have more "names-to drop"-but not now---elp-not guitar oriented but keith emerson sure does a great hendrix imitation---rush from the GREAT WHITE NORTH --EH?---don't think i call the police--a power trio--you might--i know one thing----the who-led zep-and a couple other 4 piece-but really power trio's with a lead singer---bands all fit the bill-of "super guitar,bass,drummer".
well now--just recently heard new cd release of bruce/trower and it sounded good-jack's voice sounded stronger--robin sounded good/great really---want to hear more than the two tracks.
getting back to trio ranting---the first real band i was in--was a trio-a converted guitar/now bass player-guitar and a drummer who we all begged his mom to "please buy"that drumset??please "s's" mom?(nicknamed s' which was short for s h i t )-in a short period-actually about 15 months-we learned about 100 songs--wow youth-anyway we weren't very "powerful"--but we had fun. so a million years later after a meeting or two--i'm standing talking to adrian belew who says i have this band idea---a power trio-with maybe julie and eric. pick yourself off the floor gary-answer the man---"wow-- that sounds great!"
well that was followed by many a discussion of band-faves-guitar gods i can't believe-yes it's surreal--(ain't that the tit-le)-so this really wasn't too rantlike-(are you sure?)but i think i needed to talk music--this stuff was just eeking out--one of the proudest things in my life right now is the fact that eric and julie are amazing musicians, playing with one of my "guitar gods"--they really are a power trio and i'm so glad-i'm so glad --i'm glad i'm glad i'm glad--(fresh cream)
now related to this---live recordings--i love live stuff, from live kinks, wheels of fire, goodbye cream, live at leeds, hendrix in the west, woodstocks 1 and 2, band of gypsys....yeah i can go on and on-beatles live san fran,so yes own plenty-love most--and when adrian was talking a live one--and knowing what a great musician hee is and how and diversified-(plays like all instruments on his solo stuff)--i figured they'd record, mix --maybe overdub--(the little sometimes farts) in the recording--but--no--and i was there so--wow--this thing was mastered//mixed or equalized the levels--with really -no--fixes--and its wonderful!! you can feel the electricity and energy from first notes of writing on the wall--and it doesn't end til thela---and here's the great news---as this upcoming tour plays--this band will "somehow"git tighter and tighter---
well --i'm back in the saddle--so i'll try and not let so much time go by between these little things.
peace---gary
posted by garyslick at
5:30 AM
4 Comments:
Welcome back to the blog-O-sphere, Sir Real! It is great to have you back - we missed you....
Oh, to have been so close to history in the making, back in the 60's - with all these great Gods of music, who were creating and breaking new ground, where many since have merely followed....
I came into the world in 1962, - growing up in Australia, we were so very far away from the hot bed of creation - but (only) a little behind our much older U.S. cousins, but closer to our Brit 'big brother's....
Very quickly we were swept up in the rock & roll fever, and some great 'local' bands emerged -
The First Wave early in the 60's with The Delltones; Johnny O'Keefe; The Easybeats; The Bee Gees; The Twilights....
The Second Wave later in the 60's with Billy Thorpe & the Aztecs; The Shadows; The Masters Apprentices; Daddy Cool....
The Third Wave in the early 70's with Stevie Wright; the Little River Band; AC/DC; Split Enz; Skyhooks et al....
We even had our own version of Woodstock, with the Sunbury Music Festival in Melbourne, from 1972 - 1975....
Oh, those were the days.... Of course, I was a little too young for the early 60's, but my mum told me that I would seriously 'rock out' with my plastic guitar, whenever I heard The Beatles play!
By the early 70's though, I was seriously hooked on rock music, including all the latest hits from the U.S. and England.... This was about the same time that Melbourne and Sydney was graced with F.M. radio - finally (I kid you not!) This had a huge impact on overseas music in Australia, and forced our local talent to work hard to compete with the imports.... Many felt compelled to travel to the U.S. to try and crack the local market there - not many succeeded. Notable exceptions (to an extent) were Olivia Newton John, Little River Band... Of course, those who couldn't then traveled to England - most notably AC/DC found a huge audience there, to this day..... (I actually saw them play live at my high school just after they had formed back in the early 70's....)
Talk about the history of rock & roll.... The Australian slice is tiny though, in comparison to the U.S., and the 'Brit Invasion'. Oh to have been at the 'coal face'...
As you are, once again Gary - with your incredibly talented and awe inspiring progeny.... Man, you must have fed them a solid staple ROCK diet since they were born! Words cannot express just how I am blown away by their abilities - and teamed with Ade - what a combination! Talk about Power Trio! But there is so much more than just the raw power here though - so very much more.... I knew from the first listen, that Eric was born with drumsticks in his hands (poor Rob!).... But I wasn't so sure about Julie; as I had not been able to fully hear her contribution via the stratchy YouTube video's that have been the staple until the release of the CD... But boy - since hearing this CD for the first time - I am left in now doubt about her phenominal bass abilities - she has blown me away with her playing! I've said it before - and this won't be the last time I say this either....
She plays Tony's licks BETTER than Tony did in those KC songs! And her interpretations of Ade's classics are so damn sweet! I just love it! Julie IS the barefoot priestess of the Bass and Kool!
Let me finish off this way longer post than I anticipated with these words of wisdom from fellow Tribester Mike Inman....
"The Slick sandwich with Ade in the middle is the perfect combination"
Amen to that!
Keep on Rockin' Sir Real my dear fellow : )
OK, maybe it's time to crank some Hendrix...
HA! Of course we LOVE the TRIOS! They're in our heart's beat!
Yo. Another band like the Cream that I remember checking out the album covers for but had no freakin' clue what I was lookin' at because I was so young and could hardly read was the Vanilla Fudge records my mama had. Man I was little.
Hey Gary! You coming out to play on tour? Hope to see you soon brother!
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