As the term super-group gets used more often to describe bands that are composed of already successful musicians, it has started to lose its meaning. However, in regards to The Rides, donning it with such a title wouldn’t do it justice. This band touts a muti-generational composition of extremely talented singers, songwriters and musicians.
Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Stephen Stills shares the driver’s seat with the hot-rodded blues sensationKenny Wayne Shepherd. Stills and Shepherd are backed by Electric Flag’s songwriter and keyboardist extraordinaire, Barry Goldberg, former drummer of Stevie Ray Vaughn’s famed Double Trouble, Chris Layton and Crosby, Stills & Nash bassist Kevin McCormick. The cumulative talent and experience that The Rides share made for a jambalaya of a performance who were in town supporting the band’s first release Can’t Get Enough.
When the house music stopped and lights dimmed, an increased sense of anticipation was palpable as a hush blew over the audience. The band lined up behind the curtain, stage left, and waited for their cue. McCormick and Layton led the charge on stage followed by Shepherd, Stills and Goldberg. Stills, dressed in all black and smiling from ear to ear greeted the crowd. Shepherd, also completely clad in black waved and took his mark. As the crowd cheered, both took hold of twin sunburst Stratocasters and the Rides tore into the first song of the night, “Born In Chicago.”
They followed with a low down, nasty original, “Roadhouse.” “That’s A Pretty Good Love” stayed quite true to the original with ample opportunity for Shepherd, Stills and Goldberg to solo on their respective instruments. Another new track, “Don’t Want Lies” slowed the tempo of the set down as Stills sang with complete sincerity.
Turning the set on its head, The Rides surprised the audience with the Stooges’ classic “Search and Destroy. Shepherd ditched his Strat for a shiny white Les Paul Custom and took the wheel singing lead vocals while throttling his axe.
Stills greeted the audience once again and gave some insight into this new project. Then the band came together, played the title track “Can’t Get Enough” and then Stills then took another moment to introduce keyboardist Barry Goldberg and noted his musical contributions before playing “My Imagination” which Goldberg wrote with the famed Gerry Goffin. It was a number one hit for Gladys Knight and it went over exceptionally well at the Wilbur. Muddy Waters’ “Honey Bee” followed with Shepherd on lead vocals. This classic kept the engine purring with another tasty nugget for fans of early blues music.
CURRENTLY AVAILABLE FROM STEPHEN STILLS AT GONZO
No comments:
Post a Comment