Rex Theatre in Pittsburgh, PA

[vanjay011379]

Hi,

I just got this from Blue Cheer's myspace page. I thought I should share it.

The guys go on early for this show...Pittsburgh, PA

9-9:30...so if you plan on trucking to this show...have to start heading out a little earlier than usual...

Have fun and hold on tight


1%

[mikethedrummer]

Last night's Pittsburgh show at the Rex Theatre was even hotter than the April show, mostly thanks to Paul's higher energy level. Despite a disappointing crowd (only 70-80) and the band's exhaustion from their gruelling schedule, they really put out and the audience responded in kind. The set list was: Babylon / Second Time Around / Maladjusted Child / I'm Gonna Get to You / Parchment Farm / Out of Focus / Rollin' Dem Bones / Just a Little Bit / Summertime Blues / Doctor Please / (encore) The Hunter. The soundcheck was I'm Gonna Get to You. There were more equipment problems - Duck's vintage Marshall gave up the ghost the night before in Columbus and he was forced to use the new Marshall and Traynor heads. I particularly got chills during Parchment Farm and Summertime Blues - they sounded as good as I've ever heard them. Duck is playing the way I think we all wished Leigh still did, but even better. Paul's solo on Second Time Around was very similar to the record, although abbreviated. The new tunes fit in pretty seamlessly and were very well received. Someone yelled for Fruit & Icebergs for the encore, but Dickie told him they needed Randy to play it, giving credit where credit is due (Festooned Piglips, please take note ).

The audience was mixed, probably 2/3 - 3/4 in their 20's along with a few well into their 60's. It was a trip seeing "kids" in their 20's singing along not only with the older tunes but ones from the new CD as well. A lot of the "kids" had LPs for autographing - one guy even brought the 4th album (evidently DewDude doesn't have the only copy! ) After the show they drove back to home base in Frederick for a couple of days off before heading to Detroit Tuesday morning.

They're not playing Come and Get It yet because they rightly wanted to focus on the new material. They're hoping to work more in for the next set of dates as well. It sounds like they're kind of in a bind because a lot of the places they've been playing actually want shorter sets than the 90 minutes they've been doing.

They were still talking about how hot the Rochester show was, as Dr. Decibel describes in another post. Duck said the Columbus show went well too, but it was primarily an older crowd, $24 cover, at a venue that is more of a blues club. They dropped I'm Gonna Get to You in favor of Rock Me Baby for that show.

Spoke to Bob Stalvey in Wisconsin this evening and he has tickets for the Shank Hall show in Milwaukee Thursday. Like me, he's been a fan for almost 40 years but never got to see them, so I'm really happy for him. I'll pass along his report of the show.

Seeing them for the second time this year, I'm even more amazed at how great they sound. When you compare them to their contemporaries from the late 60's who are still able to play, it's even more striking. I can't think of another band that's kept their edge and not degenerated into a lounge act or come to rely on MIDI and backing tracks for their live performances (ala John Kay & Steppenwolf). These guys are so vital, and they need all of our support to keep them going until the rest of the world figures it out.

[rowenafaire]

Mike, you write a great review! And the show sounds like a killer too! Having trouble waiting out here in the wild west...

[Terence Belcher]

We are all so very concerned for you, Rowenafairie. Please don't blow a gasket waiting for the show. We wanna keep you around

[mikethedrummer]

Thanks. From the sounds of it, they're planning to play in the South and West during the winter months, so hang in there...

[babylon]

Thanks for the review, Mike - great, as always!

Your right on when comparing them to their contemporaries - Cheer are the exception to the rule - still as vital as ever - if not more so!

[rowenafairie]

thanks for the new moniker, tb, and the kind (i think) words. never fear ro perseveres, no pressure here!