Detroit News - Collideoscope Review
Living Colour, "CollideOscope," (Sanctuary)
By Jason Karas / The Detroit News
The return of Living Colour could be the salvation of heavy metal. While most of today's rockers are content to whine "why me" over and over, Living Colour gives the genre a much needed injection of soul. Formed in the '80s and "discovered" by Rolling Stone lead singer Mick Jagger, the band was known as much for its ferocious riffs and heavy funk as it was for the social underpinnings of its lyrics. The reformed Living Colour returns with a slightly updated sound and a long laundry list of grievances. The band touches on many topics including living with fear in a post-September 11 America ("A ? of When," the cost of heightened homeland security ("Operation Mind Control"), the American war machine ("In Your Name") and urban suffering ("Nightmare City"). The band isn't without a sense of humor, however. A tongue-in-cheek cover of AC/DC's "Back in Black" is a faithful version of the original. With Rage Against the Machine gone, it seems Living Colour is back to be the conscience of rock 'n' roll. GRADE: A
Music Emissions : Living Colour - Collideoscope
Living who? Hmm, oh yeah. I remember these guys. It's been a long, long time since we have heard from them. In fact, I think I remember their last album being Stain and it came out in the early 90's. And you will remember that the band started out as quite a commercial band with songs like "Glamour Boys" and moved slowly and steadily into the metal realm. On Collideoscope, Living Colour actually have no expectations here because no one really expected another album from them. But the label Sanctuary is picking up these older bands that still have something to say. Collideoscope is Living Colour with mixed results. Some of the tracks show them stretching way out of their comfort zone like "Flying" that could possibly be a Seal song. It is radio ready. And even though Living Colour was an originator, I can't help but feel that the people that borrowed from them, like Sevendust and 311, were borrowed from for this album. Some of the music is very interesting and works on a couple levels. On "In Your Name" they try to be technically savvy with bleeps and phasers going in and out of an otherwise fine song. As before, we find a lot of songs in dub reggae style like "Nightmare City". We could do without "Pocket Of Tears". It doesn't have the hooks that we have come to love from Living Colour. An interesting decision was made for Collideoscope, Vernon and the crew decided to cover none other than the AC/DC classic, "Back In Black" and the kick it in the ass, Living Colour style. It's tracks like "Great Expectations" that keep Living Colour standing out after all these years. If you don't have high expectations, Collide0scope might just fit what you are looking for. It's not a groundbreaking album but there is still some very high quality material on here.
(Sanctuary 2003)
Reviewed on 2004-01-12 14:04:11 by Dennis Scanland
Urban Smarts reviews : Living Colour : Collideoscope
Rock used to be a rebel music. But with many of the Rock fans growing old, or older, Rock got established, as well as changed. Now many of those savvy experts and music analysts say that Rock is the new Pop. However, by definition, Rock can not be Pop. It can be popular, but not Pop. Rock is the spit in other people's face. It's the moment you tick out in your room, letting out steam. It's brash, it's uncomfortable, it's loud. All what pop isn't. So you need to wonder if the new generation Rock has gone Pop, or if Pop has gone Rock. It's probably the first case scenario, despite the previously mentioned contradiction.
What all puts Living Colour, the veterans and spearhead of Black Rock stars, in an uncomfortable position. Because they can either adapt to this new environment, put their stamp on the new environment, or just cater to the people that are used to their terms of the trade. In many ways the Colours try a little bit of everything. What does not always lead to good results.
The glam rock is hidden in the distortion of both the vocals and instruments, as practiced on "? Of When" and even more so on "Operation: Mind Control". But in both cases the chorus offers some harmony, while the topic turns to: "it's the battle for America's soul / just try on this straight jacked of conformity / while we force weed you propaganda". That technical aspect of the songs culminates on "In Your Name", where the drum and the glitzy effects sound programmed, further electrifying the music.
The complete contrast appears in the rock-n-roll songs "Holy Roller" and "Back In Black", which are much from a different reality, as they could (should?) be from a different album. "Choices Mash Up" offers the middle ground, while on "Nightmare City", the album covers another area with the reggaeish beginning that quickly mutates in proper rock though.
The complete merging of everything finally completely works on the exciting "Tomorrow Never Knows", where the song finds the wings to rise. Another excellently written piece is "Flying", as Living Colour actually uses the instruments to tell more than just chords. The guitar is cleaner, kinda Claptonist, while the song does not hide behind technical excesses, but rather opens itself in its clarity. The repetitive wording of "Great Expectation" with a honest musical approach, as well as the remote, maybe only subjectively heard Arabic styling of elements in "Lost Halo", are other moments of excellent craftsmanship.
The messages, as already shown by the few quotes, are strongly political, while in abstract ways kept sarcastic as well. Like when "In Your Name" takes the Ready To Rumble Rumsfeld position of 'your with us or against us' stance: "we got bombs and planes / we got plans and people / and we do it in your name". Or attacking the 'one man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter' stance with Hunter vocabulary on "Sacred Ground": for those who lie before the bulldozers and chainsaws / battling the devouring megacorps / here they come with their cash draws grins / vampires, parasites and vermin". "Song Without Sin" is a take on propaganda, when Corey Glover admits that "you're more interesting when you're lying" to however quickly put a disclaimer on his own statement: "whatever you're selling I ain't buying". At the same time, the lyrics also consider neutral, personal themes ("Pocket Of Tears"), as well as the obligatory romantic poem, like on "Lost Halo".
Maybe the Colours wanted to do too much at the same time. Not putting an argument forward for doing one style and riding that horse to death. But only seldom do these songs sound like the musicians really mastered the style they intended to do or at least completely commit to them. What keeps the rest in 'work in progress' waters. But they probably didn't wanna sound dated, what they nevertheless do at times. What all gives the four men an uphill battle against the rock the young kiddies know. The elderly (ha) will find their likings in here, especially as there's much a thing to like on this album. The cross generation communication often though suffers.
review : Get@Urbansmarts.com
Saturday, January 31, 2004
Friday, January 30, 2004
The Lure Of Gnawa
Traditional music of Morocco attracts Western musicians of all genres
Jazziz
Larry Blumenfeld
(edited for the LC blog - click link to see entire article)
...Although drummer Will Calhoun wasn't at that festival, he had attended the three previous years. Known the world over as a member of the group Living Colour, Calhoun was received by Moroccans as the latest in a line of rock royalty to visit. But he felt awed by the power and proficiency of the Gnawan musicians. Like so many other Western musicians, he felt a deep connection to the music they were making. Still, as a drummer, Calhoun felt humbled.
"I gotta be honest with you," Calhoun says from his home in the Bronx, New York. "The first time I went, I didn't have the Gnawa thing under my fingers."
That "thing" to which Calhoun refers is the specific rhythmic orientation of Gnawan music. The drummer explains a bit about finding the "one" of each six-beat phrase in a different place than you'd expect, and about how Gnawan music accentuates the first and third beats, as opposed to Western music's emphasis on the second and fourth beats. But ultimately, he has to clap it out for me, holding his hands somewhat stiff and precisely parallel, as the Moroccans do when they clap. (Clapping is an integral part of Moroccan music in general, and even the most casual listeners in Morocco are skilled at syncopated clapping.)
Calhoun, of course, is no stranger to absorbing musical styles. Living Colour is a rock group that reaches in many directions; Calhoun tethered much of the group's music to African and Caribbean rhythms. He's as comfortable playing traps in a jazz quintet as he is playing arena rock, and he has distinguished himself as a soloist on electronic wave drums as well as on many traditional percussion instruments.
When Calhoun returned to Essaouira the second time, he felt comfortable with the Gnawans. "And they were touched that I had treated their music with such respect, that I wanted to learn how to play it properly," he says.
In staged concerts and informal leelas, Calhoun mixed it up with master Gnawan musicians such as Mahmoud Ghania. "For me," Calhoun says, "the experience was like playing with Miles or Ellington." He found willing partners and lasting musical collaborators in Marrakech, still a haven for Gnawan music, making an especially strong connection to a maleem named Mustapha. He played electronic wave-drum performances in Marrakech, and the audiences loved it.
Calhoun traveled to other parts of Morocco during his stays there. He rented a car and headed east, past the dunes of the desert. He slept under the stars, visited Berber villages, even played with their musicians (where he encountered yet another interpretation of 6/8 time).
Calhoun brought back some incredible photographs from his drive across Morocco. But he found nothing that touched him like the music of the Gnawa. And when Calhoun recorded recently with Mos Def and with his Living Colour bandmates, he brought a little bit of Morocco to the sessions.
"Here they are!" Calhoun says, after rummaging around in his basement for a few minutes. He brings out a few torn toms from a set of five drums that someone made for him in Essaouira, and which he brought to those sessions. The drums are made of thuja, a strong, dark wood for which Essaouira is well-known, and which is usually used for furniture. Now, Calhoun uses them whenever he can, claiming that nothing else can achieve the same sound.
"I had brought a set of drums to donate to the festival," he says. "So I just had this craftsman make me a duplicate in thuja. They kept mine; I kept this one."
Talk about cultural exchange.
© 2003 Jazziz via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
Traditional music of Morocco attracts Western musicians of all genres
Jazziz
Larry Blumenfeld
(edited for the LC blog - click link to see entire article)
...Although drummer Will Calhoun wasn't at that festival, he had attended the three previous years. Known the world over as a member of the group Living Colour, Calhoun was received by Moroccans as the latest in a line of rock royalty to visit. But he felt awed by the power and proficiency of the Gnawan musicians. Like so many other Western musicians, he felt a deep connection to the music they were making. Still, as a drummer, Calhoun felt humbled.
"I gotta be honest with you," Calhoun says from his home in the Bronx, New York. "The first time I went, I didn't have the Gnawa thing under my fingers."
That "thing" to which Calhoun refers is the specific rhythmic orientation of Gnawan music. The drummer explains a bit about finding the "one" of each six-beat phrase in a different place than you'd expect, and about how Gnawan music accentuates the first and third beats, as opposed to Western music's emphasis on the second and fourth beats. But ultimately, he has to clap it out for me, holding his hands somewhat stiff and precisely parallel, as the Moroccans do when they clap. (Clapping is an integral part of Moroccan music in general, and even the most casual listeners in Morocco are skilled at syncopated clapping.)
Calhoun, of course, is no stranger to absorbing musical styles. Living Colour is a rock group that reaches in many directions; Calhoun tethered much of the group's music to African and Caribbean rhythms. He's as comfortable playing traps in a jazz quintet as he is playing arena rock, and he has distinguished himself as a soloist on electronic wave drums as well as on many traditional percussion instruments.
When Calhoun returned to Essaouira the second time, he felt comfortable with the Gnawans. "And they were touched that I had treated their music with such respect, that I wanted to learn how to play it properly," he says.
In staged concerts and informal leelas, Calhoun mixed it up with master Gnawan musicians such as Mahmoud Ghania. "For me," Calhoun says, "the experience was like playing with Miles or Ellington." He found willing partners and lasting musical collaborators in Marrakech, still a haven for Gnawan music, making an especially strong connection to a maleem named Mustapha. He played electronic wave-drum performances in Marrakech, and the audiences loved it.
Calhoun traveled to other parts of Morocco during his stays there. He rented a car and headed east, past the dunes of the desert. He slept under the stars, visited Berber villages, even played with their musicians (where he encountered yet another interpretation of 6/8 time).
Calhoun brought back some incredible photographs from his drive across Morocco. But he found nothing that touched him like the music of the Gnawa. And when Calhoun recorded recently with Mos Def and with his Living Colour bandmates, he brought a little bit of Morocco to the sessions.
"Here they are!" Calhoun says, after rummaging around in his basement for a few minutes. He brings out a few torn toms from a set of five drums that someone made for him in Essaouira, and which he brought to those sessions. The drums are made of thuja, a strong, dark wood for which Essaouira is well-known, and which is usually used for furniture. Now, Calhoun uses them whenever he can, claiming that nothing else can achieve the same sound.
"I had brought a set of drums to donate to the festival," he says. "So I just had this craftsman make me a duplicate in thuja. They kept mine; I kept this one."
Talk about cultural exchange.
© 2003 Jazziz via ProQuest Information and Learning Company; All Rights Reserved
Thursday, January 29, 2004
Reminder ~ Corey & Vernon Interview on NPR
thanks matajmia!
Corey & Vernon interview will air tomorrow ~ January 30th @ 6:30 am (NYC) ~ on NPR's Morning Edition.
Listen online @ www.NPR.org
Living Colour "Collideoscope" Sanctuary Records
Clarence E. Shepard
Every now and again a piece of art comes along and redefines your appreciation for the craft. After nearly ten albums, Living Colour’s latest release is that memento. The extensively talented masters of metal are back after almost five years, reverberating with the smashingly psychedelic “CollideØscope”. A sublime eclection of 15 hard-hitting tunes, this record transports you to the head banging rock of the 80’s, and back to a new millennium rock of all ages.
The instant the CD begins to spin, the first three tracks replicate a classic recipe for Metal. They each hit hard and blend heavy-handed portions of long and abrading guitar cords, tight drum beats, crashing cymbals, and raspy high-pitched vocals refreshing your memory (if needed) of the form, and how true to it this band remains. Track four, ‘Flying’ begins to descend the ladder –not at all in quality, but in hardcoreness. It’s a soft and eerily gripping poem that is more like a duet of beautiful lead guitar lines and limberly interpretable vocals. The guitar and supporting instrumentation have a mellow Simply Red temper, and color the surreal lyrics as aptly as the vocalist. ‘Pocket Of Tears’ is another suave and mellifluent cut with smooth Al Green-like vocal styling and challenging paradoxes that recur throughout this project.
The CD is like a powerful earthquake, violently climactic very early on, but having many arresting aftershocks throughout its course. To say that the CD reaches the pinnacle of listening enjoyment before you hear half the cuts would be a miscarriage of jukebox justice, but be warned, you will feel complete after the intoxicating and nostalgic sixth track, ‘Black In Black’. The band perfectly recreates ACDC’s acidic anthem with the clarity of a high end digital camera. This is absolutely the most impressive cover since the Eagle’s live, low-key remix of their own ‘Hotel California’.
The album also contains a rhastarock tune on track seven and others like ‘Lost Halo’, ‘Holy Roller’, and ‘Great Expectation’ that accentuate a softer, more cerebral side that might typically elude the genre. Hard Rock has always been creatively malleable, but this band manages to not let their abounding artistry be upstaged by brash musicianship. The only track that is even variably skipable is number five, ‘In Your Name’. The very potent and compelling lyrics are discretely aggravated by techtronic metal fusion that makes you prematurely ready to hear ‘Back In Black’, which in turn renders the compilation almost flawless.
“CollideØscope” is hardly mediocre metal. It expands, contracts, and contorts, gracefully and brusquely, often within the same song. This CD makes you hear, see and feel imagery, myriad hues, and provocative messages. It vibrantly paints animated shades of excitement and entertainment in splendidly living color.
thanks matajmia!
Corey & Vernon interview will air tomorrow ~ January 30th @ 6:30 am (NYC) ~ on NPR's Morning Edition.
Listen online @ www.NPR.org
Living Colour "Collideoscope" Sanctuary Records
Clarence E. Shepard
Every now and again a piece of art comes along and redefines your appreciation for the craft. After nearly ten albums, Living Colour’s latest release is that memento. The extensively talented masters of metal are back after almost five years, reverberating with the smashingly psychedelic “CollideØscope”. A sublime eclection of 15 hard-hitting tunes, this record transports you to the head banging rock of the 80’s, and back to a new millennium rock of all ages.
The instant the CD begins to spin, the first three tracks replicate a classic recipe for Metal. They each hit hard and blend heavy-handed portions of long and abrading guitar cords, tight drum beats, crashing cymbals, and raspy high-pitched vocals refreshing your memory (if needed) of the form, and how true to it this band remains. Track four, ‘Flying’ begins to descend the ladder –not at all in quality, but in hardcoreness. It’s a soft and eerily gripping poem that is more like a duet of beautiful lead guitar lines and limberly interpretable vocals. The guitar and supporting instrumentation have a mellow Simply Red temper, and color the surreal lyrics as aptly as the vocalist. ‘Pocket Of Tears’ is another suave and mellifluent cut with smooth Al Green-like vocal styling and challenging paradoxes that recur throughout this project.
The CD is like a powerful earthquake, violently climactic very early on, but having many arresting aftershocks throughout its course. To say that the CD reaches the pinnacle of listening enjoyment before you hear half the cuts would be a miscarriage of jukebox justice, but be warned, you will feel complete after the intoxicating and nostalgic sixth track, ‘Black In Black’. The band perfectly recreates ACDC’s acidic anthem with the clarity of a high end digital camera. This is absolutely the most impressive cover since the Eagle’s live, low-key remix of their own ‘Hotel California’.
The album also contains a rhastarock tune on track seven and others like ‘Lost Halo’, ‘Holy Roller’, and ‘Great Expectation’ that accentuate a softer, more cerebral side that might typically elude the genre. Hard Rock has always been creatively malleable, but this band manages to not let their abounding artistry be upstaged by brash musicianship. The only track that is even variably skipable is number five, ‘In Your Name’. The very potent and compelling lyrics are discretely aggravated by techtronic metal fusion that makes you prematurely ready to hear ‘Back In Black’, which in turn renders the compilation almost flawless.
“CollideØscope” is hardly mediocre metal. It expands, contracts, and contorts, gracefully and brusquely, often within the same song. This CD makes you hear, see and feel imagery, myriad hues, and provocative messages. It vibrantly paints animated shades of excitement and entertainment in splendidly living color.
Wednesday, January 28, 2004
Living Colour / Carson Daly show info
*thanks diamondust
The other guests were Sarah Foster (from the movie The Big Bounce),
Jeff Garlin (from Curb Your Enthusiasm), Demetri Martin (a comedian
with an interesting routine) and musical guest Jonatha Brooke.
There was one song completely videotaped; Back In Black.
The songs:
Glamour Boys
Cult Of Personality
Crosstown Traffic*
Sunshine Of Your Love
Should I Stay Or Should I Go*
Back In Black
7 Nation Army (White Stripes song)*
Flying*
All except for (*) were played in its entirety.
*thanks diamondust
The other guests were Sarah Foster (from the movie The Big Bounce),
Jeff Garlin (from Curb Your Enthusiasm), Demetri Martin (a comedian
with an interesting routine) and musical guest Jonatha Brooke.
There was one song completely videotaped; Back In Black.
The songs:
Glamour Boys
Cult Of Personality
Crosstown Traffic*
Sunshine Of Your Love
Should I Stay Or Should I Go*
Back In Black
7 Nation Army (White Stripes song)*
Flying*
All except for (*) were played in its entirety.
Tuesday, January 27, 2004
Sunday, January 25, 2004
Living Colour Feb 2004 US Dates
Sun 2/22/04 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre (Hendrix Tribute show)
Tue 2/24/04 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Ballroom (Hendrix Tribute show)
Thu 2/26/04 - New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place - TicketMaster
Fri 2/27/04 - Farmingdale, NY @ The Downtown - TicketMaster
Sat 2/28/04 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club - Tickets.com
Collideoscope 2004 - Europe
(as per Living Colour tour dates section )
03/04/04 Zwolle, Netherlands Hedon
03/05/04 Zoetemeer, Netherlands Boerderij
03/06/04 Helmond, Netherlands Plato
03/07/04 Vlissingen, Netherlands Arsenaal
03/08/04 Zaandam, Netherlands De Kade
03/09/04 Bochum, Germany Zeche
03/10/04 Brussels, Belgium Ancienne Belgique
03/12/04 Paris, France Banlieues Bleues Festival
03/13/04 Solothurn, Switzerland Kofmehl
03/14/04 Luzern, Switzerland Abc Mixx
03/15/04 Winterthur, Switzerland Gaswerk
03/16/04 St. Gallen, Switzerland Grabenhalle
03/17/04 Florence, Italy Auditorium Flag
03/18/04 Modena, Italy Vox
03/19/04 Venice, Italy 041
03/20/04 Ancona, Italy Mamamia
03/22/04 Vienna, Austria Porgy
03/23/04 Vienna, Austria Porgy
03/24/04 Brno, Slovakia Seilasso
03/25/04 Bratislava, Slovakia The Pageant
03/26/04 Milano, Italy Live Music Hall
03/27/04 Montreux, Switzerland Ned
03/28/04 Salzburg, Austria Rockhouse
03/29/04 Budapest, Hungary A 38
03/30/04 Zagreb, Croatia Pauk
03/31/04 Belgrad, Yugoslavia tbd
04/01/04 Sofia, Bulgaria Dom Umladine
04/03/04 Wroclaw, Poland tbd
04/04/04 Warsaw, Poland Stodola
Hendrix Resurrected on Tour
Living Colour, Buddy Guy bring legendary guitarist's music to life
Jimi Hendrix's classic catalog will be brought back to life with a short tribute tour, where the legendary guitarist's songs will be performed by the likes of Living Colour, Buddy Guy, Double Trouble and Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell.
Three dates in Hendrix's hometown of Seattle will kick off the tour, starting February 22nd at the Paramount Theater. Other guitarists, young and old, including Howlin' Wolf's axeman Hubert Sumlin, Earth Wind and Fire's Sheldon Reynolds and Kenny Wayne Shepherd will take the stage. Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers has also been tapped as a special guest.
So far two additional shows have been set: Portland's Roseland Theater on February 24th (with Guy, Living Colour, Cantrell, Double Trouble and Indigenous) and the Warfield Theater in San Francisco on February 26th featuring the same lineup except for Joe Satriani, who subs for Living Colour.
Two of Hendrix's former bandmates -- drummer Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix Experience and bassist Billy Cox from the Band of Gypsies -- will also be on hand for the shows.
Nearly thirty-four years have passed since Hendrix's death, but interest in the guitarist remains strong. Last fall he topped Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, and in May he will be the subject of Power of Soul, a tribute record featuring his songs covered by Eric Clapton, Sting, Prince, Santana, Musiq and others.
ANDREW DANSBY
(January 23, 2004)
Sun 2/22/04 - Seattle, WA @ Paramount Theatre (Hendrix Tribute show)
Tue 2/24/04 - Portland, OR @ Roseland Ballroom (Hendrix Tribute show)
Thu 2/26/04 - New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place - TicketMaster
Fri 2/27/04 - Farmingdale, NY @ The Downtown - TicketMaster
Sat 2/28/04 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club - Tickets.com
Collideoscope 2004 - Europe
(as per Living Colour tour dates section )
03/04/04 Zwolle, Netherlands Hedon
03/05/04 Zoetemeer, Netherlands Boerderij
03/06/04 Helmond, Netherlands Plato
03/07/04 Vlissingen, Netherlands Arsenaal
03/08/04 Zaandam, Netherlands De Kade
03/09/04 Bochum, Germany Zeche
03/10/04 Brussels, Belgium Ancienne Belgique
03/12/04 Paris, France Banlieues Bleues Festival
03/13/04 Solothurn, Switzerland Kofmehl
03/14/04 Luzern, Switzerland Abc Mixx
03/15/04 Winterthur, Switzerland Gaswerk
03/16/04 St. Gallen, Switzerland Grabenhalle
03/17/04 Florence, Italy Auditorium Flag
03/18/04 Modena, Italy Vox
03/19/04 Venice, Italy 041
03/20/04 Ancona, Italy Mamamia
03/22/04 Vienna, Austria Porgy
03/23/04 Vienna, Austria Porgy
03/24/04 Brno, Slovakia Seilasso
03/25/04 Bratislava, Slovakia The Pageant
03/26/04 Milano, Italy Live Music Hall
03/27/04 Montreux, Switzerland Ned
03/28/04 Salzburg, Austria Rockhouse
03/29/04 Budapest, Hungary A 38
03/30/04 Zagreb, Croatia Pauk
03/31/04 Belgrad, Yugoslavia tbd
04/01/04 Sofia, Bulgaria Dom Umladine
04/03/04 Wroclaw, Poland tbd
04/04/04 Warsaw, Poland Stodola
Hendrix Resurrected on Tour
Living Colour, Buddy Guy bring legendary guitarist's music to life
Jimi Hendrix's classic catalog will be brought back to life with a short tribute tour, where the legendary guitarist's songs will be performed by the likes of Living Colour, Buddy Guy, Double Trouble and Alice in Chains guitarist Jerry Cantrell.
Three dates in Hendrix's hometown of Seattle will kick off the tour, starting February 22nd at the Paramount Theater. Other guitarists, young and old, including Howlin' Wolf's axeman Hubert Sumlin, Earth Wind and Fire's Sheldon Reynolds and Kenny Wayne Shepherd will take the stage. Bad Company frontman Paul Rodgers has also been tapped as a special guest.
So far two additional shows have been set: Portland's Roseland Theater on February 24th (with Guy, Living Colour, Cantrell, Double Trouble and Indigenous) and the Warfield Theater in San Francisco on February 26th featuring the same lineup except for Joe Satriani, who subs for Living Colour.
Two of Hendrix's former bandmates -- drummer Mitch Mitchell from the Jimi Hendrix Experience and bassist Billy Cox from the Band of Gypsies -- will also be on hand for the shows.
Nearly thirty-four years have passed since Hendrix's death, but interest in the guitarist remains strong. Last fall he topped Rolling Stone's list of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, and in May he will be the subject of Power of Soul, a tribute record featuring his songs covered by Eric Clapton, Sting, Prince, Santana, Musiq and others.
ANDREW DANSBY
(January 23, 2004)
Saturday, January 24, 2004
Drummer magazine (UK)
INTERVIEWS - Will Calhoun
Living Colour unleash Collideøscope and Dennis Boxem asks quite why it took so long, plus Will goes shopping for those replacement parts.
(pick up your copy today)
HeadFake Pics from 12/15/03 - Luzerna Music Bar - Prague
INTERVIEWS - Will Calhoun
Living Colour unleash Collideøscope and Dennis Boxem asks quite why it took so long, plus Will goes shopping for those replacement parts.
(pick up your copy today)
HeadFake Pics from 12/15/03 - Luzerna Music Bar - Prague
Friday, January 23, 2004
News from Doug Wimbish messageboard:
dougalow -- Friday, January 23 2004, 09:06 am
Hello ...I have been on the road again. Back in Connecticut .. Recording as planned..NAMM show was fantastic. KEITH LeBLANC IS IN THE AREA. Working on new TACK>>HEAD songs. ADRIAN SHERWOOD IN IN POLAND THIS WEEKEND...HE IS FRESH OFF THE ROAD WITH BLUR...LITTLE AXE NEW CD "CHAMPAINE AND GRITS" IS DUE OUT ON PETER GABRIALS REAL WORLD LABEL IN APRIL....WORKING ON DOUGALOW 7.HEAD>>FAKE SOUND SYSTEM LIVE DVD TRIPPY NOTES VOL.II WITH ADRIAN IN FEBUARY.I WILL GO TO LONDON FOR 4 DAYS TO DO THIS. NEW MANAGEMENT FOR LIVING COLOUR . STAY TUNED...
Pollstar date for : Vernon Reid
Mon 05/24/04 Victoriaville, QC Colises Des Bois
dougalow -- Friday, January 23 2004, 09:06 am
Hello ...I have been on the road again. Back in Connecticut .. Recording as planned..NAMM show was fantastic. KEITH LeBLANC IS IN THE AREA. Working on new TACK>>HEAD songs. ADRIAN SHERWOOD IN IN POLAND THIS WEEKEND...HE IS FRESH OFF THE ROAD WITH BLUR...LITTLE AXE NEW CD "CHAMPAINE AND GRITS" IS DUE OUT ON PETER GABRIALS REAL WORLD LABEL IN APRIL....WORKING ON DOUGALOW 7.HEAD>>FAKE SOUND SYSTEM LIVE DVD TRIPPY NOTES VOL.II WITH ADRIAN IN FEBUARY.I WILL GO TO LONDON FOR 4 DAYS TO DO THIS. NEW MANAGEMENT FOR LIVING COLOUR . STAY TUNED...
Pollstar date for : Vernon Reid
Mon 05/24/04 Victoriaville, QC Colises Des Bois
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Collideoscope 2004 - Europe
(as per Living Colour tour dates section )
03/04/04 Zwolle, Netherlands Hedon
03/05/04 Zoetemeer, Netherlands Boerderij
03/06/04 Helmond, Netherlands Plato
03/07/04 Vlissingen, Netherlands Arsenaal
03/08/04 Zaandam, Netherlands De Kade
03/09/04 Bochum, Germany Zeche
03/10/04 Brussels, Belgium Ancienne Belgique
03/12/04 Paris, France Banlieues Bleues Festival
03/13/04 Solothurn, Switzerland Kofmehl
03/14/04 Luzern, Switzerland Abc Mixx
03/15/04 Winterthur, Switzerland Gaswerk
03/16/04 St. Gallen, Switzerland Grabenhalle
03/17/04 Florence, Italy Auditorium Flag
03/18/04 Modena, Italy Vox
03/19/04 Venice, Italy 041
03/20/04 Ancona, Italy Mamamia
03/22/04 Vienna, Austria Porgy
03/23/04 Vienna, Austria Porgy
03/24/04 Brno, Slovakia Seilasso
03/25/04 Bratislava, Slovakia The Pageant
03/26/04 Milano, Italy Live Music Hall
03/27/04 Montreux, Switzerland Ned
03/28/04 Salzburg, Austria Rockhouse
03/29/04 Budapest, Hungary A 38
03/30/04 Zagreb, Croatia Pauk
03/31/04 Belgrad, Yugoslavia tbd
04/01/04 Sofia, Bulgaria Dom Umladine
04/03/04 Wroclaw, Poland tbd
04/04/04 Warsaw, Poland tbd
(as per Living Colour tour dates section )
03/04/04 Zwolle, Netherlands Hedon
03/05/04 Zoetemeer, Netherlands Boerderij
03/06/04 Helmond, Netherlands Plato
03/07/04 Vlissingen, Netherlands Arsenaal
03/08/04 Zaandam, Netherlands De Kade
03/09/04 Bochum, Germany Zeche
03/10/04 Brussels, Belgium Ancienne Belgique
03/12/04 Paris, France Banlieues Bleues Festival
03/13/04 Solothurn, Switzerland Kofmehl
03/14/04 Luzern, Switzerland Abc Mixx
03/15/04 Winterthur, Switzerland Gaswerk
03/16/04 St. Gallen, Switzerland Grabenhalle
03/17/04 Florence, Italy Auditorium Flag
03/18/04 Modena, Italy Vox
03/19/04 Venice, Italy 041
03/20/04 Ancona, Italy Mamamia
03/22/04 Vienna, Austria Porgy
03/23/04 Vienna, Austria Porgy
03/24/04 Brno, Slovakia Seilasso
03/25/04 Bratislava, Slovakia The Pageant
03/26/04 Milano, Italy Live Music Hall
03/27/04 Montreux, Switzerland Ned
03/28/04 Salzburg, Austria Rockhouse
03/29/04 Budapest, Hungary A 38
03/30/04 Zagreb, Croatia Pauk
03/31/04 Belgrad, Yugoslavia tbd
04/01/04 Sofia, Bulgaria Dom Umladine
04/03/04 Wroclaw, Poland tbd
04/04/04 Warsaw, Poland tbd
Wednesday, January 21, 2004
Will Calhoun Photo Exhibit "Moroccan Exteriors" - NYC
Feb 6-8, 2004
7-10pm. click on link for all details.
Living Colour @ 9:30 club - Wash. DC - Saturday, Feb 28, 2004
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (1/22/04) @ 10am.
Tickets are $20
Reminder : Tickets on sale for Feb 26 - Toad's Place, and Feb 27 - Downtown Club through ticketmaster. Click on LC ticket links ----->
Feb 6-8, 2004
7-10pm. click on link for all details.
Living Colour @ 9:30 club - Wash. DC - Saturday, Feb 28, 2004
Tickets go on sale tomorrow (1/22/04) @ 10am.
Tickets are $20
Reminder : Tickets on sale for Feb 26 - Toad's Place, and Feb 27 - Downtown Club through ticketmaster. Click on LC ticket links ----->
Monday, January 19, 2004
Living Colour on World Cafe!
Thursday, January 22
Living Colour is coming to the World Café! We find out how one of the greatest rock bands of the 80’s got back together again as Vernon Reid and Corey Glover join the Café’s Michaela Majoun for a set of new music drawn from their new release “CollideØscope”. Plus there’s music from Love, Ryan Adams and Cousteau.
[Coming up this Week on World Café
This schedule reflects the episodes broadcast on 88.5 WXPN Philadelphia, Monday through Friday at 2:00pm ET. If you live outside of the XPN broadcast area, and would still like to listen to the show, consult our Station Guide to locate a World Café Station in your area. Or, listen live via streaming audio on XPN.org.)]
Thursday, January 22
Living Colour is coming to the World Café! We find out how one of the greatest rock bands of the 80’s got back together again as Vernon Reid and Corey Glover join the Café’s Michaela Majoun for a set of new music drawn from their new release “CollideØscope”. Plus there’s music from Love, Ryan Adams and Cousteau.
[Coming up this Week on World Café
This schedule reflects the episodes broadcast on 88.5 WXPN Philadelphia, Monday through Friday at 2:00pm ET. If you live outside of the XPN broadcast area, and would still like to listen to the show, consult our Station Guide to locate a World Café Station in your area. Or, listen live via streaming audio on XPN.org.)]
Sunday, January 18, 2004
Will Calhoun pics
August 24, 2002 - JazzSaalfelden 2002 - Sussan Deyhim's Madman of God
Vernon Reid Pics
March 1, 2003-Tribeca Rock Club-Yohimbe Brothers
April 22, 2001-The Babylon Club, Warsaw-Reid-Logic Duo
August 17, 2000-Tonic-DJ Logic
August 24, 2002 - JazzSaalfelden 2002 - Sussan Deyhim's Madman of God
Vernon Reid Pics
March 1, 2003-Tribeca Rock Club-Yohimbe Brothers
April 22, 2001-The Babylon Club, Warsaw-Reid-Logic Duo
August 17, 2000-Tonic-DJ Logic
Saturday, January 17, 2004
LAST CALL with Carson Daly- January 27, 2004
(click link to request tickets)
THIS SHOW IS SCHEDULED TO TAPE AT:(7PM).
GUESTS:
DANE COOK
AL ROKER
JEFF GARLIN
House Band:
JONATHA BROOKE
Musical Performance By:
LIVING COLOUR
TransitMag interview w/ Corey Glover (in French)
English Translation of Transit Mag interview w/ Corey Glover
(click link to request tickets)
THIS SHOW IS SCHEDULED TO TAPE AT:(7PM).
GUESTS:
DANE COOK
AL ROKER
JEFF GARLIN
House Band:
JONATHA BROOKE
Musical Performance By:
LIVING COLOUR
TransitMag interview w/ Corey Glover (in French)
English Translation of Transit Mag interview w/ Corey Glover
Wednesday, January 14, 2004
Corey Glover and Vernon Reid interview
Morning Edition on NPR ~ January 30th @ 6:30 a.m.
www.NPR.org
Morning Edition on NPR ~ January 30th @ 6:30 a.m.
www.NPR.org
Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Guitar One Dec 2003 Lesson : Vernon Reid
Doug Wimbish and Keith LeBlanc - LIVE
(requires Real Player)
taken from : Adrian Sherwood presents Dubs & Beats
(english version click HERE)
Under the banner 'In-/Output,' each event features artists of high stature and musical creativity. Saturday the 18th of October Adrian Sherwood was the first with a very special project. The concert is now online!
Doug Wimbish and Keith LeBlanc - LIVE
(requires Real Player)
taken from : Adrian Sherwood presents Dubs & Beats
(english version click HERE)
Under the banner 'In-/Output,' each event features artists of high stature and musical creativity. Saturday the 18th of October Adrian Sherwood was the first with a very special project. The concert is now online!
Thursday, January 08, 2004
Living Colour 2004 Collideoscope Europe Tour part II
04.03.2004 Hedon, Zwolle (on sale now)
05.03.2004 Boerderij, Zoetermeer or Ticketservice
06.03.2004 Plato, Helmond or ticketservice
07.03.2004 Vlissingen (southwest of the Netherlands)
08.03.2004 Kade, Zaandam or ticketservice
09.03.2004 Bochum - Zeche Tickets
10.03.2004 Brussels, BEL Ancienne Belgique - Tickets
13.03.2004 CH-Solothurn, Kofmehl Tickets on sale soon
14.03.2004 Luzern - ABC Club or ABCMIXX
15.03.2004 Winterthur - Gaswerk
16.03.2004 Bellinzona - Garage
17.03.2004 Auditorium Flog, Firenze - Tickets
18.03.2004 Vox, Nonantola (MO) - Tickets
19.03.2004 041, Marghera (VE) - Tickets
20.03.2004 Mamamia, Senigallia (AN) Info
22.03.2004 Wien - Porgy & Bess
23.03.2004 Wien - Porgy & Bess
26.03.2004 Live Club, Trezzo Sull'Adda (MI) Info
29.03.2004 Salzburg - Rockhouse Tickets
dates courtesy of www.visions.de, Babylon Magazine, BreakOut Magazine, and Pollstar.
click on links for more details. Pease make sure to check with the local venues to confirm show dates and details
04.03.2004 Hedon, Zwolle (on sale now)
05.03.2004 Boerderij, Zoetermeer or Ticketservice
06.03.2004 Plato, Helmond or ticketservice
07.03.2004 Vlissingen (southwest of the Netherlands)
08.03.2004 Kade, Zaandam or ticketservice
09.03.2004 Bochum - Zeche Tickets
10.03.2004 Brussels, BEL Ancienne Belgique - Tickets
13.03.2004 CH-Solothurn, Kofmehl Tickets on sale soon
14.03.2004 Luzern - ABC Club or ABCMIXX
15.03.2004 Winterthur - Gaswerk
16.03.2004 Bellinzona - Garage
17.03.2004 Auditorium Flog, Firenze - Tickets
18.03.2004 Vox, Nonantola (MO) - Tickets
19.03.2004 041, Marghera (VE) - Tickets
20.03.2004 Mamamia, Senigallia (AN) Info
22.03.2004 Wien - Porgy & Bess
23.03.2004 Wien - Porgy & Bess
26.03.2004 Live Club, Trezzo Sull'Adda (MI) Info
29.03.2004 Salzburg - Rockhouse Tickets
dates courtesy of www.visions.de, Babylon Magazine, BreakOut Magazine, and Pollstar.
click on links for more details. Pease make sure to check with the local venues to confirm show dates and details
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
Feb 2004 US Dates
courtesy of Will Calhoun's site
Feb 13, 14 & 15, 2004
Will performs with Mos Def at the Blue Note in NYC.
Blue Note Schedule and reservations
FEATURING:
Mos Def, vocals
Will Calhoun, drums
John Benitez, bass
Orrin Evans, piano
Wallace Roney, trumpet
Antonio Hart, sax
Shows @ 8pm and 10:30pm
$20 - bar; $35 - table
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004
Living Colour will perform at an organ donor benefit show at the Harlem's World Famous Apollo Theater
It's part II of the Apollo Valentine Weekend series, FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC AND SONG: A VALENTINE ROCK WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA featuring an alternative rock and Hip-Hop Soul artist ensemble to make your heart bleed with love of music and song at the Apollo.
NONA HENDRICKS, LIVING COLOUR, ME'SHELL NDEGEOCELLO & ANI DIFRANCO bring thier passionate artistry to the stage of the world famous Apollo stage in celebration of love.
Feb 22 & 24, 2004
Living Colour is scheduled to perform as part of a Jimi Hendrix tribute concert, in Portland - Roseland Ballroom(Feb 24th) and Seattle - Paramount Theatre (Feb 22th). More details coming soon...
Living Colour Feb 2004 US Dates
Thu 2/26/04 - New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place
Fri 2/27/04 - Farmingdale, NY @ The Downtown
Sat 2/28/04 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Toad's Place site
The Downtown
9:30 Club
side note - 9:30 club tickets available through tickets.com; as of today, tickets not on sale yet
April 28 - May 2, 2004
Living Colour slated to tour in Brazil from April 28 to May 2, 2004. More details coming soon...
courtesy of Will Calhoun's site
Feb 13, 14 & 15, 2004
Will performs with Mos Def at the Blue Note in NYC.
Blue Note Schedule and reservations
FEATURING:
Mos Def, vocals
Will Calhoun, drums
John Benitez, bass
Orrin Evans, piano
Wallace Roney, trumpet
Antonio Hart, sax
Shows @ 8pm and 10:30pm
$20 - bar; $35 - table
Saturday, Feb 14, 2004
Living Colour will perform at an organ donor benefit show at the Harlem's World Famous Apollo Theater
It's part II of the Apollo Valentine Weekend series, FOR THE LOVE OF MUSIC AND SONG: A VALENTINE ROCK WEEKEND EXTRAVAGANZA featuring an alternative rock and Hip-Hop Soul artist ensemble to make your heart bleed with love of music and song at the Apollo.
NONA HENDRICKS, LIVING COLOUR, ME'SHELL NDEGEOCELLO & ANI DIFRANCO bring thier passionate artistry to the stage of the world famous Apollo stage in celebration of love.
Feb 22 & 24, 2004
Living Colour is scheduled to perform as part of a Jimi Hendrix tribute concert, in Portland - Roseland Ballroom(Feb 24th) and Seattle - Paramount Theatre (Feb 22th). More details coming soon...
Living Colour Feb 2004 US Dates
Thu 2/26/04 - New Haven, CT @ Toad's Place
Fri 2/27/04 - Farmingdale, NY @ The Downtown
Sat 2/28/04 - Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club
Toad's Place site
The Downtown
9:30 Club
side note - 9:30 club tickets available through tickets.com; as of today, tickets not on sale yet
April 28 - May 2, 2004
Living Colour slated to tour in Brazil from April 28 to May 2, 2004. More details coming soon...
Monday, January 05, 2004
See Magazine review : Collideoscope
LIVING COLOUR
Collide0scope
(Silverline)
***
Remember the day-glo Body Glove wear, dreads wrapped in coloured yarn, and monster funk-rock riffs? Eight years after breaking up, Living Colour has returned–sans neon, thankfully. So, in case you don’t remember why this is a good thing, here’s a refresher. The band’s debut in ’88 did for hard rock what Bad Brains did for punk–bring a sonically aggressive and lyrically political sound, filtered through an African American experience, to an almost exclusively Anglo genre. The group’s two follow-up full-length albums failed to duplicate the success of Vivid though, mostly because they were both less focused and more adventurous, exploring punk to R&B. Not surprisingly, the inability to decide on the direction of a fourth album was their demise.
Now, with Collid0scope, the New Yorkers are visiting some familiar territory with mixed results. Overall the album is infused with more spacey electronic flourishes than ever before, contains the same biting social commentary (notably "Nightmare City" and "In Your Name"), has plenty of that familiar groove, and thrives on Vernon Reid’s freakishly accomplished guitar. Unfortunately, none of the songs reach the fever pitch of "Cult of Personality," capture the thrash assault of "Time’s Up," or give off the quiet warmth of "Solace of You." Songs like "Sacred Ground" and "? Of Mind, A" are repetitive and bland, while the two covers: a tongue-in-cheek reworking of AC/DC’s "Back in Black" and a protracted take of the Beatles’ "Tomorrow Never Knows," are unnecessary. The band can still pen urgent, catchy rock, though, as proven on "Song Without Sin" and "Operation Mind Control." The polished gem on the album is the eloquent yet gut-wrenching "Flying," written from the viewpoint of someone forced to jump from a burning Trade Tower.
Living Colour still sounds exciting and feels important, now it’s just a matter of finding that elusive focus. Maybe there really was magic in those bright yellow Body Glove outfits.
LIVING COLOUR
Collide0scope
(Silverline)
***
Remember the day-glo Body Glove wear, dreads wrapped in coloured yarn, and monster funk-rock riffs? Eight years after breaking up, Living Colour has returned–sans neon, thankfully. So, in case you don’t remember why this is a good thing, here’s a refresher. The band’s debut in ’88 did for hard rock what Bad Brains did for punk–bring a sonically aggressive and lyrically political sound, filtered through an African American experience, to an almost exclusively Anglo genre. The group’s two follow-up full-length albums failed to duplicate the success of Vivid though, mostly because they were both less focused and more adventurous, exploring punk to R&B. Not surprisingly, the inability to decide on the direction of a fourth album was their demise.
Now, with Collid0scope, the New Yorkers are visiting some familiar territory with mixed results. Overall the album is infused with more spacey electronic flourishes than ever before, contains the same biting social commentary (notably "Nightmare City" and "In Your Name"), has plenty of that familiar groove, and thrives on Vernon Reid’s freakishly accomplished guitar. Unfortunately, none of the songs reach the fever pitch of "Cult of Personality," capture the thrash assault of "Time’s Up," or give off the quiet warmth of "Solace of You." Songs like "Sacred Ground" and "? Of Mind, A" are repetitive and bland, while the two covers: a tongue-in-cheek reworking of AC/DC’s "Back in Black" and a protracted take of the Beatles’ "Tomorrow Never Knows," are unnecessary. The band can still pen urgent, catchy rock, though, as proven on "Song Without Sin" and "Operation Mind Control." The polished gem on the album is the eloquent yet gut-wrenching "Flying," written from the viewpoint of someone forced to jump from a burning Trade Tower.
Living Colour still sounds exciting and feels important, now it’s just a matter of finding that elusive focus. Maybe there really was magic in those bright yellow Body Glove outfits.
Sunday, January 04, 2004
Living Colour 2004 rescheduled dates
Feb 26, 2004 - Toad's Place - New Haven, CT USA
Feb 27, 2004 - The Downtown - Farmingdale, NY USA
Living Colour 2004 Collideoscope Europe Tour part II
04.03.2004 Hedon, Zwolle (on sale now)
05.03.2004 Boerderij, Zoetermeer or Ticketservice
06.03.2004 Plato, Helmond or ticketservice
07.03.2004 Vlissingen (southwest of the Netherlands)
08.03.2004 Kade, Zaandam or ticketservice
09.03.2004 Bochum - Zeche
10.03.2004 Brussels, BEL Ancienne Belgique
14.03.2004 Luzern - ABC Club or ABCMIXX
15.03.2004 Winterthur - Gaswerk
16.03.2004 Bellinzona - Garage
22.03.2004 Wien - Porgy & Bess
23.03.2004 Wien - Porgy & Bess
30.03.2004 Salzburg - Rockhouse
dates courtesy of www.visions.de and Pollstar.
click on links for more details. please make sure to check with the local venues to confirm show dates and details
Head>>Fake cd and DVD?!
check out TackHead.org news section.
DOUG WIMBISH AND WILL CALHOUN HAVE BIG THINGS PLANNED FOR HEAD>>FAKE. SO FAR THE 12" CYCLES (1997) WAS THE ONLY EVER OFFICIAL RELEASE OF THE 'ELECTRIC GROOVES' DUO, BUT BY SPRING 2004 THINGS WILL HAVE CHANGED, SAY THE LIVING COLOUR RHYTHM SECTION. THEY HAVE A DEBUT ALBUM PLANNED AND A HEAD>>FAKE DVD TO GO ALONG WITH IT. HEAD>>FAKE JUST FINISHED A SUCCESFULL TOUR IN EUROPE, AND THEY WILL BE BACK FOR MORE EUROPEAN GIGS SUMMER 2004. BEFORE THAT DOUG AND WILL ARE 'DOING EUROPE' ONCE MORE WITH LIVING COLOUR, THAT WILL ALSO BE DOING A SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR EARLY 2004.
Feb 26, 2004 - Toad's Place - New Haven, CT USA
Feb 27, 2004 - The Downtown - Farmingdale, NY USA
Living Colour 2004 Collideoscope Europe Tour part II
04.03.2004 Hedon, Zwolle (on sale now)
05.03.2004 Boerderij, Zoetermeer or Ticketservice
06.03.2004 Plato, Helmond or ticketservice
07.03.2004 Vlissingen (southwest of the Netherlands)
08.03.2004 Kade, Zaandam or ticketservice
09.03.2004 Bochum - Zeche
10.03.2004 Brussels, BEL Ancienne Belgique
14.03.2004 Luzern - ABC Club or ABCMIXX
15.03.2004 Winterthur - Gaswerk
16.03.2004 Bellinzona - Garage
22.03.2004 Wien - Porgy & Bess
23.03.2004 Wien - Porgy & Bess
30.03.2004 Salzburg - Rockhouse
dates courtesy of www.visions.de and Pollstar.
click on links for more details. please make sure to check with the local venues to confirm show dates and details
Head>>Fake cd and DVD?!
check out TackHead.org news section.
DOUG WIMBISH AND WILL CALHOUN HAVE BIG THINGS PLANNED FOR HEAD>>FAKE. SO FAR THE 12" CYCLES (1997) WAS THE ONLY EVER OFFICIAL RELEASE OF THE 'ELECTRIC GROOVES' DUO, BUT BY SPRING 2004 THINGS WILL HAVE CHANGED, SAY THE LIVING COLOUR RHYTHM SECTION. THEY HAVE A DEBUT ALBUM PLANNED AND A HEAD>>FAKE DVD TO GO ALONG WITH IT. HEAD>>FAKE JUST FINISHED A SUCCESFULL TOUR IN EUROPE, AND THEY WILL BE BACK FOR MORE EUROPEAN GIGS SUMMER 2004. BEFORE THAT DOUG AND WILL ARE 'DOING EUROPE' ONCE MORE WITH LIVING COLOUR, THAT WILL ALSO BE DOING A SOUTH AMERICAN TOUR EARLY 2004.
Friday, January 02, 2004
Win 2 tix to see Living Colour live on Carson Daly show
Click the link for your chance to see Living Colour - LIVE on Carson Daly, January 28th, 2004.
Oslo, Norway - 10/11/03 concert review
LIVING COLOUR / Cosmopolite, Oslo / 11. Oct. 2003
by: PER OLAV HEIMSTAD
Never being given a chance to be at a Living Colour-concert the last time they were around, from the late 80’s till 1995, I am now happy to say that I’ve just witnessed this very unique quartet playing live.
With their marvelous debut album Vivid (1988) they right away got the whole world’s attention. Back then they filled a hole in rock music. The party ended in 1995, but now, eight years later, they are back with a brand new album Collideøscope (check out our review in the reviews section), and they are back on the road.
Their Oslo gig was their last show in a three week long European tour before the band heads for the States.
The concert took place in a concert hall in Oslo named Cosmopolite. Not a whole lot of hard rock bands play there, and the arrangers certainly didn’t have much experience with advertising. Just a few hundred showed up, which is a shame. So many people remembers classic Living Colour tunes like «Glamour Boys», «Cult of Personality» and «Love rears its ugly Head» that if they’d knew about the happening the band would have got a more proper goodbye-show on their last European night.
Living Colour is not back in the tracks for easy money. They are not here to play old hits only. Even though playing the great “Memories can’t wait” ( from the debut Vivid ) early in the set further memories HAD TO wait as the first part of the concert was coloured with numbers like «Song without Sin», «In your Name», «A ? of when» and «Operation Mind Control», all from their September release Collideøscope. The first two of them are strong tracks whom stands out on the album, and especially «In your Name» worked out very well live with it’s punching «Get Together»-ish ( Beatles song... ) beat. The two latter are far from Living Colour at their best, though singer Corey Glover and the rest of the guys were working hard. Still they couldn’t avoid the audience from slipping into a kind of restless boredom.
«Time’s up» from their second album with the same name gave new life to the crowd, making everyone present cheer for guitarist Vernon Reid playing his weird weird solos. No one in rock plays as odd as that guy. Still the man looked worryingly uninspired, or tired, or... whatever... never really communicating with the audience. Hopefully it wasn’t three little weeks of touring that drained the man for enthusiasm.
Dough Wimbish, who replaced Muzz Skillings on the bass after the bands two first albums, did the best job this night. He tied the band together and actually looked like he was having fun. As well he worked hard on some lap top by his side, producing sound effects along the way. Drummer William Calhoun took off as well as the band entered «Sacred Ground», another new track, working beautifully live, being kicked in the ass by Calhoun all the way trough...
The whole band is so very very clever, being excellent musicians from whom quite a few has got a lot to learn. Still, on nights like these one can also learn that it doesn’t really matter how clever the musicians are if the audience ain’t familiar to the songs. Living Colour’s last album certainly is good, but not exceptional, and it sure is new. Not a lot of the people present knew the new stuff very well. Living Colour played more than half of the new album’s tracks, which confused the audience a bit. Though, people has themselves to blame for not getting to know the new release. One can’t expect any comeback band to play nothing but old hits. Songs do sound better live if you know them from before. Fact of life.
In the last section of the main set the band made a brilliant performance of «Middle Man», one of living Colours «signature songs», really stating what’s so special about this band. It rocks, it lifts you up, it funks you right in your face.
Endswards the band played their recently recorded cover version of the Beatles classic «Tomorrow never knows», making it a long-lasting jazzy piece which went on and on above people’s heads... Then they turned to their big hits «Love rears its ugly Head» and «Cult of Personality» followed by an acoustic version of their debut album’s lesser known «Broken Heart» with a Vernon Reid on vocals that suffered from not remembering the lyrics very well. However, this made the guitarist smile for the first time, and therefore made his difficulties with the words all pay off.
Reid kept on smiling through the shows two last extras, the excellent «Solace of you» and another of their big hits «Glamour Boys». At this point it seemed like the whole band were given extra strength, stretching the blues-reggae version (!) of the last song mentioned into an atmospheric closure of the gig that proved the band to be one of the most interesting comeback acts for years.
In November and December the band will find themselves touring the States ( partly with King Crimson ). You really should be finding them there as well if you happen to be around. However, before you eventually do, remember to check out their last album. Living Colour expects you to.
Click the link for your chance to see Living Colour - LIVE on Carson Daly, January 28th, 2004.
Oslo, Norway - 10/11/03 concert review
LIVING COLOUR / Cosmopolite, Oslo / 11. Oct. 2003
by: PER OLAV HEIMSTAD
Never being given a chance to be at a Living Colour-concert the last time they were around, from the late 80’s till 1995, I am now happy to say that I’ve just witnessed this very unique quartet playing live.
With their marvelous debut album Vivid (1988) they right away got the whole world’s attention. Back then they filled a hole in rock music. The party ended in 1995, but now, eight years later, they are back with a brand new album Collideøscope (check out our review in the reviews section), and they are back on the road.
Their Oslo gig was their last show in a three week long European tour before the band heads for the States.
The concert took place in a concert hall in Oslo named Cosmopolite. Not a whole lot of hard rock bands play there, and the arrangers certainly didn’t have much experience with advertising. Just a few hundred showed up, which is a shame. So many people remembers classic Living Colour tunes like «Glamour Boys», «Cult of Personality» and «Love rears its ugly Head» that if they’d knew about the happening the band would have got a more proper goodbye-show on their last European night.
Living Colour is not back in the tracks for easy money. They are not here to play old hits only. Even though playing the great “Memories can’t wait” ( from the debut Vivid ) early in the set further memories HAD TO wait as the first part of the concert was coloured with numbers like «Song without Sin», «In your Name», «A ? of when» and «Operation Mind Control», all from their September release Collideøscope. The first two of them are strong tracks whom stands out on the album, and especially «In your Name» worked out very well live with it’s punching «Get Together»-ish ( Beatles song... ) beat. The two latter are far from Living Colour at their best, though singer Corey Glover and the rest of the guys were working hard. Still they couldn’t avoid the audience from slipping into a kind of restless boredom.
«Time’s up» from their second album with the same name gave new life to the crowd, making everyone present cheer for guitarist Vernon Reid playing his weird weird solos. No one in rock plays as odd as that guy. Still the man looked worryingly uninspired, or tired, or... whatever... never really communicating with the audience. Hopefully it wasn’t three little weeks of touring that drained the man for enthusiasm.
Dough Wimbish, who replaced Muzz Skillings on the bass after the bands two first albums, did the best job this night. He tied the band together and actually looked like he was having fun. As well he worked hard on some lap top by his side, producing sound effects along the way. Drummer William Calhoun took off as well as the band entered «Sacred Ground», another new track, working beautifully live, being kicked in the ass by Calhoun all the way trough...
The whole band is so very very clever, being excellent musicians from whom quite a few has got a lot to learn. Still, on nights like these one can also learn that it doesn’t really matter how clever the musicians are if the audience ain’t familiar to the songs. Living Colour’s last album certainly is good, but not exceptional, and it sure is new. Not a lot of the people present knew the new stuff very well. Living Colour played more than half of the new album’s tracks, which confused the audience a bit. Though, people has themselves to blame for not getting to know the new release. One can’t expect any comeback band to play nothing but old hits. Songs do sound better live if you know them from before. Fact of life.
In the last section of the main set the band made a brilliant performance of «Middle Man», one of living Colours «signature songs», really stating what’s so special about this band. It rocks, it lifts you up, it funks you right in your face.
Endswards the band played their recently recorded cover version of the Beatles classic «Tomorrow never knows», making it a long-lasting jazzy piece which went on and on above people’s heads... Then they turned to their big hits «Love rears its ugly Head» and «Cult of Personality» followed by an acoustic version of their debut album’s lesser known «Broken Heart» with a Vernon Reid on vocals that suffered from not remembering the lyrics very well. However, this made the guitarist smile for the first time, and therefore made his difficulties with the words all pay off.
Reid kept on smiling through the shows two last extras, the excellent «Solace of you» and another of their big hits «Glamour Boys». At this point it seemed like the whole band were given extra strength, stretching the blues-reggae version (!) of the last song mentioned into an atmospheric closure of the gig that proved the band to be one of the most interesting comeback acts for years.
In November and December the band will find themselves touring the States ( partly with King Crimson ). You really should be finding them there as well if you happen to be around. However, before you eventually do, remember to check out their last album. Living Colour expects you to.
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