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Musik » alt.music.soul » BO DIDDLEY rocks Anaheim HOB - review
| BO DIDDLEY rocks Anaheim HOB - review [message #246173] |
Tue, 05 July 2005 13:10 |
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We have received the following review of Bo Diddley and the Debby
Hastings Band's recent concert in Anaheim, CA:
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Bo Diddley Rocks Anaheim HOB with the Debby Hastings Band
Legendary rock and roller Bo Diddley rocked to a packed house at the
House of Blues in Anaheim at Downtown Disney, Friday June 24, with the
Debby Hastings Band. The man who "put the rock in rock and roll"
presented many of his classic hits spanning his 50-year career.
The pounding signature Bo Diddley beat began behind the heavy stage
curtains and then that unmistakable funky guitar strumming twanged
above the sound of the band building with anticipation. And then the
curtains parted on Diddley sitting center stage on a straight back
chair, with his amp and effects pedal at his side and his custom
rectangular guitar in his lap. It was a powerful moment as he broke
into "Bo Diddley" as no other performer can. No one wanted it to
end, but it did and it was all right, because he had a whole lot more
to offer for the evening.
Supported on stage by the Debby Hastings Band, Diddley presented hit
after hit from his 50 years of recording and writing. Hastings directed
the four-piece as she pulled it all together on electric Fender P bass.
The lady is a powerhouse, delivering a brawny bass line on every tune,
whether it was a pounding Bo Diddley beat or seductive ballad, Hastings
conveyed control with an air of ease all the time calling the shots to
the rest of the band.
Hastings has been with Diddley for over 20 years, since she was
discovered playing in a small club in Greenwich Village. She was
invited at that time by Diddley's Management to back him up on a
local college gig. "It was serendipity," she said. "I was really
lucky." She was invited to stay and then took over the job of music
director 10 years ago.
The "rest of the band" is no less talented. Barely visible behind a
Hammond B-3 with a Kurzweil keyboard stacked on top, Margo Lewis rips
on the keyboards. She might be small in stature but this lady delivers
a big sound as well, commanding the B-3 with nostalgic licks so hot
that Diddley walked over and began fanning the keys with his hat. Frank
Daley is no slouch on guitar, either. Keeping up with Diddley is a
challenge to a lot of guitarists, but Daley seemed to handle the gig
with ease. Finishing off the band is Sandy Gennaro on drums. His
pounding presence on the opening tune set the mood for the evening.
Solid playing throughout the night was rewarded by a duet with Diddley
on drums.
Known throughout the world as Bo Diddley, he was born Ellas Bates in
1928 on a small farm in McComb, Mississippi. But as Bo Diddley he was
destined to become a rock and roll icon. His humble beginnings, first
in Mississippi and later on the south side of Chicago, set the stage
for a career equal to few others. Soon after moving to Chicago in the
30s, he began to take violin lessons from Professor O.W. Frederick at
the Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church. A gifted musician, he was
classically trained on the violin for the next twelve years, composing
two concertos for the instrument, both of which he plans to record for
the first time in the very near future.
A turning point in his musical career happened when his sister Lucille
bought him his first guitar, a cheap Harmony acoustic for Christmas in
1940. It was then that for a reason that escapes Diddley himself that
he acquired the nickname "Bo Diddley."
"Bo Diddley is me; to tell the truth, I don't know what it (the name)
really is, what it means, or why they called me that," says Diddley.
"The kids at school just started calling me that", he said referring
to his fellow students at Foster Vocational High School in Chicago.
Paying his dues, playing on street corners and in small clubs finally
paid off after more than a decade, in the spring of 1955, when he took
demo recordings he made of two songs he had written, "Uncle John"
and "I'm A Man", to brothers Leonard and Phil Chess, owners of
Chess Records. They suggested that he change the title and the lyrics
of "Uncle John" to "Bo Diddley" to more reflect his own unique
personality. The two songs were re-recorded at Bill Putnam's Universal
Recording Studio in Chicago on March 2 1955 and released as a double
A-side disc "Bo Diddley"/"I'm A Man" on the Chess Records subsidiary
label Checker Records. It went straight to the top of the rhythm 'n'
blues charts, establishing Bo Diddley as one of the most exciting and
original new talents in American music and the rest, as they say, is
history.
Nicknamed the "Originator", Diddley has indelibly stamped his mark
on rhythm 'n' blues, rock 'n' roll and popular music over the past five
decades. His innovative trademark rhythm, his electric custom-built
guitars, his use of female musicians, his psychedelic guitar sounds,
his wild stage shows, and his on-record and on-stage rapping, pre-date
all others. His influence on other musicians, both black and white, is
immeasurable. Without a doubt, Bo Diddley put the Rock in Rock 'n'
Roll. He shaped and defined the sound and presentation of rock music
for all-time.
His creativity covers every aspect of his stage shows, from his
innovative use of special effects such as reverb, tremolo and
distortion to make his guitars talk, mumble and roar like jet engines,
to his use of female guitarists and musicians, including; Lady Bo,
Duchess, Cookie and, most recently, Debby Hastings and Margo Lewis,
on-stage. And the man himself has set his own individual style with his
distinctive all-black outfit complete with hat and over-sized eagle
badge.
For anyone who had never seen Diddley in live concert, Friday night's
concert was a treat. Even after 50 years, the man still rocks like few
others. And he shows very few signs of slowing down at 76 years. As he
closed Friday night's performance, he shared a few solemn moments
with the audience to explain the reason that he had to sit throughout
the concert. He talked about his bout with diabetes and a back problem.
"This guitar is pretty heavy," he said, talking about his famous
custom rectangular guitar and how it had become a strain on his back.
He also shared how he had to have two toes on his right foot amputated
due to complications from diabetes, warning others to be more diligent
in caring for their health. "If it wasn't for my kids making me go
to the doctor I might not be here tonight," he said.
Taking her cue, Hastings directed the band to jump into 'Hey, Bo
Diddley", another Bo Diddley signature tune, during which he handed
off the infamous guitar and rose up from his chair to join Gennaro on
the drums for a pounding drum duet to close the show as Hastings led
the audience in the reprise shouting "Hey Bo Diddley!"
Following the Anaheim concert, Diddley is traveling north for a couple
of concerts (Coos Bay, OR July 7th. Webmaster) and then on to Canada
for several appearances (Edmonton, AB July 8th, Comox, BC July 9th,
Calgary, AB July 11th, Winnipeg, MB July 12th. Webmaster). For dates
and locations visit his web site at
http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index.html
------------------------------------------------------------ -----------------
David Blakey, Webmaster,
BO DIDDLEY-The Originator
http://members.tripod.com/~Originator_2/index.html
A Celebration of his unique contribution to Popular Music.
1955 to 2005 - Celebrating 50 Years In Music!
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