This was a fun show.  Heaven and Earth (twitter, FB) is a great band and their new album is full of great songs and playing.

The music has kind of a vintage/ classic rock vibe and sound to it, but is better than just about all the new music out there.   Perhaps it could be described as new music that has stood the test of time?  In any case, it rocks and sounds great.  With great vocals, killer organ playing, slick guitar work, drumming, and having one of of the best bass players out there as a guest, this was quite a show.  Their albums and vids on YouTube have really great production.   Not only do they have great album artwork, but they also have a cool logo, too.  It’s apparent that a lot of time, thought, money and effort went into this production.

Arlan Schierbaum on Keyboards
Joe Retta on Vocals, Slide Guitar, Harmonica and Percussion
Stuart Smith on Guitars (wikipedia)
Richie Onori on Drums (website)

They were joined on this night on bass by “The Fretless Monster” Tony Franklin (Twitter), who is still out touring with Kenny Wayne Shepherd (the KWS band has played at the Canyon and is another fantastic band of musicians who really bring the music).   Seeing Tony play with Heaven and Earth was fantastic.   Just being able to sit there and watch him play was a real treat.  You could tell he really put a lot of effort into covering for this gig and learning all these song.   His bass solo was fantastic.    And he rocked along with the rest of the band, who were also joined on backing vocals by the Agape Choir.  They added a lot of the choruses of the songs which they appeared on.

Heaven and Earth did a dozen original tunes and went way back with a couple classics for the encore.   “Hush” absolutely rocked to close out their set.

If you appreciate something other than all the lame new electronic music, crummy rapping and today’s mostly poor music scene, then definitely see this band if you get a chance.

   

SET LIST (a couple of the song titles sound like they could be death metal tunes… ha ha):

Victorious

Back In Anger

No Money, No Love

House Of Blues

Man and Machine

I Don’t Know What Love Is

Waiting for the End of the World

Sexual Insanity

Good Times

Heaven and Earth

See That My Grave Is Kept Clean

Rock and Roll Does

Encore:

Gimme Some Lovin’

Hush

         

First of all, BOSTYX rocks!

Boston and Styx are two of the best rock bands ever, both recording-wise and live in concert.  I’ve seen them both many times and they are among my favorite bands ever.

Just over 5 years ago, I sat front row and watched Styx open up for Boston at the Gibson Amphitheatre (I can’t believe that place is no more – so sad!).  This was during the time when Boston had just hired Tommy DeCarlo from Home Depot (a true success story that is an inspiration to musicians everywhere) and Michael Sweet of Stryper fame for shared vocals duties within the band.  Talk about a great concert from beginning to end.

About a month ago, I was at Lucy’s 51 in Toluca Lake when they announced that David Victor from the band Boston was going to sit in with the house band for a tune.   He got up there and really threw down on the vocals.   It was impressive and everyone there really enjoyed his singing.   It turns out he not only tours with Boston, but he also performs in this Boston and Styx tribute band know as BOSTYX (It’s kind of like being named the WILTERN, which is on Wilshire and Western).

Anyhow, you have to really respect the tribute bands like Bostyx and Wild Child who have members that get hired out of their respective tribute bands to perform with the original artist.   It’s like a true “Rock Star” type scenario (which was also very loosely based on “Ripper” Owens, who replaced Rob Halford in Judas Priest).

Arriving with them already a few songs into their set, they were knocking out great versions of Boston and Styx songs.  I’m not sure what I missed, but the guy at the door said they were rocking.   That’s a high compliment right there…

The line-up is  David Victor on vocals and guitar, Roby Duron on guitar, Manny Aguire on bass, Dave Hamilton on keyboards and Glenn Jost on drums/vocals.   As you can see, these guys are excellent musicians that did a great job with all the songs they played.

Victor traded off vocal duties with the Glenn Jost on tunes and they were joined towards the end for a few Styx tunes and a Boston tune by August Zadra (former bandmate of David’s and current member of Dennis DeYoung’s band), who sang and also played guitar.

There was some good triple guitar work going on during the end of the set.

Wrapping up around 11:00, they ended up playing a great set of tunes, but I would have stayed for at least another hour for more music.

Sebastian Bach seemed right at home and happy as can be jamming KISS tunes with Tommy Thayer and Eric Singer, who are the current members of the band along with Gene and Paul.   This was a rocking way to end out the first set of the concert.   

COLD GIN

SHOUT IT OUT LOUD

 

ROCK AND ROLL ALL NIGHT

TOMMY THAYER SEBASTIAN BACH ERIC SINGER 9/16/2013 “That’s going to be on YouTube”

 

Dave Brock of Manzarek/Krieger and Wild Child sang several Doors classics, including “LA Woman” to open the second set.  That was awesome.  Dave is just like Jim Morrison.

 

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Gary Mule Deer is a hilarious comedian.   His jokes rocked (good musical humor) and he was good musician, too.   He resembles Johnny Cash and even played “Folsom Prison Blues”.     He’s definitely worth checking out again!