We are westbound through the humid Gulf Coast ether, leaving Pensacola in our wake. Our jaws reside somewhere between the Florida/Alabama atmosphere and the 100 degree pavement sticking to our tires at 75 mph. Set firmly there last night by the CRB. Mr. Greg Loiacono stepped in for Neal and helped the band kick off their tour. It started with a couple of sets of music as heavy and dirty as the post tropical storm clouds that circled the Vinyl Music Hall just before doors last night.
The Joy Theatre in New Orleans sits directly in the crosshairs of this magical bus. In just hours the Freak Flag will be on its way high into the rafters behind the stage. Tonight PDC will be moving his beak in a second line pattern and presiding over those gathered, those joined by the bliss. First we’ve got to talk about last night.
The smiles and good vibes started early. The band took the stage around 8:20 to a packed house that stretched like a vine up into the balconies surrounding the floor. The first set was sharp, with Greg and Tony almost facing off due to the small stage space. The “7 Nights” opener helped transfer lots of first night energy into the crowd. The first set exploded from there, proving the Brotherhood aren’t out to just play it safe on this leg. They came out big like a band that intends to bring rock, trip and roll by the bagful to every stop.
Big, early jams litter the first half. “Chauffeur’s Daughter” and a funky “Boppin The Blues” both ascended often as the first stanza hurtled toward it’s heart, “Star Or Stone”. CR and Greg worked as one with a stoned Swiss precision, carving new guitar pathways through “Star.” It’s new alternating leads running parallel to the familiar, in dimension if not chart. They ripped through “High Is Not The Top” and closed with Greg pulling his slide and bending “Rosalee” into a powerful, exclamatory get down!
The second was absolutely insane. I mean it opens with “Vibration” for goodness sakes (and what a “Vibration” it was!). The keys had an Egyptian, antiquity feel at times and as always, our Wizard layered his signature psych-synth episodes throughout. But it was “Lizzie Mae” where the whole thing went off, split open and the honky-tonk began. CR’s “Lizzie-Rap” included reverberated calls for hungry Dogs, Mules, Hogs, Goats AND Roosters! It also held a huge, “Can You Hear Me” tease/jam that bounced for nearly four minutes before dissolving into Jeff’s low end.
“Tumbleweed” was a soaring, harmonic opera at times with some of the nights most intense interplay in the jams. A big swampy stretch late consisted of “Heart To Break” and a funked-up “Hard But Fair.” The “NYC Breakdown” in “Shore Power” ended with CR shouting something about a window painted black then directing it’s big raving psychedelic swell. “Seer” left minds melted and it’s usual dance floor mass spinning in it’s set closing wake. The “Rock & Roll” encore was sleezy in all the right ways and I can’t imagine anyone was ready to go home. CR said goodnight and the band left the stage as they’d arrived, all smiles, a band set on booking musical excursions nightly so get in line! See you soon New Orleans!
Check out the pictures from last night here!
