LIVE AT THE COUNT BASIE THEATER

Here is one review of a show that came up on me very suddenly. I was a stand in for Steve C, who was out of town and couldn't make it to the show. At the last minute, the show was tossed my way. Even that morning, I wasn’t sure if this was happening, but thankfully I got a confirming Email informing me that I would be able to get into the show. I made a few calls to meet up with my contact outside the club. Understand that I had to get out of working the 8-5 job then get home eat regroup get ready and go. I met up with a pal of mine that just happens to live in Red Bank where the famous Count Basie Theatre is located. Parking was a bitch and it was deathly cold. Even freezing my bass off outside and losing phone signals of people a wall away, I was still unsure about was going on. The big man from Zenergy productions helped me in. That team of guys helped this review happen. Thanks guys.


Corey Glover

XENON had left the stage and we were ready to go in. As we walked down, TM STEVENS was blowing some fat ass bass. He had a good reaction from those that didn’t evne know him. He was bringing the super funk and it was surely powerful. His backing band was also a great jamming outfit. He was playing a good portion of his last record Shockazooloo. Even to his song from Rocky 4. TM egged on the crowd and got two girls on the stage to shake their butts. One was named Rachel and gave all the pedophiles a nice look at fresh, young, skinny meat. He got the crowd going watching them dance and jamming out. Nice! More Reggae jamming went down with more off the new record. He did note all the different people in the crowd. Be they slanty eyed, black, white, young or old, TM embraced the unity of this very varied crowd. He then goes into “The River Flow”. We jumped into other seats at this point to test my new camera. The heavier spots in these songs really slapped you in the face. Africa and metal is how the next song rolled over us as he flips the bird. Shockazooloo. I also think he said a member of SLY AND THE FAMILY STONE was there or it was dedicated to or both. TM has some marbles in his mouth. The next song “Thug” was going to him. A bit of a drum solo comes along and then a sick ass bass spotlight. It was just as the brothers say, "off the hook!" He had the people going mental at this point. “Hangman” hit me, hit me.


Vernon Reid

LIVING COLOUR was about to go on. It all seemed like they were on time. They had a window of fifteen minutes and we knew they were running a little late. Here they are again. I last remember seeing this band at Roseland for the Stain tour. Corey even dove off the stage on that show. I remember because his heavy ass landed on me. They start up the set with “Memories” as I bolt up to the front to take a few shots. Some technical problems came on “Middleman” and they all out had to stop. It almost seemed like a warm up show at this point to me. The place was not sold out and it had seats. There was a better turnout for the upstairs of this place. Then there was a point when Corey’s mic wire got caught under the bass players foot. They made due and went through “A Question of When” that really rocked live. “Operation: Mind Control” and “Funny Vibe”. I was wondering if Corey Glover was ever gonna take off his hat and jacket? It seemed at the point a “Glamour Boys” they seemed to be having a cool time. They just broke down laughing during this song almost to the point of they couldn’t even play. They said you try remembering all these damned songs. Vernon said they were not airbrushed. “Bi” saw the magic kick in more. Corey's vocal range goes to new highs on the cover of AC/DC’s “Back In Black” has him just piercing the eardrums. Sweet! “In Your Name” switched and then they took “Time’s Up” and “Sacred Ground” swells into a drum solo that was short. They totally thrashed it out. I was like, "holy shit". Other songs played out were: “Flying”, “Love Rears It’s Ugly Head”, “Ignorance”, “Type” then went very reggae with Vernon singing. Corey really broke the reggae tongue down in the end. “Cult of Personality” and “Tomorrow Never Knows” ends this evening with LC. I was felling a bit under the weather at this point. There could have been some Q&A but real life was calling. Maybe another time we may just catch up with the Living Colour down that old dirt road.


Living Colour live at the Count Basie Theater

Buy LIVE AT THE COUNT BASIE THEATER now!