Record Boy Goes Clubbing!
Rod Argent and Colin Blunstone @ Cavestomp! Village
Underground NY 5/24/01
Record Boy showed up at the Village Underground in time to catch the reunited
former Zombies. The celebrity quotient was high in this smoky hole below street
level, and Record Boy's appearance created even more of a buzz.
Opening for Mssrs. Argent and Blunstone was a Jersey band called Richard and
The Young Lions, that caused a small local stir in the '60s. Their set amused
and delighted Record Boy. First of all, lead singer Richard had to be pushing
60 and like several other of his original bandmates, was dressed up in 1960's
hippie clothes, complete with scarves and peace medallions. The youngest Lion
was probably in his late 40s.Richard had to keep putting on his reading glasses
to see some of his lyrics. Yet these guys rocked like the Ramones circa 1977.
Besides, when was the last time you saw someone play the maracas
for an entire song?
Little
Steven, who is a co-presenter of these Cavestomp! shows, stood next to Record
Boy for most of the Lions’ set. Both of us were
being extremely cool and acting like we didn't recognize each other. But come
on! With my cape and his shmate on his head...who could mistake us?
After their set, ol' Record Boy hung out with Max Weinberg...he of the E Street
Band and the bandleader for Conan O’Brien. Max is not only an outstanding
musician, but he's a true music fan and gifted storyteller. He regaled Record
Boy with stories about Bruce, about George, Paul, and Ringo, the Beach Boys,
The Who and many others that I've promised to never share with you! Sorry!
Anyway, this much hyped reunion of Zombies was a tad disappointing. Rod and
Colin have a new record out and their main purpose that night was to sell it.
They did lots of their new material, peppered with obscure moments from their
various solo albums. They ignited the crowd a couple of times with letter
perfect renditions of "Time of the Season" and Argent's "Hold
Your Head Up,” but for the most part the combination of unfamiliar material and
Argent's long raps in between songs did not make for an overly rocking
experience. (Roger Daltry eventually figured that out during the initial
Quadrophenia tour and he shut up half way through the tour!)
Record Boy probably wasn't alone in thinking this (did I mention Paul Shaffer
and Al Kooper were there too)? but the ex -Zombies were taken to school that
night by the ex-hippies. The lesson? Shaddup and Rock!