Cruising Once Again: The Cars Live

May 26th, 2011 by The Professor

The Cars rev up historic hits and switch into high gear with new stage oscillations

by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman

The Cars cruised into the Capitol on Monday, May 23, 2011, appearing before a sold out SRO audience at the 9:30 Club. As luck would have it for those fans without tickets staked out in front of the venue before showtime seeking to score entry, essentially every single person searching for sellers was able to buy a ticket priced marginally above face value.

Leader Ric Ocasek finally consented to a Cars reunion in the studio and on tour with his former bandmates lead guitarist Elliot Easton, keyboardist Greg Hawkes, and drummer David Robinson. Touring only as a foursome, they made the right decision not to replace their fallen partner and bassist Benjamin Orr. Hawkes picked up a bass guitar to play on two songs during their high-octane performance.

The quartet simply walked out on stage and immediately plugged into “Good Times Roll”. Their stage motif resembled Move Like This the cover art from the new disk. The Cars were primarily preoccupied with promoting their new album as the setlist featured a total of six fresh tunes. Although the studio recordings were rather thin on Easton’s distinct lead guitar wizardry, these new numbers sounded better live.

The classic Cars tunes from their initial 1978 self-titled album were exceedingly well received. The handful of selections originally sung by bassist Benjamin Orr generated an intense response from the Capitol crowd. Hawkes voiced an acknowledgment with, “A tip of the hat to our friend Ben Orr”.

Two exceptional unanticipated album choices unearthed for this modern tour by Ocasek that deserve recognition as major stage surprises were the apologetic heartfelt ballad “I’m Not The One” and the whimsical psychedelic vibe of “Heartbeat City”. Ocasek certainly left an indelible impression on the top pop hits of the 1980s with an innovative quirkiness unmatched by contemporary composers during his career peak streak.

Their triple-whammy encore drove audience hysteria to ecstatic heights. Incredibly after the concert concluded, each member of The Cars made himself available before boarding to sign autographs for the anxious fans crammed behind a barrier set up adjacent to the alleyway where their tourbus was parked.

Ocasek may not have broken any new ground in releasing a new collection of Cars material; however, this action reconstitutes The Cars with a creative rebirth in the new millennium. Depending on the level of success this present reunion project produces, there may be hope for Cars fans that more music and tours will follow in the future.

Even though practically a quarter century has passed, The Cars were rightly welcomed on the tour circuit by their loyal fanbase. Demand for the band was demonstrated in 2006, when The New Cars conducted an overwhelmingly popular nostalgia tour orchestrated by Todd Rundgren who handled lead vocals. Cars fans have Ric Ocasek to thank for this exciting 2011 Spring tour.

The Cars, 9:30 Club, Washington, DC, May 23, 2011 setlist: Good Times Roll * Blue Tip * Since You’re Gone * Up And Down * My Best Friend’s Girl * Hits Me * Touch And Go * I’m In Touch With Your World * Keep On Knocking * You Might Think * Drag On Forever * Free * I’m Not The One * Sad Song * Heartbeat City * Let’s Go * Encore: Moving In Stereo * Just What I Needed * You’re All I’ve Got Tonight

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Auburn Afire On Stage: Melissa Auf der Maur Live

May 26th, 2011 by The Professor

Melissa Auf der Maur’s bass resonation batters Manhattan

by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman

Melissa Auf der Maur delivered an incendiary performance on Thursday, March 3, 2011, at the Highline Ballroom in New York City. This was the final date on her Out Of Our Minds World Tour and the only concert scheduled on U.S. soil. MAdM fans traveled from up and down the Eastern seaboard, across the border from Canada and afar as France to attend this singular event.

The second floor audience was eager for an engaging appearance by MAdM and she delivered 100% on all expectations. Dressed in form-fitting black attire and lengthy black boots, she and her trusty bass guitar rocked the intimate venue with absolute abandon. Auf der Maur enjoyed being in her element – live before an audience. Her impressive stage presence confirmed she is one woman who is secure in her sense of self as a professional female musician in a male-dominated field.

Melissa sang five titles from her old-new album also promoted as her multimedia project Out Of Our Minds. Surprisingly, seven songs in her blistering set were from her first phenomenal solo album issued in 2004. Having reached the climax of a world tour, her touring band of seasoned young musicians was tight and accelerated the jams on stage.

MAdM blew out a puff of smoke and opened her energized set with “Isis Speaks” off her sophomore effort. However, “Lightning Is My Girl” propelled the eclectic crowd into hyper activity with its kinetic melody. Her vocals were audibly captivating, and her spontaneous interaction responding to audience commentary displayed a raconteur sophistication.

“Happy Thursday New York, it’s Jupiter Day!”, proclaimed MAdM before she launched into a power-pop jam on “Real A Lie”. A lead guitar intro prefaced the band’s instrumental romp through “Lead Horse” from OOOM. “Merci Beau Coup, New York City”, MAdM said mentioning that this was the last date on her Out Of Our Minds world tour. She interjected her sense of humor during stage chatter between numbers.

“My Foggy Notion” was another high-octane highlight that prompted immediate gyrating. The energy level of the standing-room-only spectators spiked in response to the intensity of the music. In an unanticipated departure from her stage presentation, MAdM sang “Father’s Grave” as a prerecorded duet with Glenn Danzig. Her writhing body pulsed in time to the rhythm of the power-ballad melody.

Prefacing “Paranoid”, a tune Hand of Doom covered on her now out-of-print live 2001 Black Sabbath tribute album, she stated, “This is a song for those taken too soon”. To end the all-too-brief set, her distinct bass riff began “Followed The Waves” with her holding a note and hollering for maximum effect. Her band decisively cranked the volume, but Auf der Maur’s lone vocal finished in silence.

Returning for an encore, Melissa announced, “There are wild horses in my head tonight”, before kicking into high gear with a galloping version of “Skin Receiver”. She sang sans her instrument to the accompaniment of buzzing dual guitars with the charging music brought to an abrupt completion. Pausing to thank and introduce the members in her band, Baltimore was acknowledged with a shout from the MAdM.

The stellar one-its-kind concert closed with her rearrangement of the Doors’ classic “When The Music’s Over” reworked into a fantastic psychedelic blues vibe. Her unique rendition eventually surged into a climactic crescendo. Having sincerely thanked NYC, MAdM placed her throbbing bass guitar on the floor allowing the instrument to continue vibrating after she exited the stage.

17 countries in 17 weeks. Supporting MAdM on her 2011 Out Of Our Minds world tour were drummer George Donoso and dueling guitarists Alex Crow and Will Tendy. Segments of video clips from her 28 minute featurette The Hunt were projected on screen to introduce the show and then later shown behind the band to accentuate her prolific lyrics and stage action.

Melissa Auf der Maur is simply an incredible bassist, composer, singer and performer. Her live musicianship before an audience is unparalleled. Her movements on stage behind the microphone balance a subtle gracefulness with an alluring sensuality. She and her instrument of choice move and groove together on stage in a fusion of melodic bass animation.

Several dedicated Auf der Maur fans parked themselves in front of her merchandising table after the performance waiting for a meet & greet with the MAdM herself. Their investment in queuing up paid off as Melissa did indeed make a point to sign autographs and pose for pictures with a score of fans. Melissa has been blessed with an abundance of good luck being born in Montreal on Saint Patrick’s Day.

Auf der Maur built her bass career touring and recording with Hole in the 1990s. Billy Corgan later invited Melissa to play bass on The Smashing Pumpkins final tour at the turn of the millennium. Considering that she has spent a decent amount of her time as a backing musician touring with popular stage attractions, it’s amazing just how sincerely defined MAdM is as her own original artist before an appreciative audience.

Melissa Auf der Maur, Highline Ballroom, New York, NY, March 3, 2011 setlist: Isis Speaks * Lightning is My Girl * Real A Lie * Lead Horse * My Foggy Notion * Out Of Our Minds * I Need I Want I Will * Father’s Grave * 22 Below * Paranoid * Followed The Waves * Encore: Skin Receiver * When The Music’s Over

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