Jeff Beck
with Gary Hoey
Brady Theater
Tulsa, Oklahoma
April 27, 2010
By Jeb Wright
Photos by Carl Dunn
Jeff Beck
Setlist:
Eternity’s
Breath | Stratus | Led Boots | Hammerhead | Mna Na Eireann |
People Get Ready | Rollin’ & Tumblin’ | Never Alone | Big Block
| Over the Rainbow | Blast | Angels | Dirty Mind | Brush with
the Blues | Higher | A Day in the Life | How High | Nessun Dorma
Jeff Beck
is touring to promote his latest release, Emotion &
Commotion. The title perfectly sums up his present day take
on a live performance. Most of the show the audience was
pleasantly surprised at just how intense and heavy his playing
has become. Just when Beck slammed it home, he answered with a
beautiful solo piece that brought the listener’s emotions to the
forefront. In addition to Jeff Beck being an amazing virtuoso
on the guitar he is also a master of performance and a true
bandleader. Opening for Beck, this evening, was another amazing
guitarist, Gary Hoey.
Hoey took
the stage with only an acoustic guitar and a bass player Hoey
played several of his own songs but also took time to give a nod
to those who have influenced him. Gary is an excellent electric
player who can throw down surf tunes, metal classics and his own
electric riffs and leads with ease. Tonight, however, he was
stripped to the bone and had to reinterpret his songs to fit
into the acoustic realm. “Shed My Skin” is a metal rocker in
real life but Hoey stripped it back and gave the tune a whole
new flavor. Hoey had the crowd rocking in amazement when he
took on Jimi Hendrix’s “Purple Haze.” He got the crowd going
with “Low Rider” as well. At the end of the day Gary was a
perfect opening act. One could see this man putting out a
bluesy, acoustic set in the future. He was just as amazing
without the distortion and power and his vocals have never been
stronger. Seeing Hoey not hiding behind his six string,
electric self was eye opening. As good as I knew he was,
tonight he was better. There are more sides to this
multi-faceted musician than one could ever know.
After a short break, Beck came on and
took over. His band consisted of top-notch players, including
bass player Rhonda Smith, who has a wonderful voice who is very
easy on the eyes. By the third song she stepped to the front of
the stage and showed her prowess on the bass. The crowd went
nuts as Beck stood behind her playing bar chords smiling.
Beck is a true living legend. The most
emotional moment of the night was the rendition the band
performed of “People Get Ready.” Beck can do wonders with his
whammy bar. Most guitarists use the bar for flair and power yet
Beck put on a clinic of using the metal rod to bend to pitch and
sustain notes. “Over The Rainbow” showed just how much you can
do with so little. Beck had the house hushed as the emotions
poured out of his fingertips, surrounding the theater and
putting all in attendance in awe of his skills. He created the
same amount of amazement with his rendition of the classic
Beatles tune “A Day in the Life.”
The show
was far from just mellow tunes. “Led Boots” and
“Hammerhead”brought loud applause and found standing ovations
between songs the norm.
Beck, as a
fine wine, gets better with age. He is at the top of his game
in 2010 and shows no signs of slowing down. With the new album
debuting in the Top 30, perhaps Beck will finally get the
respect that has been due him for nearly three decades.
Contempories Jimmy Page and Eric Clapton have become gods while
Beck has had to settle for being a minor deity. Perhaps when
this tour is over he will rightly take his place alongside the
other two.
-- Jeb
Wright
