Post by wingsj0 on May 17, 2006 20:14:29 GMT
Atlantic City, New Jersey May 13, 2006 - By Joyce Brazino, Philadelphia.
It isn’t everyday you see a guy in a kilt in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But there he was at the Trump Taj Mahal’s Casbar Bar, beer in hand. The kilt, and the Ian Hunter tee shirt, were dead give-aways as to why this bloke was in town. He was pumped for Ian’s performance and his excitement was contagious. You could feel it rippling through his mates and through the other concert-goers seated at the bar outside the Xanadu Theatre where Ian and members of his Rant band would soon take the stage.
On this particular evening, Ian opened for guitarist Dave Mason, founding member of Traffic. Although the one off gig was described as “stripped down,” it packed all the intensity and musical excellence that fans of Ian Hunter have come to expect.
Ian remained seated with an acoustic guitar throughout the hour-long performance. Andy York played lead electric guitar; James Mastro vacillated between rhythm guitar and mandolin. Drummer Steve Holley sat atop a cajon—a resonant wooden box traditionally used in Flamenco, Cuban and Peruvian music. That, plus a high hat and splash cymbal –which Steve played with his bare hands – provided percussion for the gig.
Without the additional instruments, Ian’s stunning vocals rang loud and clear. It was an intimate performance that found him in a jovial and chatty mood despite having quit cigarettes just two weeks before. He introduced many of the numbers with humorous comments and anecdotes. For instance, prior to Death of a Nation he quipped, “England’s already gone down the tubes; your country isn’t far behind.” Before I Wish I was Your Mother, Ian explained that this was the first song he’d ever written for his wife, Trudi “If you’re married and you write songs, you must write songs for your wife. And you mustn’t write them for anyone else. This is the first song I wrote for Trudi and when her mother heard it, she said, ‘Don’t marry him.”
Ian mentioned that his new album, Shrunken Heads, was due out in the fall. “But we won’t be playing any songs from that album as I have it on good authority that there are bootleggers in the audience.” After Wash Us Away, Ian turned to Steve and acted as if he were seeing the cajon for the first time. “What’s that a F******* tea chest,” he joked, cracking himself up. Following American Spy, Ian took time out to acknowledge the kilted reveler who was dancing in the front row, singing a few bars of No Wheels to Ride in his honor. “Excuse us, we’re having a private moment,” Ian explained. “This gentleman traveled all the way from Glasgow to be here tonight.”
For me, the highlight of any performance by Ian Hunter is Michael Picasso, written for Mick Ronson who died of liver cancer in 1993. It’s a loving tribute to a colleague and “brother” that is gut-wrenching and tender, all at the same time. As always, Ian delivered it with palpable emotion.
Predictably, the night concluded with “All the Young Dudes.” Ian coaxed a very tentative audience into singing the chorus. “See, it’s not easy, is it?” After an encore of Roll Away the Stone, Ian and the Rant band left the stage. It was an evening that left us wanting to hear more but grateful for the first-rate performance that we got.
Joyce Brazino, Philadelphia
Set List
Once Bitten Twice Shy
Death of a Nation
Knees of My Heart
Wash Us Away
I Wish I was Your Mother
American Spy
Resurrection Mary
Michael Picasso
Central Park and West
All the Young Dudes
Roll Away the Stone
Joyce Brazino
Official Site: www.ianhunter.com
It isn’t everyday you see a guy in a kilt in Atlantic City, New Jersey. But there he was at the Trump Taj Mahal’s Casbar Bar, beer in hand. The kilt, and the Ian Hunter tee shirt, were dead give-aways as to why this bloke was in town. He was pumped for Ian’s performance and his excitement was contagious. You could feel it rippling through his mates and through the other concert-goers seated at the bar outside the Xanadu Theatre where Ian and members of his Rant band would soon take the stage.
On this particular evening, Ian opened for guitarist Dave Mason, founding member of Traffic. Although the one off gig was described as “stripped down,” it packed all the intensity and musical excellence that fans of Ian Hunter have come to expect.
Ian remained seated with an acoustic guitar throughout the hour-long performance. Andy York played lead electric guitar; James Mastro vacillated between rhythm guitar and mandolin. Drummer Steve Holley sat atop a cajon—a resonant wooden box traditionally used in Flamenco, Cuban and Peruvian music. That, plus a high hat and splash cymbal –which Steve played with his bare hands – provided percussion for the gig.
Without the additional instruments, Ian’s stunning vocals rang loud and clear. It was an intimate performance that found him in a jovial and chatty mood despite having quit cigarettes just two weeks before. He introduced many of the numbers with humorous comments and anecdotes. For instance, prior to Death of a Nation he quipped, “England’s already gone down the tubes; your country isn’t far behind.” Before I Wish I was Your Mother, Ian explained that this was the first song he’d ever written for his wife, Trudi “If you’re married and you write songs, you must write songs for your wife. And you mustn’t write them for anyone else. This is the first song I wrote for Trudi and when her mother heard it, she said, ‘Don’t marry him.”
Ian mentioned that his new album, Shrunken Heads, was due out in the fall. “But we won’t be playing any songs from that album as I have it on good authority that there are bootleggers in the audience.” After Wash Us Away, Ian turned to Steve and acted as if he were seeing the cajon for the first time. “What’s that a F******* tea chest,” he joked, cracking himself up. Following American Spy, Ian took time out to acknowledge the kilted reveler who was dancing in the front row, singing a few bars of No Wheels to Ride in his honor. “Excuse us, we’re having a private moment,” Ian explained. “This gentleman traveled all the way from Glasgow to be here tonight.”
For me, the highlight of any performance by Ian Hunter is Michael Picasso, written for Mick Ronson who died of liver cancer in 1993. It’s a loving tribute to a colleague and “brother” that is gut-wrenching and tender, all at the same time. As always, Ian delivered it with palpable emotion.
Predictably, the night concluded with “All the Young Dudes.” Ian coaxed a very tentative audience into singing the chorus. “See, it’s not easy, is it?” After an encore of Roll Away the Stone, Ian and the Rant band left the stage. It was an evening that left us wanting to hear more but grateful for the first-rate performance that we got.
Joyce Brazino, Philadelphia
Set List
Once Bitten Twice Shy
Death of a Nation
Knees of My Heart
Wash Us Away
I Wish I was Your Mother
American Spy
Resurrection Mary
Michael Picasso
Central Park and West
All the Young Dudes
Roll Away the Stone
Joyce Brazino
Official Site: www.ianhunter.com