The Doors of the 21st Century

Pacific Amphitheater, Costa Mesa, California

July 25, 2003

As expected, the 10:00 sound curfew at this venue meant an on-time start, and at 8:05 Carmina Burana played and the Joel Brodsky young lion photo of Jim 1943-1971 was projected on the screen behind Ty's drums.   This venue also featured  screens on both sides of the stage for closed circuit projection.

(There will be no discussion here about the videos which accented each song.   If interested in that detail, please refer to the Houston review.)

Ray entered the stage waving, wearing a white jacket over a white knit shirt and dark pants.   Robby wore the bright royal blue, oriental patterned shirt over a t-shirt, and camouflage pants.    Angelo wore blue jeans and a grey short-sleeved shirt over a black long-sleeved shirt and blue jeans.   Ty wore a black shirt with #8 on it, and blue jeans.   Ian entered last, in blue jeans, a black, long-sleeved shirt, a light mustache and goatee, and wraparound sunglasses.  

The first surprise this evening -- as they launched into Roadhouse Blues -- was a man standing behind Ray, next to Ty's drum riser.    Ray introduced him as (I think) Road Jack or Low Jack.   He was small in stature and had a great white, Santa Claus-like beard.   He played a mean harmonica (mouth harp?) on that song!

Jack left the stage and the band went right into Break On Through.  

When they went into When The Music's Over, I noticed that there was a woman standing on the far right side of the stage, 'signing' the lyrics.   It was interesting watching her interpreting the lyrics for what must have been a group of hearing-impaired fans on that side of the audience.    I shuddered at the thought of not being able to hear this magical music ... and it reminded me of why I wear earplugs to rock concerts!!   While Robby soloed in the song, Ian crouched in front of the drum riser, playing maracas.  

Ian removed the sunglasses, and Ray introduced Ian, Ty, Angelo, and Robby.   Robby introduced Ray, "from Chicago."

Love Me Two Times followed.   Ray began Moonlight Drive with a long solo keyboard introduction.   As Robby plied his bottleneck, Ray detoured the song into the Louie Louie section, and was eventually joined by Ian and Robby on the refrain.

Following Wild Child, Ian commented that there were a lot of children in the audience, that it was beautiful, and that they are the future.   (Ian's own children were at the show, on the side of the stage).

We were delighted to hear the opening chords to Not To Touch The Earth ...  at last, we were at the right show on the right night, to get this treat!   And, what a thrilling performance it was.

As Robby removed his long-sleeved shirt to reveal a black t-shirt with blue sky & clouds seen through windows depicted  on the front, we got some political remarks from both Robby and Ray ... in a nod to the current political and gubernatorial issues in California, Robby asked Ray who he is going to vote for, for Governor ... Schwarzenegger ???    There were some remarks about Ray running for office, but Ray said that he had smoked marijuana, AND inhaled, AND enjoyed it !!!

Alabama Song and Back Door Man followed.    Ray got up from his Alesis keyboards and walked over towards Robby's side of the stage.   As the next video began projecting, for Five To One, Ray playfully goose-stepped in unison with the footage behind the drums, back to the keyboards.   Ray remained on his feet for the start of that song.

The stools were brought out, signaling what has become my favorite part of these shows.   As Ty and Angelo left the stage, Ian sat on the left stool in front of Ray's keyboards, and Robby sat on the stool to the right.   As is now our tradition, Beverly and I "high-fived" as they began playing our mutually favorite song,  Crystal Ship.   This was followed by People Are Strange.  

The stools were removed as Ian left the stage, while Ray lingered to introduce Robby, saying he was the ONLY rock 'n' roll flamenco player.   Ray then left the stage as Robby took center stage to play his beautiful and intricate flamenco solo that eventually leads into Spanish Caravan.   When Robby played the familiar chords that signaled the start of the song, Ray, Ty, Angelo, and Ian returned to the stage.   Ian punctuated the song with tambourine, flamenco hand claps and yelps.   What an amazing performance, as always.

Ray once again introduced the mouth harp player -- this time it sounded like he was identified as Jack Green, and also Low Jack, to join the band on Maggie M'Gill.

Jack left the stage again as the thrilling, opening chords of L. A. Woman followed.    The audience reacted enthusiastically each time Jim, Robby, Ray, and John appeared on the backdrop screen during the video for that song.   As the 'Mr Mojo Risin' section of the song approached, Ian shouted "this is for Jim".

It was 9:40 when the song ended, and they left the stage.   Doors of the 21st Century manager Tom Vitorino rushed to the microphone at center stage and asked the audience:  "You guys wanna hear some more?   Must be something wrong with this mike!   I said, Do you guys wanna hear some more?"    There was no mistaking the audience response, and they quickly returned to their places and went into Light My Fire.   Probably because of the approaching curfew time, there were no Elinor Rigby or My Favorite Things interludes, no solos from Ty or Angelo, and no "Get Up Stand Up" when Ian returned to the mike.

The band left the stage when the song ended, and Tom again immediately returned to the mike.  Pointing to the side of the stage, he said "The band is right there," encouraging the audience to demonstrate just how badly we wanted more.

The Doors of the 21st Century once again quickly returned to the stage, with the special treat of seeing Waylon Krieger walking alongside his father and picking up a guitar.    During Soul Kitchen as their final song, Robby and Waylon traded guitar licks while they grinned at each other.   What a great surprise!    Ray finished the song standing up, playing the keyboards with his left hand and his right foot!

read media review:  

Orange County Register by Richard Chang:  Relighting a legendary band's fire .. The Doors of the 21st Century manage to keep Jim Morrison's spirit alive -- July 28, 2003

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by Ida   7/26/03