May 23, 2003

Doors Performance Has Its High Points

By CURTIS ROSS
cross@tampatrib.com

TAMPA - The ultimate Doors tribute act drew a crowd of 1,632 to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's Morsani Hall on Thursday night.

``The Doors - 21st Century'' is built around two original members, keyboardist Ray Manzarek and guitarist Robbie Krieger. Drummer John Densmore has denounced the tour and singer Jim Morrison, who spun off this mortal coil in 1971, is otherwise engaged.

Attempting to fill those very large boots was The Cult's Ian Astbury, who has copped a few Morrison moves over the years.

Astbury did a fair job on the vocals. He lacks Morrison's effortless theatricality - Morrison wanted to be a poet, Astbury wanted to be Morrison - but his baritone was close enough to Morrison's so that he didn't have to mimic.

It was when Astbury strayed from the script that things went south. Astbury's banter, within and between songs, never rose above the most hackneyed sex 'n' drug cliches, unlike Morrison, who knew how to shock (and rarely missed an opportunity).

Astbury wasn't helped by Manzarek, who goaded him on in the most smarmy manner possible. Manzarek could have been working the crowd at a motel lounge - comments ran the gamut from ``Lookin' good!'' to ``Lord have mercy!'' and ``Way to go, Robbie!''

Musically, the show was far more successful. ``When the Music's Over'' was brutally strong. Krieger attacked his guitar, de-tuning his low E string so it sounded like a jet heading for a crash landing.

Drummer Ty Dennis, though sometimes unsubtle, did a commendable job of capturing some of Densmore's eccentricities.

Krieger and Manzarek stretched out comfortably on several songs, sounding especially good on ``Light My Fire,'' although bassist Angelo Barbera wasted his solo spot playing tired funk riffs.

This story can be found at: http://tampatrib.com/floridametronews/MGALTIXO1GD.html

 

(thanks, Daphne)