return to Ida

RAY MANZAREK and ROY ROGERS
BUDDY GUY'S "LEGENDS"
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS OCTOBER 15, 2010

October 15, 2010, Ray Manzarek (The Doors) and Roy Rogers Band / Eric Davis and The Troublemakers / Austin “Walkin’” Cane, Buddy Guy’s Legends, Chicago, IL

This show was not exactly what I expected having read reviews from Ray/Roy shows in the spring. To my knowledge, all but the two Doors songs were from an upcoming/unreleased Ray/Roy project called ‘Translucent Blue’. It's possible they played songs from 'Ballads Before the Rain' or some of Ray or Roy's solo works I am not familiar with. I don’t think any of the attendees could have been familiar with (m)any of the songs – yet, the tunes were enjoyable and groovy. Many were very similar to the more upbeat tunes from the Doors albums ‘Other Voices’ and ‘ Full Circle ’.

Ray was in decent spirits but derided the crowd for requesting Doors songs several times. Also, during his instrumental ‘The Crystal Ship’, he STOPPED halfway through and called out a patron for using his cell phone in a distracting way. I appreciate this when artists make people feel embarrassed for being rude idiots. But it was disappointing to have the song broken up.

I was prepared for the question and answer session and was all ready to ask a good one. The first person Ray called on asked the pathbreakingly useful question “How do you make it in music?” which anybody in any profession at any time could have answered in the same way Ray did “A: Practice”. I am glad the nitwit question-asker took advantage of such a special opportunity and asked something better served for self-help pamphlets.

The second person asked Ray what his favorite moment with Jim Morrison was, which is an okay thing to wonder about, but seems like something one could discover online or via interviews somewhat easily (A: meeting Jim, poetry, discussion on the beach). After this, Ray just said he wanted to keep playing, and he did. Am I upset Ray didn’t keep asking questions? Not at all. Am I annoyed the first person asked a dumb question? Yes.

Roy ’s guitar was mixed poorly in my opinion which was somewhat distracting, but perhaps I am just a sound snob.

This was my 3rd time seeing Eric Davis (7th seeing Ray, 1st Ray/Roy) and he sure is a fun performer. ‘All Along the Watchtower’ was halfway between Gov’t Mules somewhat jazzy versions from recent years and Hendrix’s famous studio version. Davis never could unleash on the song as he broke strings on BOTH of his Strats and had to revert to Gibson. His take on ‘Hoochie Coochie Man’ has to be seen to be appreciated; it sure is engaging for the crowd.

- Eric Davis and The Troublemakers setlist (incomplete and not necessarily in the right order) –