19 Jun 2002 - BB King's
Hey everybody
Went to BB Kings last night (19 Jun 2002). Great show!!!
The show was schedoled to start at 8:00. Warmup band came on at 7:30, played for 1 hour. Not bad, but not my cup of tea. The one guy was playing lots of different instruments including sitar(which was interesting), flute and some percussion instruments.
Johnny came on at 9:10 with some help and a cane. Throughout the show I could notice him shaking quite a bit. He was wearing a black hat and big beard. They went right into Hideaway, followed with Baby Don't Mean Maybe(?). Third song was Boogie Real Low. This song was where his fingers started to loosen up a bit. He did some repeating riffs and arpeggios. The next song sounded good, but I wasn't familiar with it.
The 5th song was Good Time Charlie(?) sung byJames Montgomery on Harp. This song showed what a good singer he was. Has a sort of raspy voice. Then they did Black Jack. Hot!!! JW's voice was sounding better as he went on. The 7th song was Tore Down! This was sung by the drummer, Wayne June. Not bad, but not Johnny. Next was another unfamiliar song. Then SenSaShun/Mojo Working and Mona, both sung by Montgomery. This was followed by Johnny Guitar, which was killer. A couple of times during the song , JW would play a Boney Moroney riff(much to the delight of the bikers behind me who had been calling for it all night)
His encore was Drop the bomb, done very well.
Throughout the show Johnny looked sort of stiff, sitting in a chair bent over his lazer. Didn't play any slide, but I can deal with that. I didn't hear any complaints, just lots of supportive fans who, like me, were thrilled to be there.
As the show progressed, he seemed to be pushing himself playing guitar. His leads became more and more intense. There were several times where he was really boogying. Overall, it was a great show.
Bob
Another review from the ww w.bboogie.com Johnny Winter comes on stage at 8:59 P.M. Johnny has a cane and is helped on stage by two assistants. Johnny is frail and shaking. Father time has not been kind to Johnny. Gone is the brash, outrageous, growling Johnny I saw at his Fillmore East debut on February 14, 1969, with Sam & Dave. Gone is the slinky, dastardly, daring Johnny of the "Guitar Slinger" tour of 1984. Johnny Winter is very courageous in the face of obviously, extremely failing health.
The first two songs are both instrumental boogie blues. Johnny's playing is difficult and slow. But fearless Johnny will not be deterred. Song three is much stronger with lead vocals and lead guitar playing improving markedly. Now I see Johnny Winter's old guitar licks coming through again: come on Johnny, come on !!!!!!! Song four is titled, "What Ya' Gonna Do." This is a strong rock & roll tune with phrasing tempo stops for dynamic effect. Johnny's current band is pictured below. From left to right they are: Johnny Winter (guitar & vocals), James Montgomery (harmonica & vocals), Wayne June (drums & vocals) and Scott Spray on bass.
The next tune is called, "Good Time Charlie." Johnny is having obvious tremors. I am distraught with concern for Johnny's health. The harmonica player, James Montgomery, takes a tasteful lead vocal on this tune. It is so unusual to see anyone else but Johnny sing lead vocals. The next number is a slow blues called, "How Lucky Can One Man Be." Gone are the super flashy extended lead runs that never seemed to end, with the growls added for effect. His leads are slow and deliberate, tasteful and well phrased, but it's just not the same Johnny. I should be very glad, he's even here to play for us at all, and for that I am extremely thankful!!! The double time tempo from the drummer drives Johnny to some inspirational blues playing for the latter part of this tune. Johnny finally gets rolling and seems to get hot. Song seven features the drummer, Wayne June, on lead vocals. He has an unusual style that is very animated. Johnny exhibits some of his best lead playing here. Now were seeing some of the old Johnny.
18 Jul 2002 Clermont-Ferrand France
La Coopérative de Mai, Clermont-Ferrand 18 juillet 2002
Alors que le public se masse devant la Coopérative
de Mai pour voir évoluer sur scène Wishbone Ash et Johnny Winter,
les Dead Plants jouent débranchés sur le parvis, à la bonne
franquette. Ils sont, comme toujours, en excellente forme et font passer un
bon moment de rockabilly/folk aux personnes non obnubilées par l’arrivée
imminente de Wishbone Ash à l’intérieur de la salle.
Le concert de ce soir est complet, l’affiche a attiré un public
de bikers pas vraiment jeunes : on se croirait au très peu regretté
festival Free Wheels de Cunlhat ! C’est un véritable défilé
de blousons et pantalons en cuir, de santiags, de foulards sudistes, de vestes
à franges etc. De nombreuses motos sont garées bien en évidence
mais deux personnes ont quand même osé venir en vélo…
Dés les premières notes, Wishbone Ash confirme tout le mal qu’on pense de sa musique : du rock F.M. progressif (sic) d’un goût plus que douteux… Une heure quinze durant, les deux guitaristes rivalisent de lourdeur et jouent à l’unisson des soli excessivement soporifiques dans la plus pure tradition de ce style musical fort heureusement en voie d’extinction. Et ce n’est pas tout ! Ils nous interprètent des chansons d’une voix qui rappelle les pires moments (et ils sont nombreux) de Toto. Les slows mielleux et ringards succèdent aux morceaux blues-rock sans aucune trace d’inspiration. Le public ne cesse d’applaudir et de les encourager à jouer encore et encore…
Après une longue attente, Johnny Winter et ses trois musiciens (basse, batterie, harmonica/chant) font leur apparition. Mister Winter est vraiment très diminué, il arrive plié en deux avec une canne et joue tout le concert assis. Le premier morceau, Hideaway, confirme l’impression visuelle : sa maladie l’empêche d’être aussi véloce qu’avant et le fait buter sur certaines notes. Un des titres interprétés ce soir s’intitule Sick and tired, il résume bien la situation !
Mais l’essentiel est là : ce monsieur a envie
de jouer et de finir sa vie sur scène comme les plus grands bluesmen.
Voir une telle légende du blues-rock ravit tout le monde même si
ses prestations à Woodstock et dans les années 70 étaient
un peu plus enflammées ! A la fin du premier morceau, Johnny pousse un
« yeah » laconique...
La tonalité du concert est plutôt blues, les morceaux rapides posant
visiblement problème : pas de Jumpin’ jack flash, Whole lotta shakin’
goin’ on ou Johnny be good… Mais quel bonheur d’entendre Got
my mojo working, She likes to boogie real low et surtout le génial Johnny
guitar malgré un chant hésitant de Johnny Winter.
Le groupe est là pour soutenir son leader et cacher les absences de la
voix ou de la guitare. L’harmoniciste pousse donc souvent la chansonnette,
et fait admirer son jeu d’harmonica qui mériterait un peu plus de
sobriété ! Enfin, c’est pour la bonne cause… Un peu
plus tard, dans le bus de tournée, il répondra souvent aux questions
à la place du guitariste albinos né à Beaumont, Texas.
Le concert se termine, Johnny Winter quitte difficilement la scène :
on compatit à sa douleur et on espère que c’est vraiment
son choix de jouer lors des festivals européens alors qu’il se trouve
dans un état pareil ! Il revient même pour un rappel où
on ne peut s’empêcher de se demander si tout cela est bien raisonnable.
Le bluesman ayant joué avec Jimi Hendrix et Muddy Waters semble vouloir laisser une dernière trace (avant rétablissement ?) et enregistre en ce moment de nouveaux morceaux pour une sortie début 2003. Go, Johnny Go !!
La soirée se termine sur une note plus gaie avec les Dead Pants. Cette fois, ils jouent sur une scène et ont branché leurs instruments : rock ‘n’ roll ! La contrebasse est toujours très présente, l’harmonica joue divinement, la batterie est minimaliste laissant la guitare et le chant s’exprimer. L’effet sur le public, quant à lui, n’a pas changé : on se sent habité par une frénésie incontrôlable !
le 19/07/2002
Signature : Pierre Andrieu
Computer translation into English of above text:
Whereas the public masses in front of the Co-operative
of May to see evolving/moving on scene Wishbone Ash and Johnny Winter , Dead
Plants play disconnected on the square, with good the franquette. They are,
like always, in excellent form and make spend a good moment of rockabilly/folk
to the people not obnubilated by the imminent arrival of Wishbone Ash inside
the room.
The concert of this evening is complete, the poster attracted a public of bikers
not really young people: one would believe oneself in very little regretted
festival Free Wheels de Cunlhat! It is a true procession of wind-breakers and
leather trousers, santiags, scarves Southerners, jackets with fringes etc. Many
motor bikes are parked well in obviousness but two people nevertheless dared
to come en.vélo...
Dice the first notes, Wishbone Ash confirms all the evil which one thinks of his music: progressive rock'n'roll F.M. (sic) of a taste more than doubtful... One hour fifteen during, the two guitarists compete of heaviness and play in unison with the excessively soporific soli in the purest tradition of this musical style extremely fortunately in process of extinction. And it is not all! They interpret us songs of a voice which recalls the worst moments (and they are numerous) of Louse . The mielleux slow fox trots and ringards succeed the pieces blues-rock'n'roll without any trace of inspiration. The public does not cease applauding and encouraging them to still play still and...
After long waiting, Johnny Winter and its three musicians (low, battery, harmonica/chant) make their appearance. Mister Winter really is very decreased, it arrives folded into two with a cane and plays all the sitted concert. The first piece, Hideaway , confirm the visual impression: its disease prevents it from being as swift as before and the fact of butting against certain notes. One of the interpreted titles this evening is entitled Sick and tired , it summarizes the situation well!
But essence is there: this Mister wants to play and finish
his life on scene like largest bluesmen. See such a legend of the blues-rock'n'roll
ravit everyone even if its services with Woodstock and in the Seventies were
ignited a little! At the end of the first piece, Johnny pushes a laconic "yeah
"...
The tonality in the concert is rather blues, the fast pieces posing problem
obviously: no Jumpin' jack flash , Whole lotta shakin' goin' one or Johnny Be
good ... But which happiness to hear Got my mojo working , She likes to boogy
real low and especially brilliant Johnny guitar in spite of a song hesitating
of Johnny Winter .
The group is there to support its leader and to hide the
absences of the voice or the guitar. The harmonicist thus pushes often the ditty,
and makes admire his play of harmonica which would deserve a little more sobriety!
Lastly, it is for the good cause... A little later, in the bus of round, it
will often answer the questions in the place of the albino guitarist born in
Beaumont, Texas.
The concert finishes, Johnny Winter leaves the scene with difficulty: one sympathizes
with his pain and one hopes that it is really its choice to play at the time
of the European festivals whereas it is in a similar state! It returns even
for a recall where one cannot prevent oneself from wondering whether all that
is quite reasonable.
The bluesman having played with Jimi Hendrix and Muddy Waters seems to want to leave a last trace (before re-establishment?) and records in this moment of new pieces for an exit at the beginning of 2003. Go, Johnny Go!!
The evening finishes on a merrier note with Dead Pants . This time, they play on a scene and connected their instruments: rock'n'roll ' roll! The double bass is always very present, the harmonica plays divinement, the battery is minimalist leaving the guitar and the song to be expressed. The effect on the public, as for him, did not change: one feels inhabited by an unverifiable frenzy!
22 Jul 2002 - Theatre de la Mar
Ce soir le théâtre de la mer est plein à craquer, Johnny
Winter joue. Mais d'abord il y a l'obstacle Wishbone Ash... Wishbone Ash c'est
du "rock progressif ancien", un clash dans l'espace temps. Du coup la musique
est inspide, vide, sans aucun intér^et. Pourtant les gens en redemande. Merde.
On fait passer le temps comme on peut et puis vient le moment. Les roadies se
chargent de préparer la scène. Une chaise rouge pour Johnny Winter, avec deux
amplis fender (à gauche), une belle batterie pearl (derrière), et deux gros
SW pour le bassiste (à droite), enfin, un petit fender(?) pour l'harmoniciste
(au milieu). La foule cri son nom et Johnny Winter arrive sur scène...porté
par 3 roadies. Tout le monde reste bouche bée, interloqué, éberlué. Qu'est ce
qu'est devenu notre bluesman ? Est-ce Jean-Paul II qui arrive ici sur scène
ou Johnny Winter complètement décati ? Sa jambe droite ne cesse de trembler
(parkinson ?), il est courbé, plié en deux. Il porte la barbe et son habituel
gros chapeau qui voile la moitié de son regard (que l'on devine cependant hagard).
Le voilà qui se lance dans la première chanson (impossible de me souvenir de
la playlist mais en gros c'est très proche de NYC97 : sen-sha-sun / mojo / johnny
guitar / une allusion a Fast life rider / black cat / she's like the boogie
etc...). Le son est bon, mais le physique de notre ami ne lui permet plus ni
de tenir le rythme ni de ne pas se louper sur certains plans (Il chante une
chanson sur deux, l'harmoniciste ou le batteur reprennant le chant pour le laisser
respirer). Mais ce n'est pas grave finalement car c'est bien un authentique
héros qui est là, à s'arracher pour jouer sa musique. Je voulais du blues, j'en
ai eu Johnny Winter pouvait mourir sur scène ce soir que cela ne m'aurait pas
surpris. Un seul regret le numéro de cirque avec le passage obligé par un morceau
de slide.
Pablo Pernot
Computer translation: This evening the theatre of the sea is full to crack, Johnny Winter plays. But initially there is the obstacle Wishbone Ash... Wishbone Ash it is "old progressive rock'n'roll", a clash in space time. Blow the music is inspide, empty, without any intér^et. However people in redemande. Shit. One makes spend time as one can and then comes the moment. The roadies are given the responsability to prepare the scene. A red chair for Johnny Winter, with two amplifiers fender (on the left), a beautiful battery pearl (behind), and two large SW for the bass player (on the right), finally, small a fender(?) for the harmonicist (in the medium). Crowd cry her name and Johnny Winter arrives on scene... carried by 3 roadies. Everyone remains bée mouth, disconcerted, flabbergasted. What became our bluesman? Is this Jean-Paul II who arrives here on scene or Johnny Winter completely steamed? Its right leg does not cease trembling (Parkinson?), it is curved, folded into two. It wears the beard and its usual large hat which veils half of its glance (that one guesses however hagard). Here are which launches out in the first song (impossible to remember me the playlist but approximately it is very close to NYC97: SEN-sha-sun/mojo/johnny guitar/an allusion has Fast life to wrinkle/black cat/she' S like the boogy etc...). The sound is good, but the physique of our friend enables him any more neither to hold the rate/rhythm nor of not louper on certain plans (It sings a song on two, the harmonicist or the beater reprennant the song to let it breathe). But it is not serious finally because it is well an authentic hero who is there, to tear off itself to play its music. I wanted blues, I had Johnny Winter of it could die on scene this evening that that would not have me surprised. Only one regret the number of circus with the passage obliged by a piece of slide. Pablo Pernot