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The Dead Guy Hippie Shit Show|DGHS Show- Michael Bloomfield live in 1969 at the Fillmore West Episode
One of the great white bluesmen of the hippie era. Michael Bloomfield.This show was done as an opener for Chuck Berry in 1969 at the Fillmore West and has a stellar lineup of 'friends' playing with Michael.Mike Bloomfield - guitar, vocalsNick Gravenites - guitar, vocalsMark Naftalin - pianoIra Kamin - organJohn Kahn - bass guitarCornelius "Snooky" Flowers - baritone saxGeralg Oshita - baritone saxJohn Wilmeth - trumpetNoel Jewkes - tenor saxDino Andino - congasBob Jones - drumsAt this Fillmore West show, Mike Bloomfield, Nick Gravenites, Mike Naftalin and friends opened for Chuck Berry."Born In Chicago" is a significantly different arrangement here than it is in the Butterfield Blues Band version. Bloomfield lays low throughout this song, letting the horn section lead the way. At times this approaches free jazz, but the rhythm section keeps it grounded in the blues."Work Me Lord" is a showcase for Nick's singing and it's great to hear this song when it was fresh and new. Mark Naftalin's piano work stands out on this one. Janis Joplin would take this song for her Kozmic Blues album later that year."Killing My Love" and "Holy Moly" are both tight arrangements, varying only slightly from the released versions, accentuated by scorching Bloomfield leads. "My Heart Beats Like a Hammer" is a tune featuring a focused, strong and assured Bloomfield on lead vocals. This rendition of "It's About Time" is much longer than the album version. This funkified tune prompts Bloomfield to play in a fiery mode, much different but just as intriguing as the slower blues numbers that make these shows so memorable."Young Girl" is another standard blues song, typical of Nick's songwriting at the time and featuring Bloomfield on lead vocals with his guitar leads punched up by the horn section. Again, respectable playing, but not as outstanding as the other songs that the group were playing in this mode as Bloomfield's guitar playing seems distracted by his singing. A second version of "Born In Chicago" closes the set.After Bill Graham watched these shows, he unexpectedly invited them to headline over the Byrds the following week. After listening to these tapes and needing more material for a headliner slot, they quickly developed more songs, including several more slow blues numbers to augment those final shows.Want more? Let me know. Elijahblue@gmail.comwww.clickcaster.com/dghsRecorded LIVE every Sat. night. You can listen in (and chat with EB) at www.thebouldersound.com
[ Sat, 24 Mar 2007 22:30:00 -0600 ]
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