BOC: A "dizzying excursion into [3OC's] world"

[John Swartz]

> Ted Jackson wrote:
>
>> Most musicians
>> draw from a variety of inspirations, and the fans have to be willing
>> to listen to new stuff.  But look how all us veteran fans grouse when
>> the
>> band doesn't play one of our faves, while others bitch because they
>> play too many chestnuts!
>
>  To which Carl replied:
> It's a fine line, I suppose, but there often seems to be that
> indefinable bit of soul that makes you recognize a band as that band
> even when the sound and even lineup can change radically.  And other
> times, even apparently minimal changes can completely chuck the band's
> "soul" out the window.

BOC is definitely a band that has, for the most part IMHO, walked on the
wrong side of that line - relying too heavily on "The Big 5" (The "Big
3" plus Cities on Flame and ETI).  In the early 90s they stretched a bit
playing more material that would eventually wind up on Heaven Forbid,
and today have been known to break out a few less-heard songs, but too
much of BOC's history has been to play "The Big 5", plus about half the
stuff off Secret Treaties, and a few other songs - in the late 90s you
could guess the setlist almost song for song.  I think now that the band
is playing primarily to the hard core fans, there is less of a need for
them to churn out the same stuff.


> I previously opined:
>> I think part of it wasn't so much the lack of Bouchard et al providing
>> material, but the fact that the band lost self-confidence.  It took them
>> until Heaven Forbid (and maybe even Curse of the Hidden Mirror) to
>> really establish their creativity as a "band" again in some sense.
>
> To which Carl replied:
> And while I applaud their efforts to create new stuff as a band, I gotta
> confess that I haven't found either _HF_ or _CotHM_ to have better than
> "well, that's kind of OK" on them :/  I hear flashes of BOC, but not yet
> re-established BOC.  (Basically, when Buck has some good moments it
> sounds like a solid Buck song, but I'd kinda like a bit richer diet than
> that!)
>
> Let's not delude ourselves -- old dude rockers are highly unlikely to
> ever burn up the charts.  But old dude rockers can (and sometimes do)
> make ass-whomping records anyway, and (this is just mah opinion heah!) I
> don't think BOC have quite reached the place where they've said "Let's
> just make an evil freaking record that will blow away anyone who listens
> to it, even if there are only three of them. Damn it."

I think, given the composition of the line-up, HF and CotHM were both
solid albums - no, they might not be tops in the fan poll (although they
certainly rank higher than the bottom for most fans).  There's enough of
the "classic" sound (not to mention some reworkings of some older
material - which I really like - tBS and the Sony Remasters has shown
that while not strictly "BOC Material", some of those old demos had some
creative stuff on them that deserved to be heard), and some infusion of
more current rock (esp. from Miranda/Rondinelli).  No, CotHM can not
possibly rival Secret Treaties, but what can?  I do look at those two
albums different though - simply because they are so far removed (in
time) from the rest of the catalog.


> Jason follows with:
> Chart burning (with rock and roll) aside, it'll bever be
> re-established in the old mold even if Miranda and (insert new drummer's name
> here...or at least the name of a drummer who sticks around for more than tour
> obligation purposes) go "hi, don and eric. let's jam and find our sound."  One
> of the things that contributed to the "classic" sound is born out of the
> "bandhouse"/SFG jamming telepathy methinks.

And THAT's not likely to happen - that jamming occurred when music was
still more of a hobby to these guys, not a career.  I doubt that
Bloom/Roeser/Lanier in particular are at a point in their lives where
they are searching for sounds and a musical future.  They are looking to
fund their retirement accounts, and (hopefully) enjoy what they are doing.

> Sadly, I don't get the sense that the weight of the band's past catalog will let
> them go far afield from what's comfortable, except for the inclusion of Allen's
> jamming in Last Days of May and the drum/bass solo in Godzilla.

Yeah, and the two examples you mention, are the two saddest moments when
I watch the "A Long Day's Night" DVD.  First off, while I think it is
GREAT to have Allen stretch out and provide a guitar solo or two, and
get some recognition for the talented musician that he is, it is nearly
criminal in my mind to have him soloing during Last Days of May - never
mind that his style seems all wrong for the song (or that the volume was
nowhere near loud enough on the DVD for Allen's solo) - that is simply
Buck's song, and his guitar should carry it.  As for the drum/bass solo,
I've spoken my thoughts on this before, but one more time:  1) after
some 25 or more years, it is getting really old to hear this in the same
song, 2) the bass solo and drum solo should be in separate songs - not
back to back, where they seem even more monotonous, 3) whatever the hell
Danny was doing at the beginning of his solo on the LDN DVD, it doesn't
work - he looks like a buffoon playing a single note on his bass and
doing some sort of "wave" with the crowd - BORING

> From blueoystercult.com
>
> September 14, 2004
>
> Bobby Rondinelli and Danny Miranda have both chosen to leave Blue Öyster Cult.
> Bobby will move on playing full time with the band The Lizards, with whom he
> has toured and recorded for the past couple years in his off-time from Blue
> Öyster Cult. Bobby's last show will be Saturday, September 18th in Las Vegas.
>
> Danny accepted a position alongside former BOC drummer John Miceli playing in
> the band for the "We Will Rock You" musical in Las Vegas. Danny's last show
> with BOC was September 12, 2004.
>
> Richie Castellano will be playing bass for BOC at the September 18 Las Vegas
> show. A permanent replacement drummer and bass player have not yet been named.
>

Forget what I said - I loved Danny's bass solos - bring him back, and
Bobby too!  ;-)

Ah well, it will be interesting to see what happens (visions of the old
Batman series flashing in my mind when Batman/Robin were in a bind at
the end of the show and the announcer's voice booming "IS THIS THE END???")

John