Review by Shawn Perry
Photos by Ron Lyon and Jim McCluney
Montrose — the band — was one of those cool 70s groups teeming with talent and ambition. It was only after seeing them open for KISS in 1976 that I went back and discovered their incredible debut album from 1973. This was the record that introduced Sammy Hagar to the world. But then, as it is now, Montrose is pretty much about guitarist Ronnie Montrose. He may not have reaped the rewards of his former singer (whom he fired), but he has stayed true to his muse and his craft as a world-class guitar hero.
In the early 80s, Montrose recorded and toured with his short-lived band Gamma. Since the late 80s, however, he’s been out and about under the name “Montrose.” What that means is pretty much open to interpretation, but you could say that Ronnie Montrose’s setlist comprises a mild cross-section of his music from over the last 38 years —most of it from the landmark 1973 debut. And that’s exactly what the crowd at the Coach House came to hear.
After three bands — the mostly covers band Jason Lee & Friends, the mostly instrumental band Points North, and a bit of both from the incredible Michael Lee Firkins — Montrose hit the stage at 10:45 with “Rock The Nation.” Upon impact, it’s easy to see that singer Keith St. John is like a young Sammy Hagar as he effortlessly glides through the songs — “I Got The Fire,” “Make It Last,” “Rock Candy” and the ever-elastical “Space Station #5.”
Along with St, John, Montrose’s current band also includes Steve Brown on drums and Dan McNay on bass. The guitarist had told me earlier during an interview that over the years, there had been a revolving door of players who had come in and out of his stable. But, he stressed, this particular combination was “the one” he wanted to stick with for awhile.
Consider the musicians Montrose has been associated with — from the guitarist’s sideman role with Van Morrison and Edgar Winter to leading bands that featured Hagar, drummer Denny Carmassi (later with Heart and Coverdale-Page), bassist Alan Fitzgerald (turned keyboardist and founding member of Night Ranger), drummer James Kottak (now with the Scorpions), bassist David Ellefson (of Megadeth) and numerous others.
What’s most noticeable is that Montrose and his younger band members all attack the material with a fresh and confident energy. It would be easy for the guitarist to stand aloof, play a signature riff here and there, and let the other guys run around and entertain the flock. That’s not the way it works with Ronnie Montrose. He steps out in front, assumes a commanding position with the band in his wake, following those crushing, hooky power chords.
If, by the time the encore rolled around, you were left guessing if Montrose could possibly give anymore…he left no one guessing when he invited Firkins out for a double-slide onslaught of “Bad Motor Scooter.” Although other setlists indicate Montrose has worked Gamma songs like “Voyager” and “Razor King” into the mix, tonight all the music was pulled from three Montrose albums from the 70s, with the bulk of the first one. “Bad Motor Scooter” may well be the most popular Montrose track there is because of its signature opening. The guitarist told me he came up with it after the song was already recorded. He was just messing around with a fuzztone effect, producer Ted Templeman said it fit perfectly, and the rest is riff and roll history.
Together, Montrose and Firkins revved their engines, and the race was on. “Get on your bad motor scooter and ride…” St. John instructed the audience and all anyone could do was to hang on and enjoy the ride. For the instrumental interludes, the captain of the ship was in full control of his vessel. They finished off the night with “Good Rockin’ Tonight” — a classic Montrose spin deeply embedded in the groove of this song made famous by Elvis Presley. During the entire performance, Montrose dug in for a hearty slice of classic American hard rock, served up hot and steady. Just another reason we keep coming back for more, three decades running.
