Review by Shawn Perry
Photos by Ron Lyon
I’m starting to get used to the idea that certain bands — make that certain “older” bands — don’t necessarily have to have all the original members to be good. Aside from ZZ Top and perhaps a couple of others that escape my addled memory, most groups have either lost members through voluntary or involuntary termination, retirement, sickness or death. It’s enough to make you throw in the towel and head down to the local casino for a tribute band or two. But hey, everyone needs to make a living — even the guys still left in the band.
When you put two working veteran bands with a revolving door of members together like Blue Öyster Cult and Foghat, there are other things to consider…like the songs. in this case, both have enough good tunes to keep a majority of their fans fat and happy. Such was the case at the Pacific Amphitheatre where the songs took the spotlight and the identity of the players wasn’t ever an issue.
Foghat came on first, a little after 8:00. They have a new and vibrant blues album Last Train Home to promote, but they pretty much stuck to a proven formula — the hits and nothing but the hits. Drummer Roger Earl, the sole original member, sat this one out due to recent back surgery, so Bobby Rondinelli, who played with BOC for a spell, took over and turned in a solid performance. He even got in a short drum solo.
Most of the attention was on Charlie Huhn and Bryan Bassett, who have replaced the late founding members Lonesome Dave Peverett and Rod Price. Without reservation, they shook off any misconceptions and played the songs as if they were there from the very beginning. Only bassist Craig MacGregor, who joined Foghat in the mid 70s, actually played on studio versions of “Drivin’ Wheel” and “Stone Blue.” But tonight it didn’t matter because hearing them live was just what the doctor ordered.
Where do you go from here? How about “Fool For The City,” “I Just Want To Make Love To You” and “Slow Ride” — perhaps the band’s three best-known songs and instant winners with the crowd. Huhn, who used to sing with Ted Nugent, handled the vocals and rhythm with ease while Bassett ripped up the slide like a Delta bluesman. By the end of the 45-minute set, they had the audience nice and warmed up.
At 9:15, Blue Öyster Cult came out and delivered an able-bodied set, blazing with guitars, beginning with 1973’s “The Red And The Black.” Original members Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma, joined by guitarist/keyboardist Richie Castellano, drummer Jules Radino and bassist Rudy Sarzo, stick to a strict regimen and have little interest in making new music. Of course, when your earliest albums are your best, why chance it.
“Burnin’ For You” was a cooker that brought the faithful to their feet. For real guitar muscle, BOC style, nothing beats “Buck’s Boogie,” a staple on the setlist since at least 1974 and a superlative showcase for Dharma and Castellano. “Last Days Of May” brought an interesting twist, but then the double-fisted rupture that is “Godzilla” and “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” virtually stole the show.
“Godzilla” received an exhilarating work-out with detours into songs via Sarzo’s past associations — a little Dio from his time with the recently departed Ronnie James Dio; a slice of “Cum On Feel The Noise,” a hit for Quiet Riot and Sarzo’s first hit record; “Here I Go Again” to remind everyone he also played with Whitesnake; and a little bit of Ozzy Osbourne’s “Crazy Train,” a track Sarzo didn’t actually cut in the studio, but played on stage numerous times during his tenure with the first of the former Black Sabbath singer’s many touring bands.
“(Don’t Fear) The Reaper” came and conquered, leaving thousands satisfied after a long day at the fair. There was no encore and the show ended promptly at 10:00. The night felt young, and more rock and roll would have broken the chill. But the buzz of good songs kept rattling on to the fairgrounds. It was the music of Blue Öyster Cult and Foghat (not their respective members) that people came to hear. And they got exactly what they wanted.
