Concert Review by Ralph Greco, Jr.
I can say this with no fear of contradiction, Vanilla Fudge are the best American rock and roll band, ever.
On October 28th, 2006 (a day that will live in infamy for yours truly) I saw the four original members of Vanilla Fudge gather together at the Patchogue Theatre for The Performing Arts, in Patchogue New York. With Mark Stein, Vince Martell, Tim Bogert, and Carmine Appice back on stage again, this was a rare opportunity to see this influential, truly American rock band back in their home environ.
I had heard the stories, seen the videos, listened to the songs but nothing could have prepared me for what I saw. Here and now, if anybody ever tries to convince me that guys at this age can’t rock, I have the evidence indicating otherwise. The Fudge came across like they were shot out of a cannon and didn’t let up for the next hour or so. Lest we forget, despite pop/rock staples like “You Keep Me Hanging On,” Vanilla Fudge is heavy man (not that “Hangin” ain’t heavy). Loud, driving without ever missing a beat, the band was in perfect step (not to mention perfect harmony, but more on that later) every step of the way.
Most of us have seen a lot of Carmine Appice through the years, his mustachioed presence beaming mischievously behind Rod Stewart’s shaking English arse. Appice has also his bit with plenty of other ventures, including countless bands (Remember King Kobra and Blue Murder?), instructional videos, and the recent Cactus reunion. To see Appice with this group of guys is a sight to behold. I’m not damning Stewart or that semi-disco/poppy stuff he did way back when Appice played with him, but seeing the drummer in a real rock band, where he is every bit as important a player as everyone else, is a treat. He is simply a great drummer.
Not ever being a big Fudge fan — until last night, that is — I had no idea of the blistering guitar work of Vince Martell. Having been familiar mostly with The Fudge through Mark Stein’s kinetic organ playing and singing (along with the aforementioned Mr. Appice), I never realized what a great guitarist Martell is. Stepping out when needed, but mostly providing a searing and tasty (how often can you say that about a rock guitarist?) counterpoint, he might be the most skilled, yet unobtrusive player I have ever seen and heard.
Stein, of course, is always a joy to watch as he switches from mike to mike, pumps the hell out of his organ (ok, let it go, let it go…I know what I just wrote!) and generally seems to be having more fun playing and singing with this band then any man should have a right to! And that voice! When he sings, “There ain’t nothing I can do about it” during “Hangin’ On,” you really feel the man’s passion for what he’s singing.
The real surprise for me was Tim Bogert on the six string bass and vocals. He can play like a mother — from maintaining the pumping beat with Appice to stepping forward with distorted bass leads. Even when his bass died halfway through the set, he walked off stage, took a moment while his tech attended to it, and came back with a bass solo that would have made Chris Squire envious. But mostly it was Bogert’s voice that killed me — actually it was all their voices that killed me! Every guy in ‘The Fudge’ can sing, each one a powerhouse lead vocalist in his own right. Even Appice has the pipes, taking lead on the amazing Curtis Mayfield classic, “People Get Ready.”
I recently watched a video of the band performing “You Keep Me Hanging On” on the Ed Sullivan Show and to tell you the truth I think they performed it better when I saw them. It was such a stop-and-go, heart-racing performance I wasn’t sure I was going to make it though the song!
After a short, yet technically impressive set from a local group Mind Field, followed by NJ’s Glen Burtnick on acoustic guitar and self-deprecating stories, the Fudge took the stage with the crowd of mostly 50-somethings well stoked for the return of their heroes. They played plenty of “new” songs from the upcomiong album Out Through The In Door, the Fudge’s take on Led Zeppelin (Page and Co. warmed up for Vanilla Fudge back in 1968). It truly was a good mix of old and new tunes (although I would have liked the Zep stuff to have been a bit more “Fudge-a-fide” as my friend Mark called it). But these old gents rocked like I have hardly ever seen any band do, even those 30 years their junior. Afterwards, all four members stuck around and sang in the lobby.
