Recorded Live at Dooley's in Tempe, AZ on June 25, 1979. In support of the "Airwaves" album.
Tom Evans: Vocals & Bass, Joey Molland: Guitar & Vocals, Tony Kaye: Keyboards, Peter Clarke: Drums.
Badfinger's bleak in set at Dooley's
By JOSE GALVEZ
The Arizona Daily Star
Years back, in the early days of the British rock 'n' roll invasion, Tom Evans, a youngster of 16, went to the Cavern to see the Beatles. It was the first group he had ever seen live, and it was to change the course of his life.
The years passed, and Tommy friend Joey Molland, bassist, decided to form their own group - Badfinger.
Where do the Beatles come in?
Well, critics and fans labeled Badfinger as the successors to the Fab Four, which can be a heavy load to carry.
"At the time, it was too much pressure," lead guitarist-singer Evans said last night after two sets at Dooley's.
"I couldn't believe it at the time. We treated it like a joke."
It's hard to see any similarity. Badfinger is a good group, but certainly not on the same level as the Beatles.
Playing mostly selections from their new album, "Airwaves," it's rock 'n' roll in all its sameness. One song blending with the next and each one sounding no different from the last.
Maybe it has something to do with the environment where they all reside - Los Angeles, that great gathering place of sameness.
The punk rockers have been wise to keep their roots in England. Heaven knows what they would sound like if all new-wave rockers suddenly packed their bags and moved and to LA.
Getting back to Badfinger.
Only when the band started playing some of their hits and there have been several-did it get better.
"Without You," written by Evans and made popular by Harry Nilssen, was their finest number. "Come And Get It" followed, and a woman in her mid-20s said it reminded her "of high school make-out music."
Maybe so at the time, but not today.
Given the steady diet of music coming out of the studios today, it's easy to see how groups like Badfinger have managed to stay on the road. It's certainly not talent.
"Rock of Ages" ended the set with Evans asking the crowd if it wanted to boogie. A few weak yeses from some teenies in the audience of about 350 brought the crowd to life, but it was to late to save the show.
The two latest additions to Badfinger are Tony Kaye on keyboards and synthesizer and Peter Clark on drums. They've been with Evans and Molland only four months. Neither Kaye nor Clark stands out, with Kaye overplaying on the electric piano and Clark's drumming not having the drive and energy so essential to keep a group going.
Tucsonan Shep Cooke opened the set with a nostalgic collection of old songs and
remembrances of when he used to play with a young Linda Ronstadt. Both played Tucson's coffee houses as the Stone Poneys back in the mid-60s.
As for Badfinger, it's time to go back home and see what the boys are up to before they become another same old rock 'n' roll band.
Негізгі бет Badfinger - Without You - Live in Tempe, AZ (1979)
Пікірлер