The Doors Live in Boston
By
Tokemaster General,
Contributor
Friday, May 16, 2003 @ 9:41 PM
| The Doors Live at the Orpheum
|
 |
|
REVIEW BY: Jon Burr
I've been visiting KNAC.COM on a regular basis for some time now, and never before have I been as compelled to submit a concert review than after reading Mick Stingley's account of his experience with The Doors at the Roseland. Either he saw a different band, or he needs to stick to his Britney Spears concerts. The show I saw the next night in Boston was fantastic!
I work for a label, and I've seen hundreds of bands over the years. At this point, I'm extremely critical, and it takes something very special for me to be blown away. I have to say that even with Morrison absent, this was one of the better shows I had ever seen. These guys blew the roof off the place!
They were fired up to be playing this music again, and the audience was fired up to hear it. The crowd wouldn't let them leave the stage, and at times they were even chanting Ian Astbury's name. As was the case with many in attendance, I was skeptical that they could pull it off, thinking at best that it would be the ultimate Doors tribute band, but I left convinced that they are still the Doors.
I guess what I realized was that the music played a much greater role in the sound of that band than the surviving members are ever given credit for. Anyone who thinks that The Doors were entirely Jim Morrison, needs to sit back and listen more closely to the music. Go listen to some old live recordings. Go pick up Live In Detroit. Listen to "Light My Fire" for God’s sake. They were a band who loved to go off on instrumental jams. Those trademark Manzarek keyboards and the bluesy guitar riffs of Robby Krieger resonate just as much as Jim's voice. Both of these guys are terribly underrated musicians. To have these legends together again on stage banging out Doors classics with a singer like Ian Astbury is a gift.
What people also may not remember is that the Doors continued as a band
after Morrison's death, and actually put out two more albums with Elektra before disbanding. During that time, they had even considered grabbing Iggy Pop as the new lead singer. Unfortunately, the Lizard King's persona so overshadowed the band, that the fans would not accept a Morrison-less Doors.
I credit the surviving members for giving it a shot without Morrison back then, and I give them credit for trying again now. It's their music, so why shouldn't they? Besides, an Ian Astbury fronted Doors is still a hell of a lot better than a Fred Durst fronted Limp Bizkit.
I highly recommend everyone go check out this resurrected band. Jim Morrison is there in spirit, and the music is pure Doors.
Send your live reviews to [email protected]
|
