I saw the great 60s British group, The Yardbirds, last night at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. The Yardbirds were a very influential music group, playing rock, blues and psychedelic music. Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck were all Yardbirds at one time. The only remaining original member of the group, drummer Jim McCartey, still tours with the band, and he was at the concert Thursday night.
The Yardbirds are now a 5-piece band. Lead guitarist Johnny A. was outstanding. He has a lot to live up to, playing in the legacy of such famed guitarists like Clapton and Beck.
I don't know all of The Yardbirds songs, but I knew the opener, "Heart Full of Soul," and "For Your Love," which the band played later in their 90-minute set.
Lots of Yardbird fans there, mostly older. The Colonial wasn't quite a sell-out, but close.
McCarty himself had an extended drum solo, and all five musicians each had turns of playing solo. Most of the other members of the current Yardbirds are from the states, from Brooklyn to Chicago.
The crowd was on its feet during the upbeat encore of "Train Keep A-Rollin'" and " I'm A Man." McCarty informed the audience there's a new album on the horizon, and asked for help at The Yardbirds website to make the album happen. "Donations, quickly changed to "pre-orders" of the new album were waiting to be accepted.
All in all, The Yardbirds were high energy, good fun. The sound was a bit distorted at the beginning, but improved as the show went on. And for a guy in his 70's, McCarty still knows how to rock.
Gooch & The Motion opened the evening with a six-song set, most off their album 'Comin' Home."Only two members played at the Colonial, Gooch ) who is the lead singer and guitarist)and an acoustic guitar guy. They do have a full band, but not tonight.
They were well received by the crowd filing into the theater. Gooch has a really deep, gravelly, Peter Wolf-like voice. It's different and unique, all good in the music business. The group is from South Jersey, but have a Southern twang to their voices. They have shared the stage with the likes of Lynard Skynard, the Allman Brothers Band, and the Zac Brown Band.
One more thing you need to know about Gooch: He's a paraplegic, using a wheelchair. He plays the guitar, almost like a steel guitar, sitting on his lap. He was in a car accident back in 2004. His father bought him a guitar after his accident and Gooch learned how to play- and the rest is history.
He is a cancer-survivor as well. He is a brave guy, not for the courage it took to overcome such adversity at a young age ( he's only 30), but he has the guts to get on stage, via portable ramp,wheelchair and all, intermingle on-stage with fans, tell his story and play his blues music.
By the end of their set, the crowd no longer were staring at Gooch for the curious and unique performer that he is, but seeing him in a different light as a singer/musician.
I'm sure he would want it that way.
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