Black Country Communion Rocks Hampton Beach Show
Supergroup Black Country Communion rocks the beach
First a little background. The rock supergroup Black Country Communion consists of Glenn Hughes (“The Voice of Rock”, Deep Purple), young blues legend Joe Bonamassa, Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater, Alice Cooper) and Jason Bonham (the son of John Bonham from Led Zeppelin.)
They performed at the Hampton Beach Casino on June 17, 2011. You know what they say about seeing a band live? There is either nothing like it in the world or it leaves you lacking. Suffice to say there was no lack in this act. I sat in a suite in back with a full view of the stage and from the start of the show the music took on a life of its own, bringing some of us back to the 80s, others to the 70s. Their sound melds both genres and decades together, pulling from heavy metal, the blues, British rock and bit of funk. They manage to combine that with a modern sound, which is an accomplishment that no other group has been able to master before.
It’s no wonder then, that the audience was drawn in right in from the moment Joe Bonamassa grabbed his guitar and played like the genius he is. With the exception of his “Ballad of John Henry,” (which is) truly a masterpiece of music by itself, he stayed in the background though, letting Glenn Hughes take center stage. There was a moment too, when Derek Jason traded a percussion solo with Sherinian finessing the Hammond B3 Organ with its haunting sound, calling out to the Gods, and Bonham channeling his father with sweaty fervor. But it was Glenn Hughes who ruled the roost, romping from one end of the stage to the other like the veteran rocker that he is.
Hughes, who put Black Country Communion together, was the star this night. His voice reached heights that few rock musicians can muster and he completely OWNED the stage with his flamboyant flair, strutting his stuff, making eye contact with the audience and handling his guitars like they were an extension of his body, if not his heart. Hughes, who was born to be a front man, stalked the stage at times with a grin or scowl on his face, reminiscent of Billy Idol, held his guitar up high and challenged the audience to cheer him on. And they did, time and again.
They started with songs off their first album, like “One Last Soul,” a heavy mid-tempo tune, and the audience seemed to feed off its catchy chorus. They eased into music from their new album Black Country Communion 2, seizing on to songs like the unforgettable “Save Me,” feeding the audience doses of 70s-infused rhythm. “Faithless” was guitar heaven, a moving, dig-down-deep dramatic song that was a highlight, thanks in part to Hughes’ remarkable range. The ballad “Cold” was a personal favorite.
Bonamassa shined with “The Battle for Hadrian’s Wall,” one of the few times Hughes didn’t load the stage with his larger than life persona and made-for-rock-n-roll voice. But the two guitarists bantered on stage and seemed to truly enjoy the interaction. That interaction, the two superstars having fun on this small stage, made the show radiate with youthful energy. They have a chemistry that is undeniable; the brooding, dark whiz kid in Bonamassa playing off the spark lit by the fiery and dynamic bass player-turned from man Hughes. And when they sang together it was magic. “Song of Yesterday” highlighted their vocal harmony perfectly. They harmonized off one another so well, it was like they’ve been doing this their whole lives, and in fact, they have. Bonamassa has been performing since he was twelve and Hughes has been around the music world for some thirty-odd years. Together they ripped clean, polished vocals; if there can ever be such a perfect thing in rock and roll.
It was one for the record books at the Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom. The show ended with a rally, the audience clapping furiously and chanting “Man In The Middle!” (their most recent single off their new album) and “B (stomp) C (stomp) C!” The band delivered, and the crowd was on their feet when they erupted with a blistering encore featuring the funk-driven rocker “Man In The Middle” and a blast from the past with “Burn!” from Deep Purple. In a twist, Hughes applauded the audience and thanked them for coming. It’s always nice to see a band appreciate their fans but I’d like to take the liberty here to applaud the “Voice of Rock” and his supergroup for memorable show that is now written into Casino Ballroom history along with those long ago shows of Janis Joplin, Led Zeppelin and the like.
by Lisa Martineau
http://www.unionleader.com/article/20110618/NEWHAMPSHIRE01/110619913