When I was roughly 7 years old or so, I first saw the video for the Doors’ song
Wild Child. It’s one of my earliest music video memories (yes, I grew up with MTV) and that song was the introduction to what still stands as my favorite band of all time. On Saturday,
John Densmore’s Tribaljazz rolled into Seattle and I had debated for a long time on going to see the band.
I have much respect for Densmore since he stood up to the other two money-sucking whores in the band and filing a lawsuit (which he won) to prevent them from using the Doors’ name on a tour (and other profits) without him. However, I’ve read a lot about this band over the years, and he was the bitchy band member (though Ray Manzarek is a close second). Jim Morrison didn’t even like Densmore. But he is a living member of the original Doors and the chances of seeing him or any of the others on tour again are probably growing more slim.
The set began with light flavored flute, bass and piano from 3 men of the band members. As the song got quiet, loud and deep, booming percussion started making its way forward from the back of the room. John Densmore and the rest of his 7 piece band then made their way through the crowd, chanting and dancing along the way.
They all launched into a purely instrumental version of Steely Dan’s “Do it Again.” Densmore, accompanied by 3 sets of percussion, was a rather small part in the band, simply playing the drums (he has suffered from tinnitus in the past). After each song, he would leave his drum kit and go up to the front of the stage to introduce the next song. He was dressed in white from head to toe looking kind of like Moses at the ripe age of sixty-three.
Art Ellis is the true front man of this act, playing the flute, sax or anything he can get his hands on. It’s a shame for these musicians that the Densmore name is what is selling tickets as they are equipped with Bongos, congas, a fresh piano player and a flat-out amazing upright bass player among weapons. But on the flip side, if that’s what it takes to get them exposure, then so be it.
The only Doors’ cover all night was “Riders on the Storm.” Had he not told us beforehand, it would have been very difficult to name this disguised song as even the vocals were replaced by a flute. “An actor out on loan” is what gave it away for me.
His tribaljazz band is a very talented bunch. One original bounced from African beats to Spanish rhythms and then rounded out with a Calypso ending which turned the stage into a major party. You could almost picture the ghost of a bearded Jim Morrison sitting in the back of the room, proudly smiling as he sipped a warm glass of tequila.
Densmore did come to the mic during a song called “The first time” but it might have been better if he would not have done so. He gave a fair attempt to re-hash an early 60s “cool cat” vibe with spoken word, talking about seeing John Coltrane for the first time and walls melting. It came off rather lame and he was just the wrong person to put vocals to this acid experience.
After a stunning shaker solo by Christina Berio, the band launched into a great version of “Wrapped Around Your Finger” by the Police. For the finale, the younger of the two African drummers got up and danced with happy glee all over the stage, getting the whole (white) crowd out of their chairs to party like they were on a cruise ship.
I have to hand it to Densmore as he’s constructed a pretty talented group of musicians, and for getting back to his deep love of jazz music. Instead of milking the cash cow and never letting go of the “glory days” with the other surviving Doors members (see INXS, Blind Mellon, Queen, etc.) he has a totally original thing going on and he’s doing it right by mostly staying out of the spotlight.
I’m glad that I left my pre-conceived opinions at home for one night and got to go see 25% of my favorite band ever. And I got to briefly meet and get a picture with him afterwards also.
A good night.
[
