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Experience Hendrix - 3/15/12, Clearwater, FL (Ruth Eckerd Hall)


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This was kind of a blast. The tour features everyone from geezers to youngsters delivering songs Hendrix once played, which means it's not all original Jimi material...that is, they included several covers that Jimi either popularized or bastardized, depending on your POV, including All Along the Watchtower, Like A Rolling Stone, and Killing Floor.

 

Surprisingly, parts of the night turned into what they used to call "cutting" contests, where a young guitar slinger tried to match riffs with an elder. I thought this was hilarious, as the youngsters got schooled again and again. Of particular note was the fast fingered Jonny Lang getting schooled by Aerosmith's Brad Whitford, of all people. While Brad might not have played as many notes, or played as quickly, his riffs just sounded better, punching clearly through the rhythm section. Even the fast-fingered Dweezil Zappa was outshone by The Doors' Robbie Krieger, another major surprise.

 

The guitar highlight of the night, however, was probably Kenny Wayne Shepherd. His version of Voodoo Chile kicked all sorts of ass, and made me realize he was the only solo artist on that stage whom I would pay to see again. I wasn't familiar with him before, so it was a nice discovery for me. None of the geezers tried to upstage him, and probably for good reason.

 

Partial setlist, not in any particular order:

 

Manic Depression

Fire

Voodoo Chile

Purple Haze

Spanish Castle Magic

Little Miss Strange

Hey Joe

Little Wing

Red House

Them Changes > We Gotta Live Together

Come On (Let The Good Times Roll)

Stone Free

All Along The Watchtower

Like A Rolling Stone

Killing Floor

Foxy Lady

Love or Confusion

Are You Experienced?

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I wonder how Brad ended up on the tour. From what I have read, Aerosmith are working on a new album. They must be doing it in bits and pieces.

 

Your post made me think of the movie Crossroads.

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I saw Johnny Lang open for Aerosmith in 1997. Aerosmith brought him out for Last Child. Brad could wear a tshirt with the phrase "schooling Johnny Lang since 1997" and get away with it.

 

Thanks for the review - I've always been interested about this tour/project.

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