EXPERIENCE HENDRIX Show Review

Experience Hendrix 2010 Tour Brings the Spirit of Music to Las Vegas
March 6th at "The Joint" inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

by Lew Bowman

LAS VEGAS, NV - The "Experience Hendrix", biennial concert tour featuring an all-star lineup of music greats pays homage to the music and legacy of Jimi Hendrix. Kicking off its fourth edition in Santa Barbara, Calif. on March 4th, it landed in Las Vegas at "The Joint" inside the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino complex just two days later on March 6th.

The cast of celebrity artists performed music written and inspired by Jimi Hendrix, and included some of the best known and most respected names in contemporary rock and blues; Joe Satriani, Jonny Lang, Eric Johnson, Kenny Wayne Shepherd, Brad Whitford (Aerosmith), Doyle Bramhall II, Ernie Isley, Living Colour, David Hidalgo and Cesar Rosas of Los Lobos, Double Trouble's Chris Layton on drums, along with one of the original Hendrix bassists Billy Cox. Billy played in both the Jimi Hendrix Experience and Band of Gypsies and performed with Hendrix at such landmark festivals as Woodstock and the Isle of Wight.

As each artist was introduced and came out on stage, they expressed their humble respect for the legendary icon whose music they were paying tribute to. The enthusiasm and inspiration in their playing further solidified this deep-rooted admiration for the legendary rock icon Jimi Hendrix. Janie Hendrix, Jimi's step-sister and CEO of "Experience Hendrix" came out and told the audience "Jimi called the stage his Electric Church, and that is where he came to spread his word of love and spirit" - she welcomed us to his church.

The show opened with Ernie Isley on guitar, Billy Cox on bass, and the featured drummer throughout almost the entire evening; none other than Chris Layton from Stevie Ray Vaughan's Double Trouble. Billy Cox kicked things off by singing a tasty rendition of "Stone Free" the "B" side off of Hendrix's very first 45 record release in the UK, Dec. 1966. Guitarist Ernie Isley, of Isley Brothers fame, then took over on the microphone and spoke of meeting Hendrix for the first time when he was only eleven years old, and how Hendrix came to live with his family for a few years which forever changed young Ernie's life. He sang the next two songs, closing with "Manic Depression" from Jimi's debut album "Are You Experienced?" joined by Kenny Wayne Sheperd bassist, Scott Nelson.

Next came the killer funk/metal band "Living Colour" featuring Corey Glover (vocals), Vernon Reid (guitar), Doug Wimbish (bass), and Will Calhoun (drums). Opening with "The Power of Soul" from Hendrix's posthumously released album "South Saturn Delta" they then blazed into their own killer rendition of "Crosstown Traffic" off "Electric Ladyland".

Doyle Bramhall II sat down to perform some down and dirty classic Hendrix blues on twelve-string acoustic, before bringing out the electric guitar and being joined by David Hildago from Los Lobos with the prime rhythm section for the night, Scott Nelson and Chris Layton.

Legendary guitarist Eric Johnson performed a searing version of "House Burning Down" from "Electric Ladyland" and closed with "Are You Experienced" from Jimi's 67' debut album. On this song, Eric actually emulates the closing guitar solo which Hendrix had recorded and then played back in reverse for the album - absolutely vintage Live Johnson for sure.

Johnny Lang and Brad Whitford team up and share solos on "Fire" and "The Wind Cries Mary" from the aforementioned debut recording, with Jonny singing some very soulful renditions. It is always entertaining to watch the extremely talented Jonny Lang sing and play, but I was even more impressed to watch Aerosmith rhythm guitarist Brad Whitford get to "open up" and shine as a very talented soloist - they closed their set with some dueling guitars that had the audience hopping.

The very gifted and engaging Cesar Rosas and David Hidalgo from Los Lobos came out next and were joined by legendary "Howlin' Wolf" guitarist Hubert Sumlin and Living Colour vocalist Corey Glover.

Joe Satriani closed the evening, and did a very cool rendition of "Third Stone from the Sun" off Jimi's first effort and also had a touch of laryngitis which paved the way for frontman Corey Glover to interpret for him. Awesome guitar playing is Satriani's legacy and a great way to end the night dedicated to a guitar legend.

The production was fairly basic, the light show at the Joint is always excellent, but the real show here were the artists, the music, and their performances; conscious effort was taken to not undermine this with over the top stage effects. This was some serious jamming, and that is the great appeal of this tribute show, one that hopefully carries on the tradition and spirit of Jimi Hendrix for many more years to come.

EXPERIENCE HENDRIX TOUR DATES

3/04/10 Arlington Theatre Santa Barbara, CA
3/05/10 Gibson Amph. At Univ. CityWalk Universal City, CA
3/06/10 The Joint Las Vegas, NV
3/07/10 Ikeda Theatre Mesa, AZ
3/09/10 Table Mountain Casino Friant, CA
3/10/10 Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA
3/11/10 Warfield Theatre San Francisco, CA
3/12/10 Silver Legacy Resort Casino Reno, NV
3/14/10 Paramount Theatre Denver, CO
3/15/10 The Stiefel Theatre for Perf. Arts Salina, KS
3/16/10 Uptown Theater Kansas City, MO
3/17/10 The Orpheum Theatre Minneapolis, MN
3/18/10 Chicago Theatre Chicago, IL
3/20/10 Fabulous Fox Theatre St. Louis, MO
3/21/10 Riverside Theatre Milwaukee, WI
3/23/10 Akron Civic Theatre Akron, OH
3/24/10 Wellmont Theatre Montclair, NJ
3/25/10 Count Basie Theatre Red Bank, NJ
3/27/10 Fox Theatre Atlanta, GA
3/28/10 Durham Performing Arts Center Durham, NC

To contact Lew Bowman for interviews or articles email him at lew@mediawavetech.com