My 1st concert at Madison Square Garden was Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat in 1980, 35 years ago. I'm here to tell you these Gents are still putting out. I went for Saturday's Rock, Ribs, & Ridges show specifically to attempt to video capture the underbelly of the group and got in 2 songs before shutting down. Ugly rain. In 15 minutes the back's of my legs were soaked with the directionality of the wind in rain and it didn't take long before it worked it's way around. I'm a guitar guy and Donald Roeser has always been a guy who's skillset I've admired. I love music that has a flair, a uniqueness, a punch, These guys provide that and more. Buck Dharma and Eric Bloom have been doing it for a long time. I miss Allen Lanier up there, but Richie Castellanos fills in well. He adds the second lead on guitar and swaps with Eric behind the keys, The same role Mr.Lanier occupied. RIP Sir. Jules Radino is on the skins and Kasim Sultan is on bass. Kasim has a resume that the band pays tribute to by hitting some key riffs by Joan Jett, Meatloaf, & Todd Rundgren during introductions in one song. I've seen BOC as SWU at Lemour's East in Brooklyn and had Mr. Bloom cruise out on The Capitol Theatre's stage in Passaic, NJ on a motorcycle back in the mid '80's. Eric came out post solo with a beer during Roadhouse Blues and handed me a Beck's Light after leading the crowd on during the line. I think due the fact a drum stick was tossed into the crowd and being 2nd Row I caught the plastic tip at the end and the guy 1st bRow had the meat of the stick and ripped it out of my hand. He came up and gestured with the bottle and then handed it over the drum stick winner and directly to me, I've been drinking Beck's Light ever since (Heineken Light if not avail')Good Times! Folks talked about what memories are inspired through song well concerts remind of friends and events. I attended that BOC show 2nd at The Capitol with a friend who died in a motorcycle accident shortly thereafter. One of the last times I saw him. Kenny was returning home in the rain at a 5 corners junction and got cut off, lost control, and went into a pole and gone, Early 20's, Far too soon. RIP Buddy. Anyhow. Great band. The crowd that weathered the storm were treated to nice show. They hit up some deep gems and hit most you'd expect. absent was Cities On Flame, but no setlist complaints here. Songs inc Career Of Evil, Shooting Shark, Burnin For You, Reaper, Godzilla, Then Came The Last Days Of May, etc, & the 1st songs I videoed which were OD'd On Life Itself and The Golden Age Of Leather. Here's the vid's and a couple pic's with the band's official site and tour page.
BOC Official Page
http://www.blueoystercult.com/
Tour Page portion
http://www.blueoystercult.com/Road-main.html
OD'd On Life Itself
The Golden Age Of Leather
I'm thinking about hitting up the BOC, Robby Krieger & Vanilla Fudge show in August down in Pompano Beach, FL. Should be a good show. Thanks for the review and two videos, sucks you got rained on, but that's part of the game.
I saw a BÖC show in Athens, Greece in 1987 that even gets mentioned in their online band history. They had recently broken up but for this gig Allen Lanier rejoined a quickly reformed BÖC. And what a weird show it was. Riot police charging into the crowd in this extremely unsafe looking soccer stadium which wasn't used by that Athens based club anymore (Panathinaikos). One police man even felt threatened enough to pull his gun.
After the show we were quickily eating a gyros pita at a stand similar to a hotdog stand that completely got trampled by another charge from the riot police and the agitated crowd. Show was very good. Godzilla's footsteps were so loud i thought the Panthenon might collapse. Eric Bloom indeed came on stage mid-show on a big motorcycle.
BTW, great to read they still often play "Then Came The Last Days Of May". Love that song. Certainly would want to see them live again.
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"Blue Öyster Cult 1986-present
After the German leg of the tour behind Club Ninja, Joe Bouchard decided to leave the band. BÖC now only had two original members: Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma. Jon Rogers was hastily hired to replace the departed Joe, and this band finished out the 1986-87 tour.
Shortly afterward, the band, for all practical purposes broke up. This split was very short-lived, however, as they received an offer they couldn’t refuse to play in Greece. This was the impetus for Allen Lanier’s rejoining the band. He’d been planning a trip to Greece, and had also been “rather bored” during his time away from BÖC. With those gigs, he returned to the BÖC fold, and the band was officially un-broke up."
Wow, i thought well let's google that Greek BÖC show from 1987 i previously mentioned and i found this picture. Talking about a flashback. Weird night indeed.
