Wondering if they still bring the goods...Have never seen them live
Wondering if they still bring the goods...Have never seen them live
I saw them many times from the mid to late 70s until the early 80s and they were usually entertaining. I've never seen them without the original lineup. Kasim Sultan plays bass for them now and that would be one reason I might go see them. I've heard Eric Bloom's voice isn't what it used to be. And Buck shaved his mustache ;-)
I saw BLUE COUPE a few years ago at a small venue in Vermont. This band consists of the Bouchard brothers and Dennis Dunaway from the original Alice Cooper.About 10 people showed up but they played like they were in front of thousands. Got to hang out with them afterwards and they were very friendly. Albert Bouchard is even shorter than Buck Dharma. Still a kick ass drummer.
Kasim Sulton playing bass for them now
Kasim Sultan? That's pretty cool. Didn't know that.
Saw BOC a pile of times back in the day. Always good, never great, but they usually brought it. My favorite song of theirs was always "Astronomy" so the big, Spinal Tap-esque 4-guitars finale was always my favorite part.
High Vibration Go On - R.I.P. Chris Squire
I have seen B.O.C. somewhere between 15 to 20 times over the years. One of my favorite live bands ever. The most recent time was a few years ago. Rudy Sarzo was still playing bass at the time. I thought they were still great. Bloom's voice is a little less powerful than it used to be, but Buck still sounds about the same and he can play the hell out of the guitar. The other guys have all been with them for well over a decade now, so they are a well oiled machine. I am hoping to see them again in August if I can arrange to get out of work.Originally Posted by progman1975
I've seen them many times since 74. They are still excellent. Go see them. Richie Castellano plays guitar and keys, and is excellent. Kasim Sultan
on bass. Buck is still THE MAN! I saw them recently in San Francisco. Unfortunately, the neighbors imposed an 11PM curfew in this area, so they
had to stop then, 90 minute set. I wish they had started earlier and skipped the opening act. Buck is my favorite rock guitarist with Mr. Jeff Beck,
who is in his own category actually.
Agreed about Castellano. He can play anything and also sings (they let him sing lead on “Hot Rails to Hell” last time I saw them). He has been with BOC for 12 years now and really gives them a lot of versatility. Since Allan Lanier’s unfortunate health issues forced him to leave the band (and eventually pass away), Castellano has become the band’s secret weapon.
Saw them last summer in Atlantic City. Yes, they still bring it big time.
Just bought tickets to see them in New Jersey this summer with Vanilla Fudge opening.
I saw them a few weeks ago here as they were opening for Kansas. I had seen them a few times back in the 70's. They're still good......but yes.....not great by any means and still plugging away.
I went nuts for BOC about 1978, I love the first four albums, this is a favorite:
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I saw them live three times, twice in large venues but I was lucky to see one of the "secret" shows as Soft White Underbelly at the old Starwood in West Hollywood (now a shopping mall). They were incredible and Robbie Krieger came out for a smokin' encore of Roadhouse Blues. I lost interest after Cultösaurus Erectus, but I still play a self-made Best Of once in a while.
Thanks for reminding me of them, have to give that CD a spin soon. Astronomy.....a star.........
...or you could love
I saw them back in the early 90's. At the time it was Eric Bloom, Buck Dharma, Alan Lanier, and I forget who the drummer and bassist were. Great great shows. The first time, Buck gave me one of his guitar picks. The second time, I managed to get Eric and Buck to sign my Agents Of Fortune LP. If I remember correctly, the encore both times was Golden Age Of Leather/Red And The Black, and I think they opened with Stairway To The Stars/Dr. Music.
I only saw the once a long time ago, and they were opening for the band Flash. I went because I loved Yes-related bands. What I remember is that BOC simply blew Flash away. They were excellent!
I'm not lazy. I just work so fast I'm always done.
Saw them last Saturday night headlining the Redwood Run at the Riverview Ranch in Piercy, CA. First time hearing them live. Pretty good show for an outdoor gig. It was a biker rally so a pretty friendly (and well lubricated) audience. Glad they're still out there entertaining......Didn't recognize The Reaper when it started......guitar riff was different and so were the vocals......
The Ice Cream Lady Wet her drawers........To see you in the Passion Playyyy eeee - I. Anderson
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I saw them a few years back on a triple bill with Edgar Winter and Deep Purple.
They were OK.
Buck played a Steinberger guitar and played the reaper with distortion.
Sacrilege!
no tunes, no dynamics, no nosebone
Saw them at a free show on the Hudson River 9 years ago and thought they were great, especially Bucks Boogie and Godzilla. For the latter they blasted the classic Godzilla screech and stomp so loudly I thought the Big G himself was coming up the Hudson.
They're playing the same gig again on August 6th.
Buck's been playing Steinbergers since at least the early 90's. I think he's had a few different ones over the years, usually with the semi-Strat shaped body. I think at one point, he had one that had been carved to look like a block of Swiss cheese.
Buck's used a lot of guitars over the years. He used Gibsons a lot in the 70's. I've got a concert on VHS from 76 where he plays a Les Paul Deluxe and a white SG (and on one song, a custom built SG copy). In the early 80's, he played a white Strat with a Floyd Rose and humbucking pickups. I also recall he had a couple guitars built by some luthier, which he said were the builder's Vulcan model (it's the Vulcans that he and Alan Lanier are playing in the Burning For You video). Kinda looked like a cross between an Explorer and a Flying V. Then I think in the late 80's he was playing I think a St Blues Bluesmaster (or a copy thereof), which kinda looks like a cross between a Les Paul and a Telecaster.
I have seen them the last 3 tours all in Atlantic City and they were great though 2 tours ago the venue (Resorts Casino) was the worst place I have ever been for any event. They really pull out some cool tunes and vary the set. Just got tickets to see them again in May Landing NJ on July 18 and will be seeing them again Nov 6 in Colligswood NJ.
Last edited by Jay G; 06-18-2015 at 08:50 PM.
A few years back I saw them play at the robin 2 in Bilston UK, for those who don't know its a 700 capacity club. When I was young I used to see pics of BOC in sounds and kerrang headlining massive us festivals so it was pretty strange to see the in such a place. To be fair they put on a great show with a really crowd pleasing set with just about everything I'd want to hear. It was just Eric bloom and buck from the original lineup, but the rest of the band were top players including the guy who plays bass for queen. They've not played the uk much since then, just a couple of festivals I think, so I'm really glad I made the effort to go.
blue Coupe also played the same venue a while back but I didn't see that show.
One album of theirs that I've always been intrigued about is imaginos, I've never found out much about it, it strikes me as being a bit of a yes Union scenario with tracks by different lineups, anyone know the background to it?
I grew up with BOC. Still my favorite classic band. Seen them more times live than any other band, across the country. Haven't seen them in a while though and really need a fix!!!
Richie has been the most outstanding addition since the original band. The dual guitar leads with Buck are pretty sick.
JG
"MARKLAR!"
I have seen B.O.C. play to both huge crowds and play to really small crowds over the years and they always deliver. One show that stands out to me was the on “Revolution By Night” tour back in the day. They were playing a small hockey arena in Battle Creek Michigan that holds around 6,000 people. There might have been 1000 people there (and that is being generous). There was a small crowd of people around the stage, and scattered people here and there in the seats. Other than that the arena was empty. The band had to have been bummed to be playing such an empty arena, but they came out and totally kicked ass like they were playing to a full house. I gained a lot of respect for them that night. Back in the 90’s, like many of their peers, they got to a point where they were playing some really small clubs to small audiences, but they always delivered every time I saw them.
Regarding “Imaginos” there is a whole Wiki page devoted to the story behind it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imaginos It is an interesting read.
The album itself ended up being a mixed bag to my ears. There is some really good material on it, but overall the concept does not really work. I think it could have been a lot better. If you read the article, what it started out to be, and what it ended up being were pretty far apart. There is also the fact that it could be argued that it is not really even a Blue Oyster Cult album, as participation from actual members of the band at the time was mainly vocals and keyboards.
On the other hand, although it was blasphemy to many BOC fans I personally liked the remakes of “Astronomy” and “Subhuman” (re-titled “Blue Oyster Cult” on the Imaginos album), in fact I thought “BOC / Subhuman” was a significant improvement over the original. There are some other good tracks on it as well, along with some not so great stuff. In the end it was a disappointment to me, but I still own it.
They're playing a free show in the area. I might check them out, although the date could be better for me.
I saw them once, way back in early '78 on the "Spectres" tour. I was literally leaning on the stage in the center. They were pretty great.
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More than most bands, they seem able to do what it takes during the first few minutes of a set to end up sounding pretty good, (even at shitty venues). On several occasions I thought after the 1st tune...this will be my first dud B.O.C. gig. So far they've always come through and Buck has always had a few extraordinary moments.
The absence of new material is frustrating to me, especially because Buck Dharma is one of my favorite guitarists (I love his voice too), and I would have liked to hear some material from this line-up with Ritchie Castellano. It seems they have chosen to be a touring band playing the old songs. Oh well. Anyway I'm glad the band still exists in 2015 and that they seem to enjoy playing.
Same here. Great tune.
It is pretty much the same old story. I saw an interview with Eric Bloom a couple of years ago and he basically said that the effort it takes to put a new album together is just not worth it when no one will buy it and no one will hear it. They have pretty much resigned themselves to being a touring band now doing the oldies, although they do occasionally pull out "Harvest Moon" from "Heaven Forbid".
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