I loved their first album, Vivid. Back in 1987 when they came out, funk rock wasn't a full fledged genre, but this album kicked it off in a big way. After this album, I really started getting into funk rock like the Chili Peppers, Faith No More, Fishbone's transition from ska to funk, and later Infectious Grooves and Psychefunkapus.
I didn't follow Living Colour much after their first album, but as I downloaded the setlist in anticipation of this weekend's concert, I found out how good their later stuff is.
They were a really tight band! Will Calhoun is a solid drummer, and plays perfectly for the songs, though he showed his technical ability during his drum solo. Doug Wimbish is an amazing bass player, flashy but melodic and technical, always with the perfect groove. His bass solo was a melodic chord progression looped, that he solo'd over. Vernon Reid has always been an out there player - with strange chromaticism and frenetic shredding. At this concert, I finally "got it" - he's such a unique player, and he really stands out because of the way he plays. As a guitarist, one wants to find their voice, the signature style that, when you hear it, you say "hey, that's Vernon Reid". I loved his playing!! Corey Glover's voice has not aged or changed one bit, and he was able to hit all of the notes from the original recordings. I have so much respect for that guy as a vocalist - such power and soul!!
They didn't play everything I hoped they would, but it was an incredible concert nonetheless! And The Blue Note is an awesome venue for live music, and I got to see them really up close and personal - probably the closest I've ever been to a really good band like this. I even got to watch Calhoun's feet hit the kick pedal!!
During the show, there was interplay between Vernon Reid and Corey Glover, and it reminded me of the way that I interacted on stage with our singer, Jim, in Giant Wheel Throw, complete with middle fingers to each other.
When I took the following picture, because Vernon wasn't there, I introduced myself to them as Vernon's replacement. Corey said to me that "The difference is that I like you!!" That was a funny moment, and a really nice cap to a great show!
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