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| ARTIST: |
The Jimi Hendrix Experience
(Google this artist) |
| ALBUM: |
Live at Berkeley |
| LABEL: |
MCA Records |
| RELEASED: |
2003 |
On May 30, 1970, the ultimate cosmic hippie messenger of truth flew his flower-powered love-ship through the galaxy of time, peace and sexual chocolate, touching down in the counterculture Mecca called Berkeley. Groovy things were bound to happen ? and luckily, his manager taped the whole thing.
Live at Berkeley is a companion CD and DVD release that captures the greatest electric guitarist of all time not long before he passed on, but still in full command of his magical, mystical musical powers.
His band should really be called the Experience Mach II, as it features one member from the original, inverse-Oreo Experience and one from the Band of Gypsys. With Mitch Mitchell, one of the great drummers of the 60s, and Billy Cox on bass, Hendrix had a warmer, more supple and more versatile base from which to take his flights of fancy.
The Live at Berkeley CD documents the second show at the Berkeley Community Theatre on May 30, 1970. (According to the cover which reproduces the original concert poster, ticket prices ranged from a reasonable $3.50 to an outrageous $5.50.) Portions of the show were originally released as a documentary in the early 70s, but this is the first time we've been able to enjoy the complete concert.
An instrumental jam called "Pass It On" sets the tone, then goes into a new song "Hey Baby," which he explains is from his forthcoming album New Rising Sun ? an album which was sadly never completed in his lifetime (but is available now). These two songs showcase some exciting new directions Jimi was taking his music, more open and improvisatory.
The DVD covers much of the same ground and also includes footage of him enjoying a pre-show can of Bud in his limo, doing a sound check and much more. The picture quality is far from breathtaking, but the performance is astounding. Hendrix is fascinating to watch because he makes the impossible look easy. It's sort of like watching a freak show ? only the freak is not a bearded lady nor a dog-faced boy, but a phenomenally gifted musician. Anyone who plays guitar will definitely want to pick up the DVD.
The perfectly paced show includes an amazing solo in "Lover Man" and a "Machine Gun" "dedicated to the soldiers fighting in Berkeley and Vietnam." Then he lets loose on the guitar-solo-as-sociopolitical-statement "Star Spangled Banner" You can practically smell the napalm coming straight from his whammy bar. Wrapping things up is a "Voodoo Child" that touches on many of the ingredients in his stylistic stew ? Delta blues, jazz, surf, psychedelia and straight-up rock & roll.
Only a few months later Jimi would give an incoherent show at the bad-vibe Isle of Wight festival. A few weeks after that, he was gone. The Live at Berkeley CD and DVD are two reminders of what a great loss his death was ? and how lucky we were to have him in the first place. Both should be played loud.
review by Steve Walsh
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Figgle 2001-2007