REFRAIN MUSIC

Now this was one that I’d been looking forward to for a while, Jeff Beck, arguably one of the greatest guitar players of all time, live in a fairly intimate setting at Casino NB.  To my surprise I found out that day that there would also be an opening act named Tyler Bryant who I was anxious to hear as well (not everyone gets asked to open for Jeff Beck), I ventured to the Casino in anticipation of being enveloped in some amazing musicianship.

Tyler Bryant hit the stage right on time, and it was visible that this lad was young, and he stated in the show that he was only 20 years old.  But his youth did not effect his skill, he was simply put an incredible guitar player, and at the tender age of twenty he’s already been playing guitar for fourteen years, having gotten his first guitar at the age of six!  Bryant made his acoustic guitar sing, saying he normally didn’t play acoustic that much, rarely live, but it surely didn’t show on this night.  He played some blues and slide guitar that would have made some players three times his age envious.  He rattled through some of his own tunes, stripped to their core on the acoustic, songs like “Kick The Habit” and “Good Life” off of his first full CD ‘From The Sand Castle’.   Bryant is from a little town called Honey Grove, Texas but now calls Nashville, TN home and you can see him featured in the film ‘Rock Prophecies’ that features guitarists like Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and Slash.  He’s played at Eric Clapton’s ‘Crossroads’ guitar festival in Chicago by the time he was 15, and has opened up for many great acts like BB King, Aerosmith, Heart & Vince Gill.  On this night he was a treat to watch perform and listen too, in person he is a very nice young fellow (signing autographs in the merch area) and I highly recommend his music.

Opener Tyler Bryant - Jeff Beck Concert - Casino NB - 10/13/2011

Then it was time for the headliner, Mr. Jeff Beck to take the stage, and the crowd was buzzing in anticipation as for many, this would very likely be their only chance to ever see him live.  Beck is considered one of the best guitar players of all time, being one of three of the greatest to play in the band The Yardbirds (Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page being the other two).  With a career spanning almost five decades Beck has played with a plethora of artists, a list that reads like the who’s who of the music industry, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice both with the Yardbirds and as a solo artist.

The concert this evening also featured some fantastic musicians in his band, the drummer tonight (and vocals) was Narada Michael Walden, drummer, producer, singer/songwriter who has a yard long list of achievements, from gold, platinum, multi-platinum records, Grammy awards, and has worked with some of the biggest names in music like Whitney Houston, Maria Carey, and Aretha Franklin.  On Bass, was Halifax born (and Montreal raised) bass player Rhonda Smith, who is most notably know for her work with Prince and has worked with many others like Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Patti Labelle, T.I., and George Clinton to name a few.  On Keyboards and vocals was Jason Rebello, who has worked with Sting in both the studion and on live performances since 1998 and has toured with Jeff Beck since 2006.  This ensemble of fantastic musicians combined with Beck led to some of the tightest most complete sounds I’ve ever been privileged enough to hear, with amazing percussion, funky bass, smooth transitions and chaotic keys.

Beck went through a wide range of music from funky jazz, to smooth blues, and back to classic Rock & Roll, even playing his classic rendition of “Over the Rainbow” which is amazing to see how he plays this song.  Playing songs like “A Day In The Life” and “You Never Know”, he took the crowd on a roller coaster of melodic and sometimes almost symphonic sounds for almost and hour and a half, receiving a standing ovation at the end of almost every song from the crowd.  The crowd ‘head nodded’ and rocked, ranging in age from their twenties to their late sixties, and absorbed all the band had to offer.

Pulled out for for one encore at the end of the night by the crowd, Beck did an amazing tribute to some great artists starting off with one of his big influences in Les Paul (whom he had the chance to play with) playing a sleek black Les Paul custom, hitting us with Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” (sung by drummer Walden), and a tribute to Sly & The Family Stone (also sung by Walden, who looked like he was having a blast all night) and even played a beautiful Nessun Dorma.

Definitely earning a spot in my top twenty list of favorite concerts of all time this was one that lived up to the anticipation and left the crowd with huge smiles and great rock memories.  Thanks to the band, the casino, and Paul Mercs Concerts for bring this great concert to us.

Jeff Beck - Casino NB - 10/13/2011