Johan van Zyl

Ritchie Blackmore - Deep Purple

2007-06-15T11:35:00.000+02:00

IT IS ten years since Ritchie Blackmore, founding member of the mighty Deep Purple, turned his back on rock'n'roll and re-invented himself as a strolling medieval minstrel.

As a full house witnessed on Tuesday, he's having a great time!

Anybody who dismisses Blackmore's Night as neo-renaissance fluff just has not been paying attention to what is a fine touring band.

From the opening moments featuring an electric blue spotlight on virtuoso keyboardist Bard David of Larchmont (yes, that's right!) to the sadly all-too-brief encore of Smoke On The Water, Ritchie and his merry seven-piece band had the audience spellbound.

Their wonderful two-hour set featured songs from throughout their career, such as Play Minstrel Play, fabulous sing-a-long favourites Under A Violet Moon and Back Home, a beautiful acoustic version of Joan Baez's Diamonds And Rust and, probably the highlight for many of us, re-workings of Purple standards Soldier Of Fortune and Black Night.

Special mention must be given to the beautiful voice and presence of Candice Night, Ritchie's leading lady and partner, whose mischief and charm is totally captivating, especially her gentle teasing of Ritchie between songs.

We lapped it all up, notably in the stalls' front rows, where many people danced in the aisles in full medieval regalia all evening!

Once the moody, sullen rock star, nowadays Blackmore plays the court jester, even adding a cheeky Chuck Berry-style Duck Walk midway through. Yes, he's a happy man indeed!

A great show that you must try to catch next time.

- Alex Calnan

http://www.thisisyork.co.uk/whatson/music/newsreviews/display.var.1472433.0.review_blackmores_night_grand_opera_house_york.php

Can you see Friday yet?

2007-06-15T11:04:00.000+02:00

Bob Dylan wins another award

2007-06-15T10:51:00.000+02:00

According to the Principe de Asturias jury Bob Dylan, who first performed in Spain in 1984 in the Rayo Vallencano stadium, is a ‘living myth in the history of popular music and a light for a generation that dreamed of changing the world’. Carmen Calvo, the Spanish Culture Minister, considers the American singer to be a ‘guru for various generations throughout the world’. Gay Mercader, a music promoter, said of Dylan that ‘he was the first to give weight to popular music and his influence on his peers is enormous’.
Read the full article here.
http://www.euroresidentes.com/Blogs/2007/06/bob-dylan-awarded-principe-de-asturias.html

Joan Baez times two?

2007-06-15T09:44:00.001+02:00

Kathy Larisch and Carol McComb recorded one album in the '60s and then split, but that album is remembered by folk connoisseurs as something special. As producer Paul Rothchild said, "If you like Joan Baez, here's Joan Baez times two, with gorgeous harmony, singing purist songs like angels." McComb went on to a successful career as a solo artist while Larisch focused on her work in the visual arts. The Elektra LP was reissued on CD in 2004, and the two have been performing occasionally since.

Not an Olive Branch

2007-06-14T16:00:00.000+02:00

This is Olive, the resident dog at Karoo Cafe

My First Post

2007-06-14T15:12:00.000+02:00

This is my 1st attempt.

Pearson High Reunion

2007-06-14T04:37:00.000+02:00

At our Peason High mini-reunion at Huckleberrys

Me and Bobby McGee

2007-06-14T03:46:00.000+02:00

Thursday Evening Get Togethers

2007-06-14T03:34:00.000+02:00

This group has been getting together for the last 20 years, the last 12 at Huckleberrys, Magnolia Dal, Queen Wilhelmina Drive Pretoria. But lately we have been rebellious and have been visiting other places - like Karoo Cafe and Java Cafe.