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Vienna - 15-18 January 2010

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Vienna - 15-18 January 2010

Review by Rover

The TCB Band, Dennis Jale, Paul Leim & Gogo

Well Memphis, Tennessee had their 75th birthday concert celebrations for Elvis and so did Vienna BIG STYLE, with The TCB Band, Dennis Jale, The Sweet Inspirations, Paul Leim, Joe Esposito, The Jam Gang Gospel Singers, Manfred Chromey and The Jam Gang. After a sensational sell out tour in 2009, 2010 has seen so far no less than six sell out shows with an additional 'in demand' two extra shows set for March 2010 not to mention the release on January 8th of the Nashville CD featuring Dennis with The TCB Band, Jason Scheff, The Sweet Inspirations and Paul Leim.

Dennis with James Burton

We arrived in Vienna in what felt like below zero temperatures and still dropping as we made our way to The Wiener Metropol, slip sliding on the 'patts' of ice in the process. I was laughing to myself as I thought, "What, no salt or gritters been out here either?" Still, that special atmosphere Vienna has, made us forgive the inconvenience and the reasons for being there well, there could have been a whole load of frozen 'Imps' on the same roads and it wouldn't have bothered us a damn. You know for the first time I'm finding it hard to write any thing about this particular weekend. Not because it wasn't worth the journey, don't get me wrong, it was infact the exact opposite. In a nutshell it was an amazing, magical, sensational, unbelievable, overwhelming, unforgettable experience. Mixed emotions like that and still room for shivers down your spine.

After the introductions the good old sound people at the back, who incidently did a great job throughout the entire weekend treated us to a sizzling, funky version of 'Fever' from the new Nashville CD. Jason Scheff, Jerry' son and bass player with Chicago, put his stamp on this and it had a whole new arrangement sounding wonderful. A special guest for part of this tour was Joe Esposito who came on stage next speaking briefly about his meeting with Elvis, the formation of The TCB Band and how Elvis after hearing The Sweet Inspirations on the radio wanted them onboard with him and the newly formed band at his shows. Forty years later they are stil together!

Jerry Scheff

With the stage lighting reduced and stomachs churning, I know mine was, the first of the musicians came on stage. Each individual body to walk on stage changed how the entire room felt and the adrenalin was flowing alright. When everybody had made their entrance and stood or sat at their prospective places we were presented with ten silhouettes standing in low light along with the strains of Sprach Zarathustra 2001 'A Space Odyssey' filling the theatre before getting down to business. That's exactly when it all started just after the crash down of sticks from two world class drummers, Paul Leim and Ron Tutt on two seperate sets of drums along side of each other bringing Dennis Jale to the stage opening with C.C Rider, I Got A Woman, Proud Mary, You Gave Me A Mountain and Promised Land. What a way to start the show all of the classics performed with such energy, fun and passion and we the audience going from having 'pre' churning stomachs before the show to total mesmerism at the drop of those sticks as if we'd just been given an intravenous shot of something. That's the true power of these guys!

The show was interrupted briefly for another chat from Joe. This time he spoke about the Aloha From Hawaii concert and the one million people who saw it world wide via satelite. A chance to to get to hear 'I'll Remember You' with Glen D's piano intro and the brass section giving you goose bumps. Fantastic vocals from Dennis,The Sweets and The Jam Gang Gospel Singers. Another guitar change for Gogo from electric to acoustic now to Grestch. This guy changes guitars more times than he changes his socks! Believe it or not he has a collection of about forty guitars at his home and plays amazingly. Also time for the zanny Manfred Chromey from Oklahomey sporting a brand new upright bass with a flame design on the front to match James' telecaster, who was sat behind him. It was dance were you stood or sat time now as we had a medley of Mystery Train which included a superb harmonica solo from Christian Sandera who played with an amazing gripping, tongue switching style, That's Alright Mama and Mean Woman Blues. It was full throttle on that stage for sure.

Ronnie Tutt

Another few words from Joe. This time about Elvis meeting Priscilla in Germany. After another guitar change from Grestch to acoustic for Gogo, we had an intro to Always On My Mind from Glen D. Great bass from Jerry and solo from JB. Ron and Paul added something welcomed too. Ron played his set with sticks and Paul used a handsonic. The end to the first half was Dennis singing Hound Dog and we got the best set of solos you ever heard. Woop woop!! We got James whose licks twanged perfectly from that faithful Telecaster, Glen D rocking it from start to finish, Jerry bassed that bass all night. He was terrific! Paul and Ron played theirs together and although they have their styles they played hand in glove and that's how they worked all night, amazing. Gogo who was now back on electric guitar gave it the works and Martin Payr belted out a groovy hot spot on keyboards. The brass section were stood at the back and you could close your eyes and visualise them swinging with The Glenn Miller Band they were that cool and the vocals from Dennis, The Sweets and The Jam Gang Gospel Singers, knockout. Before leaving the stage for a break, Dennis spoke about his CD 'Nashville' and we got a hot and funky version of 'Stranger In My Own Hometown'. Way to go yeah, sensational and that took us to the interval.

The interval saw a mixture of exhaustion and pure excitement within the audience. Exhaustion from the clapping, singing, dancing round and just having a blast of a time. The excitement was from witnessing an absolute brilliant first half. Those nice sound guys at the back let us have more from the Nashville CD, a fresh and addictive compilation made up from some of Elvis Presley's recordings but wonderfully rearranged along with recordings from Dale Hawkins, Charlie Rich, Nielsson, John Foggerty plus three of Dennis' own, written by himself and Christoph Bacher. The result is a funky, bluesy and hot fourteen track treat and certainly worthy of adding to your collection.

James, Manfred Chromey, Glen D, The Sweet Inspirations & Jam Gang Gospel Singers

Well, the second part of the show saw Ron Tutt tapping his drumsticks together and counting The Sweet Inspirations on to the stage to perform that great soul classic of theirs from the 1960's 'Sweet Inspiration' which they also used for a time to open Elvis' shows. Portia, Estelle and Myrna are amazing to watch and listen to. They belted that little number out with so much energy and power and the same energy and power they somehow are able to inject in to the audience. They had them wild as well as Martin on keybords in the corner able to play and gyrate at the same time to the beat. Great stuff. Once back in their seats we got a little bit of a jam session bringing Dennis back on stage and right in to Blue Suede Shoes. The classics continued to flow one after the other we got Steam Roller Blues with a great solo from James and with the addition of the brass section and harmonies from the Sweets and Jam Gang Gospel Singers it was hot alright. Mary In The Morning, wow what a performance we had here it sounded sensational and again a great solo from Christian on the harmonica. Johnny B Goode gave us more solos and some heavy metal thrown in by Gogo and the always great to hear dirty southern classic Polk Salad Annie and Jerry playing with his smooth layed back style which makes it his territory that no alligator would dare venture near. Magic!.

The Sweet Inspirations

Joe Esposito came on again to mention Elvis' love of gospel music which was the cue for Portia to join Dennis with 'Why Me Lord.' This always hits the spot when performed and tonight it wasn't any different. It was strong and delivered the message. Great vocals from Portia and Dennis along with Myrna, Estelle and the Jam Gang Gospel singers. We could now tell that the show was coming to an end but you never know at one of these shows which proved to be the case tonight. A welcomed one at that! James kick started Burning Love followed by Ron and Paul on drums. What a performance from Ron as he knocked it out and sounding as good as he did when he ended up producing it in the studio way back. Unbelievable watching both drummers perform together.

Paul Leim and Glen D

Two hours on in to the show and the entire cast still had the audience in their hands. In The Ghetto was next followed by Suspicious Minds, getting everybody to their feet. The entire audience added their vocals to that one joining in with Dennis, The Sweets and The Jam Gang Singers and Jerry along side of Gogo finishing the number.Can't Help Falling In Love was the final number of the evening. After downing their guitars, drumsticks, mics, flutes, trombones, trumpets the entire cast took their bows and said their goodbyes amidst rapturous applause and shouts for more. The stage was then as bare as it was when the show started with only instruments to look at. It was all over. Or was it? Nope, not for long as everybody made their way back on stage to their still warm places. Another treat from the Nashville CD when Ron and Paul gave a sensational sounding intro to Dale Hawkins and James' Suzi Q bringing James in with his slick sliding and bending through the cords by which time Jerry, Gogo and Martin were also on board too taking it to another level. What a great,funky,sassy sound coming from that stage not to mention the response from the audience throughout. So following Suzi Q we had another Can't Help Falling In Love and that sadly WAS the end of an incredible show. Within ten minutes or so the TCB Band, Dennis, Joe Esposito, Paul and The Sweet Inspirations were back on stage for a meet and greet.

Martin,Gogo,Paul with Christian and James

Three sell out shows this weekend says it all. The TCB Band are still masters at what they do and how they do it. Dennis' performance was something else as always but this years shows had a nice fresh twist to them with the addition of harmonica to some of the numbers as well as the launch of the CD and getting the chance to hear some of the tracks live on stage as well as from the CD during the interval. The Sweets full of life making beautiful music as they always do. Paul Leim who was in Vienna last year too, was incredible sat up there next to Ron. The Jam Gang Gospel singers and The Jam Gang a credit to Dennis, a fabulous bunch of musicians and singers. Christian Sandera who played harmonica, a great new addition to this years shows and we hope he's there again next year. Manfred Chromey like a live wire again this year and always fun to watch and great to listen too. Last but not least Joe Esposito giving his time to chat about Elvis. No, not last but least we cant not give a pat on the back to the sound, lighting and stage guys. You all count too!

Source:www.tcbfanclub.com / Published by:Rover.

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