Strawbs pull out all the stops
2007-07-06 by ceccles_ca
We had 8 front row center seats for the electric Strawbs show last night. My top five favorite concert list has been updated. A large red STRAWBS logo hangs behind / above Rod Coombs. (Grave New World album cover). Huge black curtains covered with star-field LED lights at the back and sides of the stage. The star lights cycle from bright white to deep blue. Blue spot lights from above... a little bit of dry-ice fog in the air. The house lights fade. We are anticipating something monumental is about to occur. Dave Cousins - A Middle Ages, 'minstrel'. A time traveling poet-musician (c1500) Played 12 string and Banjo. Sang like a mad man. Dave Lambert - An old rock-star Les Paul player. Great tone. He played *rip your face off* guitar most of the show. John Hawken - Looking like a retired science teacher. Played some thundering Church Organ, grand piano, bass pedals and 'tron samples. (Autumn was brilliant!). John's tuning was way off during some pieces. He got *the glare* from Lambert a few times. Chas Cronk - Vocal harmonies, bass and acoustic guitar. A professional musician like the rest. Rod Coombes - With a Neil Pert sized drum kit. (well maybe not quite) Played most of the show with timpani mallets for an orchestral percussion sound. They have been doing it for 40 years, they look as old as the hills but they put on one of the greatest shows on earth last night. After the encore, Cousins started to say how much he had enjoyed performing for the audience and what a special night it was for him. He got all choked-up and couldn't finish his sentence.