Looking To Get Back
'On Top'
Dylan & The Wallflowers Can Still Pack a House
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| >> Jakob
Dylan of The Wallflowers at the House of Blues In Anaheim, CA. >> |
>> January 28, 2003 - Anaheim, CA >> There's something to be said for genetics, as Jakob Dylan would surely attest. Gifted with a voice akin to his father's and similar looks, including riveting blue eyes, he's got to be thankful. Judging by the high female to male ratio at his sold-out House of Blues show, so are a large number of thirty-something Orange County females.
From the opening strains of "When You're on Top," Dylan held sway over the jam-packed house. There were plenty of ladies arms in the air, their hips moving with the music. It seemed as though it was only a matter of time before undergarments would be tossed on stage, but cooler heads, or maybe husbands, prevailed.
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Yogi's superb guitarwork rounded out |
The Wallflowers - Dylan, bassist Greg Richling, drummer Mario Calire, percussionist Moe Z MD, touring guitarist Yogi and the gifted Rami Jaffee on keys - spent most of the evening focusing on tracks from their latest release, Red Letter Days, interspersing past hits at various points. Particular highlights were the epic "Everybody Out Of The Water," with it's massive chorus filling up the room, and "If You Never Got Sick," which Dylan intimated was about those who are "emotionally unavailable."
Most of the older tracks The Wallflowers played were from 1996's breakthrough Bringing Down The Horse, including "Three Marlenas," "6th Avenue Heartache" and the band's biggest hit, Grammy-winner "One Headlight," all of which had the crowd singing along.
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>> The
crowd's reaction brings |
Even though The Wallflowers' sound has evolved over time, the
older songs didn't sound tired or overplayed; rather they seem to have been updated to
match the newer music, which made them fit
seamlessly into the set. The addition of Yogi, a former member of the now-defunct
Buckcherry, for this tour seems to be a stroke of genius - his guitar work is impressive,
and his backing vocals filled in admirably.
Closing the evening out with a superb rendition of "The Difference," Dylan only served to solidify his hold on the fans in attendance, which included major league pitcher Chuck Finley. Adding that this was The Wallflowers' first appearance in Anaheim (this is a new venue) and that they would be "back again soon," Dylan drew cheers from the crowd, who all seemed to indicate they would be here to greet him upon his return. >>
