The Yardbirds Soar at B.B. Kings

The Yardbirds, one of the ’60s most influential classic rock bands, played an electric and exhilarating set at B.B. Kings on Wednesday May 26, with opening act The Doughboys on the bill. The current lineup of the Yardbirds includes founding members Chris Dreja (guitar) and Jim McCarty (drums) along with Andy Mitchell (vocals, harmonica and bongos), Ben King (lead guitar) and David Smale (bass). While remaining true to their original sound, the band sounded fresh and had tremendous energy, giving longtime fans and others in attendance a blues based, psychedelic tapestry of good time rock and roll.

The Doughboys,a group which started in 1964 and was the house band at New York rock and roll landmark Café Wha in 1968, were a great choice to open up for the headliners. Their hard-driving, infectious ‘60’s style sound featured singer Myke Scavone’s top notch vocals, Gar Francis’ scintillating guitar work and Richie Heyman’s expert percussion. With great originals like “I’m Not Your Man” and “Twelve Bars and I Still Have the Blues” combined with a unique interpretations of the Moody Blues “Tuesday Afternoon” and The Rolling Stones, “Paint It Black” these rock and roll veterans showed the crowd why Little Steven, host of Q104.3’s Underground Garage radio show, is a big fan.

Hailed by rock historians as a groundbreaking prototype for improvisational bands that followed like Cream and Led Zeppelin, the Yardbirds are a guitar driven band which explored blues, psychedelic music, and Raga featuring brilliant solo passages (“Rave- Ups”) with the help of Eric Clapton (1963-1965) Jeff Beck (June 1966 to November 1966) and Jimmy Page (1966-1968). They have continued this tradition today with their new guitar ace, Ben King. Keith Relf, their original singer, who had gone on to form the original version of the band Renaissance with McCarty after The Yardbirds split, was accidentally electrocuted in 1976, while original bassist Paul Samuel Smith went on to produce recordings by Cat Stevens. Not content to rest on their laurels, the band recorded “Birdland” in 2003 and “Live at B.B. Kings Blues Club” in 2007.

On this night, the Yardbirds quickly showed why they are a rock and roll treasure with their opening song “Train Kept a Rollin,” a “nugget” written by Tiny Bradshaw in 1951, but a song the band has made it’s own. From its opening locomotive guitar sound by King, to its hard-driving rhythm, the performance hit the mark. The song, also covered by Aerosmith on their “Get Your Wings” release, has never sounded better. Another highlight of the early part of the show was “Drinking Muddy Water,” a Yardbirds original, which got the crowd into a blues mood with brilliant harmonica work and strong Muddy Water inspired vocals by Andy Mitchell. Mitchell, who is relative newcomer to the group (2009), shone brightly on this homage to blues greats. The band kicked it into gear with “The Nazz are Blue,” a song originally sung and played by Jeff Beck with the band, which displayed King’s phenomenal dexterity on the guitar and his feel for Beck inspired lead breaks. King has seamlessly fit into the band’s guitar spot which is not an easy task due to the god-like icons who occupied that role at different times in the band’s history.

Next up was one of the Yardbirds songs that have a strong social message, “You’re a Better Man Than I,” with great fuzz tone employed by King. “Mystery of Being,” a tune from the aforementioned “Birdland” that sounds like a classic Yardbirds song from the sixties, was well received by the audience. “Shapes of Things,” a 1966 single of the band, followed with Mitchell’s strong self-assured vocals and King’ brilliant middle section guitar “excursion.” “Crying Out for Love,” another track from their 2003 release showed why this band isn’t an oldies act, but fresh and relevant.

“Rack My Mind,” another Beck era masterpiece, was given stellar treatment with King’s intricate guitar work and musical call and response with Mitchell’s harmonica styling. Dreja, whose rhythm playing was solid throughout, was beaming from ear to ear while watching this version of his legendary band at work. McCarty’s drumming was rock solid and true to the original style he employed in the formative years of his career.

The show was cooking at this point with band upping the ante a little bit with “Over Under Sideways Down,” whose opening refrain is a classic rock guitarist’s rite of passage. Soon after, Chester Burnett’s “Smokestack Lightning” helped transform B.B. Kings into a blues joint with it’s infectious rhythm and wonderful solo showcases for King and Mitchell on Fender Telecaster and harp respectively. Smale’s intricate melodic bass line on this song and his playing on all others during the night was first-rate.

An amazing change of pace followed with “Still I’m Sad”, which features a Gregorian chant and atmospheric musical accompaniment. This is an example of the tremendous breadth of the Yardbird’s musical catalogue and the versatility of the band. A track from the quartet version of the Yardbirds that featured Jimmy Page, “Little Games” was delivered magnificently by Mitchell and as the band left the stage, you knew the crowd would be calling them back for more.

Dreja expressed how much he loves playing in New York City and remembers his years residing there fondly. There also was a touching moment when he introduced the other original Yardbird, McCarty, telling the audience what a great musician and person he is and how they have a dear friendship.

A three-song encore followed and was the high point of a brilliant show. First up was “For Your Love” the band’s 1965 hit single that features a harpsichord and bongos on the recorded version.This also was the song that hastened Eric Clapton’s departure from the band because he thought they were becoming too commercial. He was, and still is, a blues purist. Excellent harmonies and Mitchell’s inspired vocals and bongo playing helped make this version, on this night, dynamic. “Happenings Ten Years Time Ago,” one of two recorded tracks featuring Page and Beck with the Yardbirds, was a rare treat and its late “’60s vibe and unique time signature transported this crowd to the days of lava lamps and free love.

“Dazed and Confused,” a Led Zeppelin staple that Jimmy Page played with the Yardbirds (called “I’m Confused”) on their last two American tours and later recorded for Zeppelin’s debut release, was preformed expertly with the band cooking on all cylinders. Kings’ guitar work was inspiring and evocative, catching the spirit of the original feel of the song, but taking it to greater heights.

This was truly a great night for rock and roll. The Doughboys,an under-appreciated rock outfit, wowed the crowd with a stellar set and 1992 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees The Yardbirds showed why they are an iconic band with a musically proficient performance that gave a nod to the past, but had a “now” attitude. Dreja and McCarty have aged like fine wine and King, Mitchell and Smale’s musicianship has given this legendary band a look into the future. They are part of rock and roll history, but wrote a new chapter on this night. Dreja told me B.B. Kings reminds him of his days playing the Marquee Club on 165 Oxford Street in London in the “Swinging Sixties.” Things have come full circle and the crowd at the club this night was treated to a “Rave- Up,” 2010 style.