Re: [bomp] Roky. Wow. Roky. Wow.

[FRANK BRANDON <cosmopop@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

i've seen roky at sxsw for the last three years----the first time it was OK and good to know he was trying----last year he was "ON" and the growth was indeed dramatic---this year he really had it----the backup band is the explosives who he toured with in the late 80s and the 90's again now---three guys who love roky and know he can do it---drummer is freddy steady (freddie steady 5, wild country and the explosives themselves---there are discs out on each of these incarnations)----the stage announcement this year was the good news that the courts have recently announced that roky no longer is required to have a legal guardian/caretaker---he can now stand on his own two feet----for years, his mother had that role and really did virtually nothing to help him get back on his feet---five or so years ago, his brother legally got the rights from his mother and started the road back with medical/dental attention---roky is now his own man and in a really good place

the band will be doing a lot of touring this year doing the IPO in SF, bumbershoot in seattle, probably musicfest nw in portland---lots of east coast dates and i've heard possibly the UK

go see him----you will be happy not only to see in person his "return" but to just flat out enjoy the music

Cynthia <cynnkitty@yahoo.com> wrote: 
Just an incredible night. I echo all of your comments.
He absolutley didn't miss a beat- literally and
figuratively- was fully engaged,  and on top of that,
performed fabulously by ANY standard, not just the
cross your fingers and hope no one's embarassed
standard. And yes an excellent band that is a maybe a
slightly unexpected but perfect fit. And beyond the
music, I got a sense that they're hearts are in the
right place too.
I wasn't able to catch any of his performances in
Austin over the last couple of years ( Joe and several
friends have) and apparently there has been a steady
progression. Never bad, but has just kept getting
better everytime. Maybe some people who have seen him
at those shows during sxsw or Austin folks can concur.

Anyway, you just have to take one look at him and
before he even opens his mouth you can see he is in a
good place. A very cool thing to witness. 
Someone I don't know walked passed me beaming and
said, " I can't believe this is happening!". I think
it's safe to say he spoke for most of the people there
last night. 



-- Sknoof@aol.com wrote:

> 
> It was one of those things where you wake up the
> next morning not sure you 
> actually saw it.
> 
> Roky Erickson and the Explosives were at Southpaw
> (Brooklyn) last night.  We 
> went with the Proper Mindset -- in other words "Who
> knows if this will 
> actually be any good, but I will be happy just to
> see him in the flesh for the first 
> time."  Something you'd never actually consider as
> an actual possibility.
> 
> Well -- taken objectively and dispassionately, I'd
> say this: if you had never 
> heard his music or heard of him at all, you'd have
> walked out thinking you'd 
> just seen a great show by a great (if slightly odd)
> band.  But with the 
> enormity of history and Roky's past problems hanging
> over it, it was just massive.
> 
> The man looks great, he sounds great, and the band
> is excellent too.  I would 
> say the lead guitarist could've been a bit more
> faithful to the style on the 
> recordings -- his is more of a stinging
> country-twang than the metalpop 
> almost-Frehley style on the (solo) records -- but it
> was good anyway.
> 
> Roky looked really happy to be in front of an
> adoring crowd.  He never said 
> anything other than "thank you," but he said it a
> lot and with a look on his 
> face that made it clear that he really meant it. 
> The other guy did most of the 
> talking.  But there was no sense at all of 
> Roky-as-drooling-idiot-that-has-to-be-led-around.
> 
> Still has all his hair too!
> 
> Only three Elevators songs (well, two and a half,
> considering that a 
> blistering "Before You Accuse Me" was one of them)
> but no one seemed to mind.
> 
> The audience contained virtually all of the usual
> suspects, and I expect 
> Cynthia and Joe B will be chiming in shortly.
> 
> 
> 
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