Philzone.org - Philzone Phansite Community Discussion Board: Setlists and Reviews: Non GD Related Reviews: Archive: Avalon All Stars, Cervantes, Denver, 03/30/07

Well damn, that was fun.

Got drawn into some late work, but still decided to go out for the show. Only arrived at the venue around 10:30, but managed to get a parking space almost right in front of the door. Sparse crowd to start, which filled out a little as the night progressed, but never got that full. First set started at 11:10, second one at 12:50, over by 2:00. Very interesting to see three cruisers and five of Denver's finest hanging out in front of the venue after the show. Not sure why they were really there, but after recent goings on in the neighborhood, it was good to think that maybe for once, they were there to serve and protect folks that would go to a Cervantes show.

Speaking of the actual show, it was a great night if you wanted to dance, which applied to most of the crowd there. Said dancing even included some "younger folks", with sideways baseball caps and baggy attire, doing what I would call the "stomp and flail" where you basically move around like a slightly off-balance sumo wrestler, and at the same time, move your arms like you're doing the front crawl, while pointing your fingers at the same time. And even with a half empty dance floor, they still manage to bump into people. These kids today, I tell ya. There were times I thought I was in a boy band rap video, but with an alternate soundtrack. I'll give them some credit though, since they were singing along to most of the vocal tunes and worshipping Melvin Seals like he invented the Xbox.

Relative to the set list, a lot of the tunes were instrumental, and may have been originals or just impromptu jams (first time seeing these guys, so not much familiarity with any original material), but here are the ones I recognized:

Can't Find My Way Home (instrumental, Barry taking the melody all the way through)
That's What Love Will Make You Do (Melvin vocal)
Kashmir Jam (very loosely based on "Kashmir" by Led Zep, but with that riff re-appearing in Bobby Vega's bass lines)
Got My Mojo Workin' (Melvin vocal)
Dear Prudence ((Melvin vocal, & Barry on pedal steel; unbelievable)
Don't Let Go (Melvin vocal)

My plan was to go to this show to see if it was worth it to go see them again on 03/31 at a different venue that I've wanted to check out. The more I think of it, what the hell was I thinking? How can you lose with this lineup? The only interesting twist tonight was that there was no Ray White present (his name was listed in the ads for both shows), so I'm curious if he was just delayed or whether he'll be absent on 03/31 as well. But I still got an "all star" roster:

Melvin Seals
John Molo
Bobby Vega
Barry Sless

Even with that lineup, hey, like I said, you can't lose. Let's play two!

awesome!

cant wait for this upcoming weekend when they hit jersey!

Cant wait for this show tonight.... weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. Kelly and I are hitting up Tacos Jalisco first if any Denver zoners want to attend. yummy and its right around the corner.

What a line up....

NICE !!!

^^^great review

Please post another after tonight's show!!

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When this lineup of the Avalon All-Stars last played in my neck of the woods (Dec. 7 & 8, 2006 -- Eureka, CA), there were a couple PZ threads with setlists and brief reviews...
http://www.philzone.org/cgi-bin/discus/board-auth. cgi?lm=1165820543&file=/211356/346678.html
http://www.philzone.org/cgi-bin/discus/board-auth. cgi?lm=1166064680&file=/211356/348708.html

After jogging some neurons, I will add that they also did "Had To Cry Today" as an instrumental on Friday. The riff sounded familiar, but I didn't place it (believe it or not, I've never owned the Blind Faith album).

Off to the show tonight after the Montreal-Buffalo game wraps up.

Hee hee. I like the "stomp and flail" as opposed to the usual dead head car wash twirl.