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Pete Clark's rating
, Can't help loving him
By
Pete Clark
22 Apr 2008
You have to love a man like Eric Burdon. He survived the depredations of the Sixties by a whisker and carried on bellowing when all around were dropping dead from drugs. He disappeared to the West Coast of America and somehow managed to remain a Geordie when everyone else went to outer space. It is 37 years since he appeared on stage with War, but he is still wearing his heart on his sleeve and his shirt outside his trousers.
After War — who are ironically named and should be called Peace — had warmed up a heroically stoical audience, Eric appeared to great acclaim and launched into Spill The Wine, one of the forgotten classics of low-slung R&B.
Although never one of the great vocal stylists, Burdon is a man who gives his all and does so with gusto. This was a blend of white soul and funk that was at the same time 37 years old and completely timeless.
There was, it has to be admitted, a smidgeon of self-indulgence. Paint It Black went on for a lifetime, featured two drum solos and ended up somewhat bizarrely in the Caribbean.
Yet when they got it right, this was stirring music. House of the Rising Sun started with chastely acoustic guitar and ended up like a bun fight in a brothel. Misunderstood was a masterpiece of dynamics. Both songs were all the better for their relative brevity, but it’s been so long since these guys have been together you can hardly blame them for showing off their chops.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
Reader views (8)
Wasn't Eric Burden also with The Animals? And what was the top 40 song they did?
- Ltjackboot, Victoria, BC- Canada, 29/04/2008 00:06
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Hit me with your rhythm stick. Eric you were super hot.
- Linda Bell, London, 25/04/2008 20:51
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Wow what a show! Eric Burdon still shakes the house. I am in my thirties and went with my father. I enjoyed great jamming feel. I liked the support act from California even better. They really rocked with a sort of West Coast Rock n' Roll. Does anyone know the name of that band?
- Renee Rumond, London England, 25/04/2008 07:46
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I've seen all the greats - Doors. Who, Stones, Wilson, Springsteen, Dylan etc including Eric Burdon & War at Hyde Park in 1971, but this show was up with the best of them. The band were amazing - very tight yet very loose and can those guys play! And to top it all Eric's stupendous vocals.
This band needs to get together and do more gigs to show the world what real music is all about.
- Phil - The Leaping Gnome, Southampton, UK, 24/04/2008 22:23
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I also thought this was amongst the best concerts I have seen (and I have seen plenty). One of the tightest bands ever with fantastic virtuoso performances: outstanding mouth organist, sax/flute, tremendous percussionists and superb keyboards. Eric gave his all and reminded us of what we have been missing during his wilderness years. Superb value for money - I've paid a lot more for a lot less - in one of the best venues in the world.
- Andrew, London, UK, 23/04/2008 13:53
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Well said Andrew Dunkley, what a great event. So good to be with a band who wanted to be in the moment and not just belt out pre-produced entertainment. Loads of real raw emotion, and loads of feel good and fun too
Is there a sadder person in the world than a rock critic?
- Gareth Coombs, London UK, 22/04/2008 18:58
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The Eric Burdon and War gig was brilliant. Eric Burdon was amazing. This was a masterclass in funk, soul and R&B. Can't wait until they come back to the UK. I am still reeling!
- Dave J., London, 22/04/2008 12:33
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Dear Pete, maybe you went to the wrong gig.
If you'd researched the all too brief catalogue of EB and WAR, you'd have known that the whole principle of the unit was stretching out numbers until they bore little or no resemblance to their starting point, and in truth much of Burdon's later (under-rated) work with the Animals bore the same characteristics. Remember, this is not a pop band. A blues band maybe, a roots band definitely, a jazz band for sure, but if you were expecting frothy pop vignettes you came to the wrong place.
I've attended thousands of concerts in my time and I have to say your meager three stars is somewhat paltry; I'd rate Eric Burdon and War as one of the top three gigs I've experienced (and I've never had the pleasure of experiencing EB before, more's the pity based on this viewing) and the people who accompanied me to the RAH couldn't help but agree.
Please set your sights, and your stars, higher next time. Burdon proved himself to be the best blues singer this country has ever produced. And if you don't think his degrees of light and shade in songs like songs like "Blues For Memphis Slim (Mother Earth)" didn't display "vocal style" your crazy.
LJB
- Andrew Dunkley The Livingjukebox, Woodside Park, london, 22/04/2008 09:47
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