First Reviews Are Out!!

Blazing guitars give fans the Hendrix experience at the Palace

By MICHAEL HUBER, Staff writer
First published in print: Saturday, October 18, 2008

ALBANY — Jimi Hendrix played to a nearly packed house at the Palace
Theatre in Albany Thursday night.

OK. I know Hendrix has been dead for 38 years, and while he wasn't at
the Palace, his music and his legacy were in full force. "Experience
Hendrix" brought an ever-changing roster of musicians to perform his
iconic music, in all its sonic magic and distortion.

Eric Gales, who played straight-up renditions of "Purple Haze"
and "Foxey Lady," and Eric Johnson, who captured the virtuosity
of "Axis: Bold as Love" and "Are You Experienced," and the other
guitarists had to find a comfort zone in playing their signature
styles while also paying homage to Hendrix.

The most exciting performances came from Jonny Lang, 27, who blazed
through "Fire," with Aerosmith's Brad Whitford, and Kenny Wayne
Shepherd, 31, who brought the crowd to its feet with his extended
solo on "Voodoo Child."

The most nostalgic moment wasn't when 77-year-old Hubert Sumlin, an
early influence on Hendrix, traded solos with Buddy Guy; it was when
Hendrix bandmates — drummer Mitch Mitchell and bassist Billy Cox —
joined Guy for "Red House" and "Hey Joe."

It's impossible to consider rock music without the considerable
influence of Hendrix. You hope the young guns backstage were
listening and learning, and ready to carry on Jimi's legacy.

The Times Union covered the concert with a Twitter feed, short items
sent to the Web immediately from the hall. Excerpts from
http://twitter.com/albanytuarts follow:

Show starts with the tick-tock of signature riff of "Purple Haze"
played on Gales's Gibson Les Paul, strung upside down like Hendrix.

"Foxy Lady" with the first behind the back guitar solo.

They give Johnson both "Axis: bold as love" and "are you experienced"
makes sense he plays these more technically challenging songs.

Johnny Lang and Aerosmith's Brad Whitford rip through "Fire." My
cover band played that song at every one of our gigs. All 5 of them!

Concert factoid: trucker cap-wearing Brad Whitford is really really
short!

Buddy Guy, in a blue track suit topped with a fedora, joined by
Hubert Sumlin, in a comfy gray suit and matching fedora.

"Red House" with Whitford and Guy on guitars, Cox on bass and vocals
and Mitchell. Close as I'll ever be to a Hendrix concert.


Music review

"EXPERIENCE HENDRIX"

When: 7 p.m. Thursday

Where: Palace Theatre, 19 Clinton Ave., Albany

Crowd: Sold out and hollering for more