h ! ! TALENTON STAGE Elvin Bishop, Southside Hit L.A. Strongly Tommy Bolin SANTA MONICA CIVIC — Brian Auger and ROXY, L. A. — Against the backdrop of mid- to L.A. and back. Certainly the market for plementary. Make no mistake about it - his Oblivion Express opened the receni 1 930s art deco Hollywood chic, the epitome Bishop's progressive-type funk has grown Southside Johnny likes his music a little Tommy Bolin show with a mind-splattering of southern funk made its appearance in tremendously the last few years, but no one rougher than Elvin Bishop. Reminiscent of exercise called "Brain Damage" which the presence of Elvin Bishop and proved to date seems to have perfected it as well as the Tina Turner line in "Proud Mary," ravaged so much of the audience's collec- once again that what appeals to the laid- -he. Dynamically, the Bishop set could have Johnny and band presented a hauntingly tive consciousness that by the time Bolin back rural folk of Georgia is every bit as been an audio-textbook case history for familiar set of rhythmically funky riffs and arrived, those in attendance would poignant to the urban sophisticate as sex or any budding group whose live ap- chords that evoked memories of the great probably have cheered a performer who politics. Bishop has made the transition pearances showcase only the fact that they New York gang wars of the 1950s, and more came out and ran some very loud chain- from anonymous sideman to budding su- can play at volume 10 throughout their per- recently, J. Geils and Springsteen. If saws for a few hours. perstar in a mere decade. The cherubic formances. Modulating both voices and in- Johnny has not yet topped the charts, it When Bolin did arrive, the audience, suf- Bishop, once Mike Bloomfield's foil in the struments from seductive whispers to may well be that he has lacked the massive ficiently manhandled by Auger, welcomed Paul Butterfield Blues Band of the mid-'60s, orgasmic yelps, Bishop maintained control exposure of these two predecessors, but him boisterously; fortunately for the has blossomed into one of pop music's of the audience as if he were Mandrake the his time may soon be at hand. Though guitarist, there were enough Deep Purple most articulate spokesmen. Though pop Magician pulling the ace of hearts from his Johnny himself appeared slightly dis- fans in attendance to remind him of his music audiences became exposed to sleeve. pleased with his first Roxy set, the audience legend. Bishop through his top ten single of last With the advent of Bruce Springsteen a adopted a contrary viewpoint. Several Bolin carries plenty of style and glamor tc summer, "Fooled Around And Fell In year ago, the music scene once again times during the performance members of be effective on stage. But although his Love.” last week's Roxy audience related as opened up and several new quasi-stars the audience left their seats to stomp and musical credits and accomplishments are much to his rhythm and blues impromptu peered from behind tattered amplifiers to cheer in the moTst. crowded aisles. In the numerous, Sunday’s show was wroughl riffs as they did to the chart-topper. make their presence felt. Perhaps most truest “get-down" tradition it can safely be with problems, most of which were noli Bishop's backup band, consisting of two notable among this legion of newcomers is said that Southside Johnny's best days are Bolin’s fault. female vocalists, four horns, a guitar, piano, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes. The still ahead of him, and judging from the While opening with a rousing and in drum and bass unit, was exceptionally tight band's ensemble (except for the lack of Roxy fans appreciation, those days may be tiousrockerthatimmediatelystated o and fueled the leader's vehicle with enough famale vocalists) was a direct matchup to just around the corner. the band’s presence, Bolin found the sounc funky gas to carry him in style from Macon Bishop's band and the styles were com- d.b. system wanting, and repeated efforts tc communicate to his stage hands that Pure Prairie League In L.A.; Plays Major League Music something was amiss proved distracting and disconcerting. After repeated efforts tc ROXY, L.A. — Riding out from the Ohio newly-released "Dance" album, Pure While all three are quite capable, even try to make things sound right, Bolin ap- River Valley, Pure Prairie League has cap- Prairie succeeded in touching all career exciting guitarists, the evening’s in- parently figured he had better get on with i' tured the heartland of America with a foot- phases with the Roxy crowd as it reached strumental highlights were provided by and tried to make the most of it. stomping, hand-clapping brand of back to perform numbers from its first four John David Call with his pedal steel guitar After approximately 45 minutes, Bolir American bluegrass, rockabilly, folk, coun- LPs, including the hit singles “Amie” and on nearly every number anc banjo on was apparently satisfied that he had giver try and rock 'n' roll music. “Two Lane Highway." "Pickin’ To Beat The Devil." Remaining the audience enough, joined his band arm League members include drummer Billy Pure Prairie's recent two-night engage- The departure of Craig Lee Fuller, one of in-arm in a victorious bow, and said gooo Hinds, whose excellent backing often got ment here marked its first local appearance the band’s founding members and author night. When he and the band came rig 1 lost among the myriad of guitars, and in over a year and during that time the of many of the group’s more mellow back and Bolin triumphantly announcer honky-tonk piano player Michael O'Con- band’s new-found reputation has spread sounds, to the American Flyer band has that the set had been only the second time nor. like wildfire. brought a harder-driving energy to the they had all played together, the reason: Although Pure Prairie League has been League's music. Onstage, Pure Prairie behind some of his problems became im Strictly a touring band, Pure Prairie had enthusiastically smothered in the motherly seemed to prefer cranking up its electric mediately clear. An obligatory but length' been playing the club, college and bar cir- bosom of middle America, the band will re- guitars to relaxing with acoustics, thus ren- encore merely featured more of what wa: cuit throughout the mid- and southwest, at- quire a great deal of coastal exposure if it dering even the most laid-back tunes an excessive but highly successful experi tracting a small but highly devoted follow- ever hopes to expand its nationwide touring urgent. ment in loudness. ing. However, records not selling were and dates from clubs to concert arenas. 1 With more time together, Bolin and bant they soon found themselves without a As any good country band should, Pure While certain charismatic country rock will be able, hopefully, to supply (to a mucl recording contract. Undaunted, the band Prairie excelled in well-harmonized vocals, bands such as the Eagles and Poco are greater degree) effective and aestheticall continued to tour and attract new fans with sharing the leads back and forth from num- easily identified with a particular lifestyle appealing musical communication. Bolii a corresponding increase in album sales. ber to number. Rhythm guitarist George Ed and are idolized as much for that lifestyle as wasn't able to provide much of that las Following the initial success of “Bustin' Powell, sporting a nice country twang, han- for their music. Pure Prairie League must week, and instead gave the audience an Out," the band's second LP which has since dled the rockabilly tunes; Mike Reilly, rely solely upon its music for acceptance. If abundance of tortured grimacing, naught gone gold, RCA re-signed the boys and bassist, fronted the band on rock-oriented its Roxy engagement and the enthusiastic prancing, shrill sound effects, and highl began to provide them with the kind of songs; while lead guitarist Larry Goshorn audience response are any indications, visual guitar-waving. The crowd loved it. publicity and promotion they needed. took the vocal spotlight on the softer num- superstardom may be simply a short piece d^ij Concentrating on material from its bers. up the road. rr . AWB/ Solid Funk First U.S. ECM Gig Success; Jarrett Appears HOLLYWOOD PALLADIUM — If the musii of the Average White Band cannot b< AVERY FISHER HALL, NYC — ECM phonist Charlie Mariano, who has been liv- The next, completely unscheduled (but clearly defined as pop or R&B because o 1 Records, the European jazz label dis- ing in Europe for the last few years as well heavily rumored) appearance was that of its acceptance at both levels, the group’: tributed in recording there, and is rarely heard in Keith Jarrett, the artist who probably the United States by Polydor, as ECM success with albums and concert ap I began its nationwide tour here with the in- the U.S. This is unfortunate, since Mariano has made the largest impact in terms of pearances have both shed a much cleare tention of exposing its artists within the played very well in the modal, subtly rock- record sales. Jarrett's style of completely light on the devoted following this grou| label's total identity. This engagement, and latin-influenced contemporary jazz impromptu solo piano improvisation has has achieved since its first album in 1974. slightly more extended than the shows that style of the group, which approached the won him acclaim the world over, and his AWB’s appearance at the Palladium las 1 will appear around the country, began on a sound of the early Weather Report at its ever-expanding audience now extends far week marked the second time the groui ( quiet note with the guitars of Ralph Towner, best moments.