Rock n Blues Fest – Toronto Concert Review Sep 1 2012

Sept. 4 2012 – Toronto was the last stop for this tour featuring classic rockers with rather epic careers. The tour features 5 artists – Kim Simmonds of Savoy Brown (British Blues band formed in 1965), Leslie West (legendary guitarist of Mountain – the band best known for “Mississippi Queen” and formed in 1969), Rick Derringer (started his career in 1965 and opened up for Led Zeppelin on their last American tour), Edgar Winter (very talented albino who started recording in 1970), and “headliner” Johnny Winter (Edgar’s brother who is #74 on The Rolling Stone magazine top 100 guitarists of all time – his first release was in 1969).  Unfortunately Toronto did not get Leslie West on the bill for some reason so it was up to the other four to perform for the crowd at The Sound Academy.

Kim Simmonds opened up the set at the very dark Sound Academy. “Louisiana Blues” and “Poor Girl” were just a couple of the tunes the opener rocked out. Backing him up were Koko Powell on Bass, Jason Carpenter on Drums, and Doug Rappoport on Guitar – the VERY good Edgar Winters backing band. In fact the three musicians were along for all three of the first acts (Simmonds, Derringer, and Edgar Winters). 

Next up was Rick Derringer who started off very impressively with Still Alive and Well complete with a massive guitar solo. Derringer was all smiles as the crowd got into the groove. His 6 song set then went into a new song called “Bandana” which was dedicated to Willie Nelson and Hulk Hogan (?!?). At this point Derringer delivers a solid faux pas. He dedicates the next song to the American Canadian military and their fight for freedom. Jaws dropped as he started playing the Star Spangled Banner. Obviously a canned segment from all his US shows – it was extremely disappointing that his unconvincing speech wasn’t accompanied with at least a few notes of “Oh Canada”. A guitarist of Derringer’s stature could have (and SHOULD have) spent 10 minutes backstage learning a bit, if not all of “Oh Canada”.  After that buzz busting segment Derringer tells us the next song was Hulk Hogan’s anthem and used by Newt Gingrich on his campaign – the good old “Real American” which he in the middle of the song urges to crowd to “Sing It …. I’m a real American, I fight for the rights of every man“. I have never seen a crowd go from rocking so hard to staring there with jaws dropped. At least bassist Powell had the good taste to put on a Rush t-shirt for the Toronto crowd – a gesture that did not go unnoticed and was appreciated.  

The next song is introduced as Ohio’s state song and Derringer begins to win the crowd back with 1965’s Hang On Sloopy. He ends his uneven set by bringing Kim Simmonds and Edgar Winter on stage to finish with a very rocking rendition of Rock and Roll Hoochie Koo. I didn’t intend to write so much about this segment of the show but it was ridiculous how these talented musicians are so rehearsed in what they say city after city that they forget that what might work in Kentucky and Indiana has no relevance what so ever in a different country, but hey at least he remembered to replace the phrase “American military” with “Canadian military” – I guess that is to be expected in a half hour set that referenced Hulk Hogan at two different points.

Edgar Winter: His 5 song half hour set was without a question a highlight of the night. Winter starts off with Rebel Road and I Got My Eye On You. Things really pick up when he tells us its time for some Blues and the crowd gets treated to an epic Tobacco Road complete with a very cool segment in which Winter would scat and guitarist Rappoport would play it back on his blistering guitar. Truly a display of musicianship, the “backing band” became headliners with a massive guitar solo followed by a massive drum solo.

Winter then tells us he was the first person to strap on a synth and he did that to showcase the next song “Frankenstein“. Along with the previous song the musicianship at this part of the night was at a peak with Winter going from playing his Synth-guitar to blasting sax solos, to sitting at a makeshift drum kit where he played drums with his glow stick drumsticks. I can not ever recall any concert in which the performer plays 3 distinct instruments and sang with such proficiency during a song. The set closes with Derringer joining the band for a great version of “Free Ride”.

An instrument change occurs during this intermission and Johnny Winter’s backing band starts the set with an extended instrumental of real rocking blues. Then a frail old man walks out (barely) and the first thing everyone mutters is “how old is Winter” – one would probably guess they are seeing a man in his mid to late 80’s but it turns out Johnny Winter is actually 68 but has a bevy of health issues and many years of substance abuse. The opportunity to see a living legend far outweighed that as Winter blasted out Johnny B. Goode to start off the set. He then set down on the chair for the rest of his set. Things got really good when he replace his headless guitar with a beaten Firebird and a pinky slide. Simmonds, Derringer and brother Edgar joined Johnny on stage for Jumpin Jack Flash and the Sound Academy was jumping. The legend was still a very good guitarist but time has not treated him well as his skills appeared slightly diminished. That did not matter to anyone in attendance as the very full venue was grateful to be in the presence of one of the masters. 

Verdict: Excellent night of … well … Rock and Blues. The addition of the missing Leslie West would have been very welcome but the brothers Winter really delivered the goods to the very diverse crowd tonight.