Rock Island: Boomers borne back to the beginning with Daisey Chain
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Wow. What a sloppy night for clubbing. Before I get angry e-mails from animal rights activists, I'm not talking about baby seals. On the other hand, it's cold and nasty enough tonight that we feel like we're on their turf. And where there's a baby seal, there's an angry, overprotective mama seal, hungry for humanburgers. Great. Looks like we're going to need two clubs to protect ourselves in this harsh, arctic environment.
Hey, look! Two clubs! Daly's and Cabana Jack's. Good thing we found them, or I'd end up doing a thousand words on arctic wildlife instead of ROCK & ROLL!
Yeah, baby, tonight we groove to the shagadelic sounds of Daisey Chain ( I didn't misspell it, they did. On purpose. Just to buck the establishment. Like hippies or something). They're doing Cabana Jack's tonight. Northern neighbor Daly's is hosting the ever-popular CoCoBeanos. I think I mentioned something about them last week. It seems I just mentioned something about them this week as well. (That guitar I like is becoming more and more affordable, right, George?)
Daisey Chain targets the Baby Boomer demographic with feel-good rock favorites from the '60s and '70s. Vocals are co-anchored by Jill Danke and guitarist Lance Horwedel. The rhythm section boasts Jeff Denney on drums and Judy Butts on bass. Gary Clayton's keyboards are the coup d'grace, the icing on the cake, the umbrella in the mai tai. You get the picture. Everyone in the band sings, and all sing well. Their harmonies are among the best I've heard locally. This skill makes for shining performances of my generation's music. Now, before you young'uns roll your eyes and turn up your noses, this is the music that inspired some of your favorite acts. Take yer Kid Rock. He listened to this stuff when he was, indeed, a kid. Now, I know he's not as cool as he used to be. But you mark my words. If you're lucky enough to make it to your forties, you'll long for the days of Kid Rock. And when you hear his music in your middle age, for just one moment you'll be ... (what are ya, 21?) You'll be 21 years old again. Then you'll write a gushy story about it for funcoast.com.
Daisey Chain's list includes "I'm a Believer" by The Monkees, Dr. John's classic, "Right Place, Wrong Time," Joni Mitchell's "Big Yellow Taxi," and "Caddyshack" theme song, "I'm Allright" by Kenny Loggins (I love the off-time "Duh-Duh-Duh" break in the middle. I'm all about "Duh").
At this point, we still haven't heard Gary Clayton sing lead. I've heard him sing plenty of times over the years, so I know he has the pipes. He finally sings lead for us on Procol Harum's "Whiter Shade of Pale." Fantastic.
Lance sings lead on most of the songs that feature a male vocal, and Jill covers the female singers. Brilliant plan! I doubt Lance would have slam-dunked Janis Joplin's "Me and Bobby McGee" quite the way Jill does. And I mean slam-dunk, baby. I may have to start calling her "Jillis" (Not really, but you lot feel free).
As for Judy Butts, the last petit femme I remember who could pound out such a smashing bottom was Suzi Quatro (I have pictures of Judy's smashing bottom. Ten bucks. Oh, wait, That's Suzi Quatro. Twenty bucks.)
Jeff Denney's precision drumming ties it all together. He's tight, unerring, accurate as a clock and much more fun to watch (Get it? Clock? Watch? I slay myself). This guy could play drums for Mozart. (Actually, for you history buffs, Mozart's drummer sucked, and he couldn't sing).
As engaging as Daisey Chain is, they still have a surprise in store for us. Cabana boss Dan Sharp takes the stage and sings the second verse of Uriah Heep's "Stealin'" He did pretty well (If he had my band more often, I'd have to say he was excellent). Dan also pulls DJ duty, complete with big top forty radio voice. It's good to be multi-talented. Just ask Lance.
They continue to crank out golden hit after golden hit. Woodstock. Cinnamon Girl. We're an American Band. Cleveland Rocks. Stuck In the Middle With You. Revolution. Road House Blues. No way! That's "Pick Up the Pieces" by Average White Band. This act is a 70s radio station, sans commercials.
To top it all off, Lance's fabulous shag wig is in rare form tonight, and lava lamps flanking the drum riser glow '72 Duster green. Groovy, baby! What a trip! (Note to self: Get wig and lava lamp)
Our flashbacks subside, and we crash into reality as we leave the establishment. People like us don't belong in the Arctic Circle. Bad for the old ticker. Besides, there aren't any daiseys among the baby seals; only the constant peril of becoming lunch for a ravenous polar bear. Flower Power!
Brad Linton has never clubbed a baby seal -- that he knows of. E-mail Brad at blinton@funcoast.com.
