“You’re going to hear a lot more notes than with Ringo!”
So stated Nerve Bundle drummer Gregg Bissonette just before settling down behind the traps in support of fellow Ringo All Starr Band member Steve Lukather who played in toto (pun unresistable, thank you) with bassist Jorgen Carlsson and keyboardist Jeff Babko for a Christmas gig full of cheer in the stocking stuffed Baked Potato.
Getting into the holiday spirit, things opened up with a joyful noise version of “Jingle Bells” with Bissonette on trumpet teamed with Babko’s trombone before Lukather settled into a soulful bluesy rocker of “Big Bone” that had BIssonette delivering a soulful and orchestral groove for the guitarist to ride over on his long board of six strings. A soulful and funky hip read of the Christmas carol “Angels We Have Heard On High” was driven by Bissonette’s snappy sticks teaming with Carlsson’s palpable pulse.
Lukather then turned the celebration into an Experience by both singing and delivering serious guitar lines on a stomping take of Jimi Hendrix’s “Freedom.” The team popped the clutch and went into overdrive on a tripled timed shuffle of “Smell Yourself” that had Lukather lay out some incendiary guitar work while Babko’s keys wailed into competition with the heavenly host.
Babko calmed things down with a gentle and contemplative intro to “Song For Jeff Porcaro” that had former bandmate Lukather produce some passionate hues of blue. Closing out the evening in light of the Advent Season, Lukather lead the band through a beautiful rendition of “Silent Night” that melded Bissonette’s gentle cymbal work and Babko’s sweet tones on the keyboard that went down as deliciously as Egg Nog topped with nutmeg.
Lukather and company showed that along with traditional red and green, Christmas also has room for the color blue, especially in guitar tones.
Upcoming shows at the Baked Potato include Brian Auger 12/19, Albert Lee 12/21, Don Randi & Quest 12/31 and the Grand Re-Opening of John Pisano’s Guitar Night 01/07