Cream was always a band for real music fans; people that are into them are really into them. Their heavy sound was so revolutionary it gets the respect of hard rock and psychedelic pioneers as they influenced so many groups, but very few have ever tried to cover their music. This Music of Cream was the same outfit this reviewer saw do exactly that in October. and am happy to report that their time on the road has served the band (and the material) well since last autumn.
The Sony Hall was once the Diamond Horseshoe, a supper club for vaudeville acts. But it’s been taken over by the Blue Note, which ran BB King’s now-defunct club as well as the Highline Ballroom. It’s a great little venue tucked away in Times Square. Unfortunately, they needed the band to end earlier than the announced 11 PM finish. Malcolm Bruce (son of Jack) mentioned this at the beginning of the show on March 30th and also during what would normally be their set break. But beyond that, they played roughly the same show as they did in the fall – that’s no small feat, by the way. The good news is that they sounded even better. Will Johns (son of Andy) was cooking on guitar all night and was really locked in with Bruce and drummer Kofi Baker (son of Ginger).
As they did on their last tour, they played some old footage of Cream along and projected some childhood photos of their famous dads and uncles. However, it was almost unnecessary this time around. Their musical pedigree might get people in the door, but you have to possess the chops to play this intricate material. Thankfully, they definitely do.
With less time to get to it all, maybe there was an added sense of urgency. They opened with “N.S.U” before “Outside Woman Blues” this time and it worked perfectly. The harmonies sung over the heavy drums and guitar is quintessential Cream. By the time “Badge” emerged from “Politician,” they had really hit their stride. Johns’ solo was particularly strong and “Deserted Cities of the Heart” featured strong vocals from Bruce and “Strange Brew” was a clear-crowd pleaser. Cream didn’t really play it live, which made it even more fun to hear.
“White Room” ended what normally would have been the end of the set and gave way to “I’m So Glad.” The blues triplet of “Born Under A Bad Sign,” “Crossroads,” and “Sittin’ On Top of the World” really anchored the set. All three songs are covers made famous by Cream and they all have really distinctive arrangements. The different tempos really complement each other.
“Toad” allowed Kofi Baker to really do his father’s famous drum solo justice. It also gave the other two guys a well-needed break. The amazing thing about Cream, and every other power trio they inspired is how much music comes from just the three players. “Sunshine of Your Love” was the obvious closer, but the energy it supplied reminded the audience of why Eric Clapton played it with so many of his later bands. “Spoonful” was the pseudo-encore but the band didn’t short change the crowd. They jammed it out fully, just as the original band did on Wheels Of Fire.
Malcolm Bruce posted on Facebook that Paul Shaffer even stopped by to check the band out. Clearly, they are starting to get some recognition. For good reason, although we might request “Tales Of Brave Ulysses” on the next tour? I know, I’m being greedy.
