Jeff Beck & Johnny Depp Bring Wailin’ Guitar Show To Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre (SHOW REVIEW)

Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp on stage together wailin’ their guitars is certainly not a scene from the big screen. The legendary blues, rock, and fusion guitarist has been toying with the idea of touring with Depp, the esteemed actor, and musician, for a few years. The rockin’ pair bonded over a shared love of guitars and old cars and they recently released an album of mostly cover songs called 18, with Depp singing on most of the tracks. The two are on tour promoting the newly released songs as well as Beck’s deep catalog of music and that U.S. jaunt visited Los Angeles’ Orpheum Theatre on November 6, 2022.

Beck, 78, is an eight-time Grammy Award winner and has been inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice – first with the Yardbirds in 1992 and again as a solo artist in 2009. While most of his solo career since the 1970s has focused on instrumental material, he has occasionally collaborated with vocalists. Depp, 59, is a global movie star and has sung and appeared with a guitar on film several times over the years. He delved into the rock music arena with buddies Alice Cooper and Joe Perry in 2012 when they formed The Hollywood Vampires. As a result, that star-studded group has released two albums and appeared on stage infrequently.

The Orpheum Theatre crowd was buzzing with energy before the show started and it turned out that they would have to be patient before seeing Depp on stage. Jeff Beck is acknowledged as one of the most technically gifted all-time guitarists and he still has the chops to amaze an audience, so it was not remotely disappointing to see his band without Depp as they performed several songs from his deep instrumental catalog. 

Bassist Rhonda Smith held down the low end and pulsated the building with thumping beats. Drummer Anika Nilles had a clean, loud sound mix that showed off her skills on the skins. Cellist Vanessa Freebairn-Smith added a stylish and warm presence to the mix with her bowing which was a pleasant counterpoint to Beck’s often electric violin-sounding solos. Robert Stevenson played an array of keyboard instruments that supplemented the bands’ sound.

Highlights and crowd favorites from Beck’s older material included the set opening “Freeway Jam” which featured the guitarist and keyboardist’s psychedelic riffs. Those elements repeated during “Star Cycle.” Rhonda Smith and Anika Nilles each got the spotlight during solos on Mahavishnu Orchestra’s “You Know You Know.” Smith’s slapping and finger-picking techniques were impressive while Nilles demonstrated her fast, but tasteful drumming talents.

Beck played one of the new tracks from 18, a serene instrumental cover of The Beach Boys’ “Caroline, No.” that contrasted nicely with his version of Stevie Wonder’s “Cause We Ended as Lovers.” Beck played his Fender Strat with heavy distortion, in a slow, poignant style, using the vibrato bar and wah-wah pedal for creative effects. After nearly an hour, Beck, who has never been chatty onstage, went to the microphone and said with his tongue placed firmly in his cheek, “It’s so complicated, I got a little help.” As the band launched into 18’s instrumental cover of “Rumble,” originally by Link Wray & His Raymen, Depp finally came out of the wings and joined the party with his Fender Telecaster.

The energy in the room increased dramatically as many in the audience got on their feet and hollered out Depp’s name. After the short song ended, Depp switched to an acoustic twelve-string guitar and sang one of the songs he penned for 18, its first single called “This Is A Song For Hedy Lamarr.” Depp’s vocals were fed through an echo effect and supplemented by Robert Stevenson, as the moody, catchy track included a haunting Beck solo.

Depp’s vocal limitations were exposed on Dennis Wilson’s “Time” off his accomplished solo album Pacific Ocean Blue. He sang the slow ballad without vocal effects and that challenged his range. While he performed the song with great passion, the only thing that saved it was Beck’s extraordinary solo which started quietly and built into a sweltering climax. Depp turned things around with a fine version of The Velvet Underground’s “Venus In Furs.” The song was a heavy rocker featuring another distorted, screaming Beck solo, while Depp’s muffled. eerie vocals were reminiscent of Lou Reed who sang on the original song.

Depp left the stage for the set ending number. Beck played a uniquely arranged version of the Beatles’ “A Day in the Life” that started quietly but transitioned into a psychedelic, electric showcase for the band. They came back out for an encore, again without Depp. Beck played a nearly acoustic, quick mellow song before telling the audience “this is my version of an old song.” He then launched into an explosive interpretation of Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing.” 

Depp came back out for the finale, a version of The Killing Joke’s “The Death And Resurrection Show.”  The song had a compelling spooky, punk style as Depp’s rhythm guitar playing was effective as a counter to Beck’s searing lead. 

Jeff Beck will be remembered as one of the greatest guitarists ever and his recent collaborations with Johnny Depp have revealed The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer’s guitar legacy to a whole new generation of fans. 

Live photos courtesy of Andy J. Gordon ©2022FB: andy.j.gordon1, IG: andyjgordon1

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