The Crazy Horse is a huge nightclub in west Covina, and, being used to the small size of LA clubs, I was not expecting this half sport bar, half disco dancing place! There is a large stage, an ample hardwood floor in front of it for dancers, then a spacious dining/drinking place, a bar in the back, and I’m sure I didn’t see everything. The atmosphere is different from that of LA clubs, may be friendlier, and more countryish of course.
Mick Rhodes and his band were playing there on Saturday night and they delivered a powerful set of bright songs rooted in pure rock’n’roll, country, folk and pop. Mick opened with his glowing ‘Back to the 909’, back up by Brian Hall on electric guitar, Doug Baker on bass, Wyman Reese on piano, Brian Wells on drums, and Steve Sturgis on acoustic guitar. They were joined by Jeff Masters and his harmonica for the third song ‘I shoulda danced with you’, and at this point some people had taken the dancing floor to move along the bluesy-rocking rhythms.
I should not forget to mention the beautiful addition of the female vocals of Emily Moultrie and also, on a few songs, Robin Banks, who was also very occupied taking pictures, so she abandoned the stage for a while.
‘Vital love’ had that special 60’s feeling with the slow organ background melody, and ‘Sapulpa’ felt like an instant classic rock song with all these triumphant and victorious guitars.
They played two new songs, which do not figure on the record, ‘Since you’, a bluesy honky-tonk tune which was talking about politicians and preachers, and ‘Last Summer’, a slow song that was shining with its vocal harmonies alone before all the guitars woke up at the same time.
Mick advised me to stick around for the next band, which, he said, was a very good one, and I am glad I did. The Black Tongued Bells were like experiencing The Rolling Stones in a muddier and blusier parallel universe, as if Mick Jaegger and Keith Richards had merged into one single man, D Miner, the band’s frontman.
Mick Rhodes and his band ended their set with the blasting and radiant rocking sound of ‘All right’, and I guess they are much more than this, simply all right.
Set list:
Back to the 909
It’s too late
I shoulda danced with you
Rainbows
Vital Love
Sapulpa
Since you
Last Summer
Til I am dust
All right