THE BOB SEGER SYSTEM
Seger, at present, stinks. After attending a live performance, I feel completely justified in this statement. Blame the acoustics or blame the fact that they have “recently added a new member, they just don’t come through with their renowned “heavy” sound.
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THE BOB SEGER SYSTEM
Pam Brent
Seger, at present, stinks. After attending a live performance, I feel completely justified in this statement. Blame the acoustics or blame the fact that they have “recently added a new member, they just don’t come through with their renowned “heavy” sound.
Apologizing at the start of the set for not being quite together with their new, fourth member, Seger proceeded to play the entire first half with only three members. I’ll admit 'that their apology for not being together was in order, though not for the specified reason.
Bob Seger possesses a superb singing voice and knows his way around a guitar. However, he has never mastered both simultaneously.
1 assume that that was the purpose of a new member. Haphazardly spitting out the lyrics at convenient intervals in which the guitar wasn’t occupying his complete attention, Seger managed to make it through his first set. This included a simplified, redundantly chorded! version of “Rock My Primsoul,’’, a slow, difficult “Jumpin’"Jack Flash,” reverting" to the pld soul sound with “I’m a Lover,” the much overworked “Sunshine of Your Love,” and another soul cut, “Some Kinda Wonderful. The same chords and back beat, incorporated into a small jam, constantly recurred in almost every cut. To my relief, the first half finally ended.
The second set saw the arrival of the new member. He took command of the “B-3” organ and assisted as the group pounded sedately through “Ramblin’’ Gamblin’ Man.”
Next, the sweet melodious tones of Seger’s voice triumphed over “Train Man” — a beautiful, slow-moving arrangement. When he really pays attention to the lyrics, Sege r’£ marvelous range and projection can be fully enjoyed.
At this point; the instrument switchery going on between Seger and the new member started getting on my nerves as they took time to tune after every switch. This, however, continued throughout the remainder of the set
I will never fully understand why, if they don’t consider themselves together, a group will charge money for a weak performance. After a truly inspiring set by the little known Stuart Avery Assemblings, the Seger System was a tremendous disappointment and the crowd reflected that opinion.
