THE REVIVAL
Writing about the Detroit Rock ‘n’ Roll. Revival two weeks after it happened and one week before the summer long series of “pop festivals” begins, can look at it in the perspectives both of what happened there and of how it seems to compare with what is going to happen the rest of the summer.
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THE REVIVAL
Writing about the Detroit Rock ‘n’ Roll. Revival two weeks after it happened and one week before the summer long series of “pop festivals” begins, can look at it in the perspectives both of what happened there and of how it seems to compare with what is going to happen the rest of the summer. In this light, though the list of top name acts that appeared here was probably the shortest for any of the major festivals, the variety of acts presented and the staging of the event made it a success.
The Fairgrounds local, though it was not the first choice, proved entirely suitable to the event. The stage, specially built for the revival, served .well even in the rain Saturday night, and the covered grandstands were pretty welcome. The good weather both afternoons
and the top acts both nights made it something to do all day both days.
There were no real suprise hits at the revival, though the Bonzo Dogs from England, who most of the crowd had never seen before, did get tremendous response both days. Several other groups that really brought the crowd to its feet, but these were all pretty much known commodities like Johnny Winter, MC5, Chuck Berry, Sun Ra, and the Amboy Dukes. Most of the local groups performed up to their usual standards but none of them could muster enough power to get the crowd behind them. One group that came close, however, was the James Gang, currently from Cleveland but it is reported that they are planning to move to Ann Arbor.
The only group that really disappointed me was Lyman Woodard. Formerly one of the most promising jazz musicians Detroit has seen in a long time. Woodard's group. as they performed at the revival, have turned into a second rate soul band more suited for backing up a singing group in a bar than to playing before 1 5.000 people.
Two of the more recently formed local groups showed exceptional promise as far as achieving national prominence in the near future. These were the Third Power and the Savage Grace. Die former is a trio modeled somewhat after the Cream, but with a distinctive stage presence and a lot of first rate original songs. The latter is one of the most original bands to be heard anywhere this year. Even when doing such oft used songs as “A Little Help From My Friends," or “All Along the Watchtower”, they refuse to sound like anyone else, and their original songs are as good as anyone else.
But the most important aspect of the Revival was not the performances ot the individual bands, but rather that such a program could be presented mixing a few top names with a lot of local bands and the locals did not come ott looking like rank amateurs Though as 1 said before, the othei festivals (Toronto-June 21 &„22) Denver (June 28,29), Newport Jazz (July 3-6). Saugatuck (July 4,5) Blind Faith (at Newport July 11) Newport Folk (July 16-20) Atlantic City (Aug. 1-3), Ann Arbor Blues (Aug. 1-3), and Woodstock. N.Y. (Aug. 16-18) may have more name acts but with the exception of Newport none have as much variety of music as Detroit’s, and though the Charisma of certian names may attract raving throngs. 1 doubt if many will surpass us as an artistic success. Detroit is not the music capitol of the world but the scene here is as diversified and capable as anywhere in the country and the possibility for growth is limitless.
