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Intimacy is key to success Stills sells out 3 ‘ s E O. 999, Stage 1, June 22, 1979 , \They say that the kids down here in America don’t want to hear our kind of music, well, let’s prove ’em wrong!” And prove they did. Qot Live... if vjoti VDHnf it | Watching Dr. J. Jdnes and his Interns operate in Stage 1 Saturday I evening had none of the trappings one might expect watching Boston’s 8. leading rock unit in a 400 seat, capacity crowd only, club. Instead, witnessing Aerosmith’s alter-ego perform exclusively in the Clarence nite-club was both comfortably crowded and instantly magical; a band that would play to thousands (at an outdoor festival in Toronto) a few days later could appreciate the energy exchange which occurs through intimacy. It was this whole Stones/EI Mocambo thing that was projected when Harvey and Corky invested in the club originally. 999, a new English band, turned in a high intensity performance- to win over a new following at Stage 1. In a style reminiscent of The'liamones and The Clash, they delivered about an hour’s worth of straight-forward three-chord rock with perfect timing, which is exactly what it takes to make this kind of music work. of pushing, shoving, and near brawls for standing room, Aerosmith entered to thunderous cheers. The band put on a show (not unlike their bigger concerts) and never seemed to ease off with the lack of a stadium-sized crowd. Stills combined an adequate guitar solo with the melody. , The \one-half’ of the old Stills probably should not warrant a credit. The tune that is synonymous with the late ’60’s Stephen Stills, \Love the One You’re With,” was also revised. Instead of Stills performing ‘his’ song, his leading lady on vocals was given the nod to totally butcher a classic, only a few feet from the ‘artist.’ After destroying it with the top of her lungs, she had the gall to walk over to Stills and give him a big kiss. Mysteriously, the audience applauded. Wearing his customary football jersey (once belonging to Colts’ quarterback Burt Jones), Stills came out for the second half alone. Forget about the possibility CuXuffir iq Kavja Lead singer Steve Tyler (clad in tight red satin) shook hands with the fans up front and proceeded to be as verbally and visually obscene as his reputation has it. Tyler’s vocals were as raspy and tough as everyone expected. Guitarists Joe Perry and Brad Whitford were in good form despite lacking some of their recorded luster. The band played at least three songs off their soon-to-be-released album; and though they were well received, they didn’t evoke the response quite like the favorites (“My Big 999’s two guitarists held much of the audience’s attention by stalking and leaping across the stage. Their set ended with the fans’ most popular request, \Homicide.” When 999 returned for an encore, the crowd was in such a frenzy that they rushed onto the stage, pogoing with the band to the finish. —Mark Wegryn The progress of Stage 1 has been steady. Under the guidance of Rich Saltus, the club rapidly expanded into a showplace for approximately four national acts per week. The entertainment ranges from the latest pop bands to the best (and obscured) of the New Wave invasion to stellar performances by the likes of fusion giant John McLaughlin. A club like Stage 1 provides alternatives to both performers and audiences, enabling artists that could not fill halls to reach the fans that consistently wade outside the mainstream. Otherwise, acts like The Police, Joe Jackson, Graham Parker, Tom Robinson, Steve Forbert, Penetration or The Damned would simply remain unseen acts, only read about in forgotten trade papers in some unknown city. Stephen Stills, Kleinhans Music Hall, June 27, 1979 Had Stephen Stills marched on stage to the tune of one of his dynamic old songs, “Changing Partners,” the completion of his appearance at Kleinhans would have been a little easier to swallow. At times, in conjunction with local radio stations or various record companies, the performers are brought here to play low budget concerts. Many fans were able to catch Robben Ford, Jan Hammer and Tonio K. for under two bucks. The recurrent key here is intimacy. Instead, Stills jumped right into his \new stuff’ without any warning, ruining the hopes of the capacity audience who came to hear music of the ’60’s at the West Side theater. Stills has changed partners, and unfortunately, the shift is for the worse. The last time he graced a stage in Buffalo, Stills was accompanied by two reputable artists, David Crosby and Graham Nash — names worth remembering. The “crew” that showed up (not worth remembering) did nothing to complement Stills’ wailing voice and classic \boogie” guitar. If a fan is going to a Club - that promotes mainly rock artists - to be motivated, there should be little complaining about the ideal field of vision and sufficient seating capacity. Stage 1, by no means, offers the idealism of the El Mocambo, that is, a seat fpr every person seeing the show. However, if you’ve ever experienced the dancing njania of say, a Robert Gordon performance, or if you simply understand the primal movement that has gone hand-in-hand with rock ’n roll for years, the complaints are no longer valid. And surely the neo-barbarianism that pervaded the recent Damned show (and you had best believe that the fans there DID enjoy themselves) could NEVER have occurred at the El Mocambo. For what it’s worth .. .another alternative. At some of the more recent gigs there (especially when local bands are playing) players from the Charlie Daniels Band (including ’ol Charlie), UFO and the Allman Brothers hopped up onstage to excite the crowds and turn in some decent impromptu jamming. At the Joe\ Jackson show, members of Supertramp filtered among the crowd. The point here, without being repetitive, is that this city has gone too long on the premise that “It can’t happen here.\ And while many may not look upon the recent appearance of Aerosmith here as major, you had better believe that for once people will be reading about the thing* in Buffalo rather than the people in Buffalo engaging in pipe dreaming. —Tim Swlta/a YOU'RE KIDDING; Nope, and neither was Aerosmith. The group rocked Stage 1 last week, making a surprise appearance and thrilling the SRO crowd. of his doing something worthwhile by himself. He just prolonged the agony with a spiel that kind of knocked Secretary- of Energy Schlesinger, who has replaced “Richard Nixon, Sprio Agnew and Richard Daly and well ... whatever you want to call ’em ..as the new target of Stills’ latest cause — anti-nuclear, pro-solar energy. Opening- the show was the boring, but luckyon-the-AM-dial band, Orleans. After receiving a warm ovation that said \thanks for the torture,” Stills appeared. When Stills left, it was again “thanks for the torture.” Ten Inch,” “Walk This Way,” their Sgt. Pepper hit, \Come Together” and especially “Sweet Emotion”) did. The “oldies\ were the highlight of their two 45-minute sets. —Eileen Lee During a 90-minute set, Stills flashed back to the past exactly three times — make that two and one-half. “Turn Back the Pages” featured him at his best and was undoubtedly the set’s top song as The Damned, Stage 1, July 1, >979 SOFT CONTACT LENSES The Damned came to Clarence and brought out the punks. Newly formed, the British band proved why they were The Sex Pistols’ inspiration. Anarchy rules. With lead singer Dave “Transyl” Vanian dressed in a purple-lined black silk cape and guitarist Captain Sensible stuffecj • BAUSCH & LOME $95°° -David Davidson in a shocking pink <md lemon yellow Big Bird suit, The Damned look just as outrageous as their act They may, well be the • A. O. SOFT Dr. J. Jones and the Interns, Stage 1, June 30,1979 Last Saturday night was hardly Seventies’ answer to burlesque, an ordinary one for many area The act comes complete with rock fans patronizing Harvey & spitting wars and thrown pitchers Corky’s Stage 1. A different kind of beer. At one point, drummer of anticipation, and even mystery, Rat Scabies yelled out, “You’re a surrounded the place with the good audience Buffalo, but you’re news that some Boston group, Dr. lousy shots!” The crowd J. Jones and the Interns, was to (relatively small) pushed up to the perform that evening. Or at least front of the floor, participating in that was the belief running the a game of musical push and, shove, musical grapevine, and the Some fell to the ground. Few skeptics. However, many of us cared. And we all waited to see were quickly convinced by the how long it would take Captain attendants, posted at all Sensible to realize he had spittle entrances, barring entry to even dripping off his chin, the lot without a ticket. The message is not the music. The “sold out” sing on the One Damned good song is barely door along with the scalpers distinguishable from the other, (asking almost $20 for $4.50 The message between the tickets) was the final proof. Later, audience and The Damned was $13 poorer, my suspicions were clearly spelled out on the back of confirmed: the ficticious Dr. J. one frenzied observer’s T-shirt; Jones and his Interns weren’t \We are the third generation, coming — Aerosmith was. 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