Performance: Rockin' the Fillmore

"


He's Drinkin' TNT! He's Smokin' Dynamite!   December 6, 2005
Talking Wall (Queen Creek, AZ)
18 out of 18 found this review helpful

"Are you ready? Even you people behind the glass pane at the back of the hall! Are you ready?"

Early today I wrote a review about the Stones Get Yer Ya Ya's Out and mentioned this Humble Pie set. Later today my neighbor was annoying me with what must be 50' subwoofers playing Earth Wind and Fire "Bah-de-ah Bah-de-ah-de-ah-da". I got in the car to escape that sugary racket. I drove over to the Fry's electronics mega-store in Tempe AZ and picked this sucker up. It is blazin' away as I type this. I'll bet I haven't heard this in 30 years. It is SSSSSSSSSMOKIN'!!!

I'm betting that when Steve Marriott was a kid his mother fed him large doses of Ritalin each day to keep him from burning the house down (no disrespect intended, Marriott actually died when his house burned down). There's enough energy here to shut down the Palo Verde Nuclear Power Plant, plug in and power the entire valley (Phoenix metropolis) with this live session of Pie!

When a 17 year old boy listens to this recording (I'm being autobiographical here folks), he just doesn't have a real appreciation for what a consumate entertainer Steve Marriott really was. What a shame he's gone. I'm listening to this with a more mature set of ears tonight and it really is superb. Marriott and the audience are having a heck of a great time together. He's like a guitar-totin' blues-powered Evangelist calling the audience out to convert! They're all out there singing "I'm a Rollin' Stone" along with Marriott. Now I can see why Mick Jagger said "absolutely no Marriott!" to Keith Richards when Marriott auditioned to take Mick Taylor's place in the Rolling Stones. This CD really makes me wish I could go back in a time machine and witness this performance because a CD or an LP or a cassette tape really can't capture this kind of excitement and energy. I believe Frampton should push A&M to remaster this classic and release an anniversary edition sometime soon. Until then, we'll just have to make do with this AAD remaster. It's ok sound-wise and don't let the short track list fool you, there is almost a 73 minute helping of pure Pie goodness here. What are you waiting for? Click your cart button already!

...And I am definitely ordering the Humble Pie King Biscuit Concert where The Pie sounds as good or even better (if that's really possible)!

Now, where was I? Oh yeah,
"TAKE THAT NEIGHBOR!!! TAKE THAT!!!!!
A-ha-ha-ha-ha-haaaaaaaaah! HOW DO YOU LIKE THAT?!!!!"



The Essence of The Pie   September 9, 2000
Michael B McNeil (St. Augustine, FL)
15 out of 15 found this review helpful

I was fortunate to see the Pie in concert approximately 7 or 8 times between 1970 and 1973. The first time was as the back-up band to Grand Funk at Madison Square Garden in 1970. The absolute frenetic energy this band would expend during a show could send a rocketship to Mars!! "Rockin' The Fillmore" captures this energy at the band's peak.

Their traditional opener "4 Day Creep" gets things up to top speed right out of the gate. Marriott's gospel-like vocal intro to "I'm Ready" is classic Steve and when Shirley's drums kick it all in, it smokes! As an old rock & roll boomer I still love the extended jams and "Gilded Splinters" is to me one of the all-time classics. Great interplay between Pete and Steve on guitar. Overall, however, Frampton's play on his Les Paul steals the show. Man could that kid play at 17 years old! I must admit, "Rolling Stone" absolutely sucks! Check it out on their disc "Rock On" for a great version where they do the tune some justice. Marriott's vocal rambling on this tune is just too much even for this hard-core Pie fan. Of course their show closer, "I Don't Need No Doctor" is trademark Humble Pie. The song is their true essence.

I would love to see this concert on video. What a treat it would be to watch Marriott and Frampton jamming together once again. For a short time this band was truly magical!