Kraj: Bluesiana Rock Cafe / Velden am Woerthersee / Avstrija
Datum koncerta: 14.12.2007
Število obiskovalcev: 50
Cena karte: 27,00€ / 30,00€
December 2007 ostaja nor kar se obiska vrhunskih izvajalcev v bližini Slovenije tiče. Kam drugam, kot znova v Vrbo na Koroško in tamkajšnji klub Bluesiana? Tam se je namreč oglasil znameniti basist Thomas Michael Stevens, skrajšano T.M. Stevens. Gre za enega najboljših basistov na svetu. Njegova razvpita reputacija in renome sta okronana s sodelovanjem znotraj plejade zasedb vrhunskih izvajalcev in super zaslužkarjev glasbenega posla začenši pri pokojnih dveh Milesu Davisu in Jamesu Brown, naprej pri (še živih) Joe Cockerju, Cindy Lauper, Tini Turner, Billy Joelu, pa Patu Traversu in Carmine Appiceu, The Pretenders, Stevie Salasu, Richie Kotzenu in seveda Zappinem šolarčku Steveu Vaiu. T.M. je gorostas basist. Ko nadene tradicionalno živopisano zulu opravo, natakne sončna očala, je pobesneli kanarček naposled spuščen iz kletke da se razfrči v svojem znamenitem funk metal izročilu povsod do kamor lahko ponesejo žlahtni decibeli njegov trušč!
Srečni pristanek v Bluesiani, zahvaljujoč vremenu, ki še komaj zadržuje snežne meteže v poznem decembru 2007, se je globoko obrestoval. T.M Stevens in njegova skupina Shocka Zooloo, ki jo tvori udarni trio v katerem se nahajajo poleg T.M. Stevensa (vokal, bas kitara) še kitarist Micahel “Master Blaster” Barnes in bobnar Gary “Gman” Sullivan. Seveda so vsi trije obrazno pridno počičkani. Kot je že lep čas v grdi navadi Avstrijskega ljudstva ter njihove ignorance teh odličnih koncertov, ki jih prireja prva dama Bluesiane Gudrun, je bil tudi to pot obisk kluba pod sleherno kritiko. Komaj 50 ljudi se je nabralo v klubu. Skupina je vlekla s pričetkom v upanju, da se klub le nekoliko bolj napolni. Tako je skupina naposled krepko preko desete ure zvečer, zavzela bojne položaje na odru. Kot se za predstavitev pravkar izdanega albuma “Africans In The Snow” (2007) – RockLine recenzija TUKAJ, spodobi, je trio pričel s prvo skladbo tega albuma imenovano What. Po nedolžnem nasnetem uvodu vodenem v tradicionalnem afriškim etno motivu, so možje opalili vsak po svojem instrumentu, kot da gre za sodni dan. T.M. Stevens se je nekajkrat dobesedno tresel, kot v transu tako je bil vživet med nastopom. S svojim raskavo voluminoznim, nižje intoniranim, silno eksplozivnim, da ne rečem že skoraj grobim vokalom tipa James Brown, je kot za šalo razdiral verze in deloval med nastopom kot inkarnacija prave biblijske beštije.
T.M. Stevens je znan da naredi pravo žurko! Takoj je podrl bairere, ki se navadno pojavijo na relaciji publika – skupina. Ko je stopil na oder je takoj v nagovoru poudaril, da je nocojšnje druženje kar se skupine tiče, privatna hišna zabava. Za klub kot je Bluesiana ter njeno srčno šefico Gudrun to ne bi mogel biti večji poklon. T.M. je nastopil nocoj v Bluesiani skupno že četrtič, nocojšnji koncert pa je bil predzadnji na celotni aktualni turneji, ki je bila večinoma omejena na obiske v Nemčiji in Italiji.
Sleherni trenutek je izrabil za zahvalo Gudrun. Tako jo je povabil na oder in jo učil igrati bas kitare. To je njegov stari štos, ki ga uporablja na turnejah v nastopih. Ne dolgo zatem je povabil vse preostale “tigrice” Bluesiane, ki ne izpustijo nikdar nobenega koncerta v tem klubu in jih nagovarjal naj vsaka pokaže svojo rit. Seveda to konec koncev ni vžgalo, se je pa na šefov ukaz prizibal v ospredje bobnar Gary, ki je skozi nekaj sumljivo izzivalnih trebušnih gibov na koncu presunil občinstvo, ko si je potegnil hlače dol in na stežaj reklamiral svojo zagorelo zadnjo plat. Šef T.M. ga je kmalu nagnal nazaj za bobne, da mu ne prevzame primata. Ni minilo prav mnogo minut, ko je bila ona odru že cela množica obiskovalcev, ki se je zvirala pod funk ritmi, katere je generirala vročična trojica.
Vsak izmed trojice je ponudil tudi svoj solo. Prvi je bil seveda T.M., potem Gary no in kot zadnji je svojo solo točko izvajal Michael Barnes aka “Master Blaster”. Po obsežnem natepavanju strun je zmemoriral motiv in ga spustil čez “delay”. Na oder je položil dva stola, pripeljal obe oštirici izza šanka, ju posadil nanju, prisedel poleg ter pričel solirati čez ponavljajoči se motiv. Torej T.M. in njegova kompanjona sta resnično prišla razvedrit občinstvo, zlasti pa so se seveda logično najbolj vneto posvečali v tem pripadnicam ženskega spola. No med njimi je zlasti neka gospa občutno zrelostne podobe šla nekoliko predaleč, ko je vidno obremenjena pod težo alkoholnih zvarkov vzela vso stvar zelo zares, celo Stevensovo nakladancijo, da je po koncertu rezerviral hotelsko sobo samo za njiju v Veldnu in da jo bo tam vroče čakal po koncertu. Ženska se je kmalu prikazala s čašico Jägermeißstra in ga ponudila T.M.-ju, ki se žlahtne “rcnije” nikakor ni branil
No po tem lahko zaključite, da je šlo za enega najbolj spontanih nastopov kar si jih lahko predstavljate. Da je set lista vselej imaginarna in nastaja sproti na odru, tega ni treba sploh omenjati. Preprosto ni težko te spontanosti razbrati skozi igro njenih akterjev. Toliko spontanega štosiranja me nastopom, izkazovanja neskončnega uživanja v igranju, superiornega medsebojnega zaznavanja, ki je rezultiralo v vrhunski uigranosti. Preprosto se ti trije tipi enkratno zaznavajo.
Možje so po What med drugim udarili še z Up, Fight, Fight, Fight, Spank, Gotta Get My Move On, Mama Said, Thumb, The River Flow, No Good w/Out The Bad. Koncert so možje zaključili s posvetilom Bobu Marleyu in skladbo Maximum Respect, ki so jo odigrali v dodatku.
Koncert je meril krepko preko dveh ur, dve uri in 20 minut. Minil pa je kot bi mignil. Možje so prišli z namenom da priredijo veliko zabavo. To jim je uspelo z lahkoto. Škoda, da je v klubu primanjkovalo ljudi. Skupina si je privoščila navitje na jakost, ki je krepko presegala kapacitete kluba. Bilo je občutno preveč naglas vse skupaj. In možje so navili gumbe navzgor med koncertom. Sprva je bil zvok povsem všečen. Najbolj pa je po povišanju jakosti ozvočenja, utrpel izgube T.M.-jev vokal, ki ga je kitarski riffing dobesedno nekajkrat povozil.
T.M. je definitivno najbolj nor, a hkrati tudi najbolj “cool” basist. Težko najdeš bolj dostopno in prijazno figuro. Dejstvu, da se je vse skupaj vrtelo tako hitro je botroval sam pristop T.M.-ja, ki je publiko vseskozi držal budno pri sebi, s tem da je množico ogovarjal vseskozi z sočnimi šalami na svoj račun, se hudomušno nekajkrat ponorčeval iz posameznikov v publiki, nagovarjal zlasti ženske k početju “neumnosti”. S silno energijo rušilne funk metal erupcije zabeljen nastop, ki je sprožal mravljince! Temu se gre zahvaliti na račun izredna izvedbe Shocka Zooloo. Zmes maksimalno navitega groove-a, ki ga razvija unikatni bas mojster T.M. je spravila po konci prav vse kocine telesa. K temu se je enkratno ulegel Barnesov metalski pristop neposrednega rifanja, vse skupaj pa bi bilo zaman brez ulito natančnega narekovanja tempov ritma Garyja Sullivana. T.M. je seveda požel glavnino ovacij. Odlično petje v interakciji z nenadkriljivim basiranjem, ga dela na moč unikatnega in prepoznavnega. V Bluesiani je priredil nepozabno funk meko, ki dodobra zamajala temelj kluba, spravila v pogonski tek kolesje maloštevilnega občinstva, katerega zlasti posameznice, niso skrivale splošne vzhičenosti, mestoma celo delirija. Nepozabno!
besedilo: Aleš Podbrežnik
fotografije: Aleš Podbrežnik
December remains crazy as far as the gigs of top musicians near Slovenia are concerned. Where else but again to Velden am Woertersee in Kaernten, Austria and their Bluesiana Rock Cafe? The club witnessed a famous bass guitarist Thomas Michael Stevens, T.M. Stevens in short, who is one of the best bass guitarists in the world. His reputation and renown are crowned by his cooperation with numerous top performers and big earners in the music business, starting with the deceased Miles Davis and James Brown, continuing with (still living) Joe Cocker, Cindy Lauper, Tina Turner, Billy Joel, Pat Travers, Carmine Appice, The Pretenders, Stevie Salas, Richie Kotzen and of course Zappa’s schoolboy Steve Vai. T.M. is a gigantic base guitarist. When he puts on his colourful traditional Zulu outfit and sunglasses this mad canary is finally let out of his cage to whiz in his well-known funk metal tradition all the way his precious decibels can carry his noise.
The lucky landing at Bluesiana, thanks to the weather which can hardly hold back snowdrifts in late December 2007, paid off immensely. T.M. Stevens and his band Shocka Zooloo form a striking trio, with two other members. Besides Stevens (vocal, bass guitar) there is also Michael “Master Blaster” Barnes on the guitar and drummer Gary “G-man” Sullivan. All three of them, naturally, have colourfully painted faces. For some time now it has been a bad habit of the Austrian people to ignore these outstanding performances, organised by the first lady of Bluesiana Gudrun, and this time the number of visitors was beneath criticism again. Hardly 50 people gathered in the club. The band were delaying with the beginning, hoping that it would fill up a bit more. Thus “the Zooloos” finally took their military positions on the stage far after 10 p.m. As it befits the presentation of the newly released album “Africans In The Snow” (2007) the trio started with the first song called What. After the innocently played introduction in the traditional African ethnic motif the men thrashed their instruments as if it were Judgement Day. T.M. Stevens was so into music that he was literally shaking a few times as if in trans. With his hoarse voluminous voice of lower intonation, powerfully explosive, not to say almost a rough vocal a la James Brown he handled the verses with great ease and during the performance acted like an incarnation of a real biblical beast.
T.M. Stevens is known for giving a good party. He immediately overcame the barrier which usually builds up between the public and the band. As soon as he stepped onto the stage he pointed out in his speech that as far as the band were concerned that was a private house party. It could not have been a bigger compliment for a club like Bluesiana and its hearty boss Gudrun. T.M.’s concert in this club was the fourth and at the same time the one before last on the whole current tour, which was basically limited to Germany and Italy.
He used every single moment to thank Gudrun. He invited her on the stage and taught her how to play the bass guitar. That is an old trick of his which he uses at the gigs. Shortly after that he invited the rest of the “tigeresses” of Bluesiana, who never miss any of the club’s performances, and tried to persuade them to show their bottoms. Naturally it did not work out, but Garry the drummer swayed to the front of the stage to the boss’s order, made some provocative belly moves and in the end astonished the audience by pulling down his pants and proudly showing his bronzed backside. The boss T.M. quickly made Garry return back to his drums so that he would not take his primacy. It did not take long when there was a crowd of visitors on the stage, twisting to the rhythms of funk music generated by the feverish trio.
Each of the three also offered his solo, the first of course being T.M., then Gary and as the last one Michael Barnes aka “Master Blaster”. After an extensive hitting of the strings he memorised the motif and let it through the “delay”. He put two chairs on the stage, brought both waitresses from the bar, seated them on the chairs, sat next to them and started his solo over the repeating motif. So T.M. and his two companions really came to cheer up the audience, logically they devoted most of their attention to the female members of the public. One of the women, of a considerable appearance, apparently suffering from an overdose of alcohol potions, took the whole thing very seriously when T.M. said he had booked a room just for them two in Velden after the gig that night and that he would be waiting passionately for her. The woman soon turned up with a glass of Jaegermeister and offered it to T.M., who did not refuse the precious “medicine”.
After all this you can conclude that this was one of the most spontaneous gigs you can imagine. The fact that the set list is always imaginary and comes into existence simultaneously on the stage need not be mentioned. It is not hard to notice this spontaneity and so much fun during the gig, the musicians showing immense pleasure in playing, superior sensing each other, which all resulted in a topmost accordance. These three simply sense each other uniquely.
After What the men among others hit with Up, Fight, Fight, Fight, Spank, Gotta Get My Move On, Mama Said, Thumb, The River Flow, No Good w/Out The Bad. They concluded the gig with a dedication to Bob Marley and the song Maximum Respect, which was played in encore.
The concert was far beyond two hours long, two hours and 20 minutes to be precise. But it seemed it was over in a blink of an eye. The men came with the purpose of throwing a big party, which they succeeded with great ease. Pity though there was a shortage of people. The band turned up the volume to the extent that exceeded the capacities of the club a great deal. It was all just way too loud. The sound was very agreeable at first, but the men turned the buttons during the gig up. T.M.’s vocal suffered the most damage after the increase of the sound, since it was literally run over by the guitar riffs a few times.
T.M. is definitely the craziest, but at the same time the coolest bassist. One can hardly find a more affable and friendly person. The fact that everything was going on so quickly was due to T.M.’s approach. He was constantly keeping the public on the alert with juicy jokes on his own behalf, roguishly making fun of some individuals in the public and trying to persuade women to act foolishly. An outstanding performance of Shocka Zooloo, filled with immense energy of funk metal eruption, causing tingles and goose bumps! A mixture of groove developed to maximum by the unique bass master T.M. raised every single hair of the body. Barns’s metal approach of direct riffs suited it excellently. But everything would be in vain without immaculate Gary Sullivan’s tempo. T.M. received the biggest part of ovations, of course. His superb singing in combination with unsurpassable bass makes him extremely unique and recognisable. He performed an unforgettable funk mecca in Bluesiana, which thoroughly shook the foundations of the club and set in motion the small number of visitors, of which especially the female members openly showed their rapturousness and at times even delirium. Unforgettable!
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