HEADBANGER’S SECTION!!!

ZZ Top
Live In Germany 1980
Eagle Records
www.eaglerockent.com

The Jeff Healey Band
Live At Grossman’s 1994
Eagle Records
www.eaglerockent.com

Ian Gillan, Tony Iommi & Friends
Who Cares
Armoury Records
www.eaglerockent.com
By George W. Harris

OK, so sue me! I’m covering a lot of blues rockers lately. Hey! It’s
summertime, and thought veer towards outdoor festivals, where this kind
of music shines like sun tan on a bleached blonde.

ZZ Top is one of the most famous boogie rock bands around, and this
disc captures them at the zenith of their energetic career. One of
their best albums, Deguello, had just come out, and concert continues
the energy emitted from that session. A couple of covers like “I Thank
You” and “Dust My Broom” get back to the roots of this roots band,
while a take of “Jailhouse Rock” spews out raucous electricity. Of
course, their hits “La Grange” and “Tush” are here as well. The music
is thriving, but if you’re looking for meaningful lyrics, Proust and
Porter are not going to be found; the mood is party time, and think
about life after the next beer.

Guitarist Jeff Healey, blind most of his life, and taken from earth way
too young, leaving us with a pitifully limited collection of music. The
good news is, this one here is probably his best. It’s just when Healey
and his band (Joe Rockman/b, Tom Stephen/dr, Pat Rush/g and Michael
Pickett/harmonica) were delving into more jazzy and authentic blues
horizons. At his favorite venue, Healey mixes ferocious chops with
exquisite taste on tunes like “I’m Going Home” and “Crossroads.” Big
surprise here is a fresh take of John Lennon’s “Yer Blues” which
explodes with power, while “All Along The Watchtower” spotlights some
amazing fingerwork as well as Healey’s underrated vocals. This one is
destined to be a must have for electric guitar fans. Whew!!!

Who’d have thought that 70s heavy metal rockers Ian Gillan and Tony
Iommi would do a fund raiser for Armenia? Well, they did, and the music
on this ep is stupendously put together. Gillan’s voice is amazingly
rich and well focused, particularly on “Holy Water” while Iommi’s fret
work on the uptempo “Out Of My Mind” shows he’s still got the digital
touch. A video that includes a documentary behind the Armenian cause is
worth seeking out. A great way to help a cause and rock out at the same
time.