Re: Blue Oyster Cult
B.O.C. is one of my favorites.I was really intrigued by the Agents of Fortune album Cover & that was the main reason I bought it. I knew "Don't Fear..." & that's why I picked up the album but that cover is so cool as is the whole album.I started buying all there records soon after. The first time I seen them was on the Black & Blue tour in 1980when they opened for Black Sabbath(Shakin' Street with Dictators Ross the Boss opened the show). B.O.C. was amazing & totally blew Sabbath away.B.O.C. was supporting their Cultosaurus Erectus album & Sabbath 'Heaven & Hell'. I seen BOC on the following tour in support of 'Fire of Unknown Origin' & the Tour in support of Club Ninja.All 3 times I seen them back then they were phenominal. I did get to see them back in June & here's a little review I wrote up for the show:
Blue Oyster Cult
Venue: Artpark
Location: Lewiston, NY
Date: 6/16/09
Review by Bucky for Rock n Roll Universe
The outdoor amphitheatre at Artpark in Lewiston, NY was packed with thousands of people to see the veteran rockers from Long Island, NY, Blue Oyster Cult. Gone are the days of the wild stage shows consisting of Lasers, Pyro, & a giant Godzilla that towered over the stage & spewed out smoke & fire but what we did get 30 years later is a kick ass set of Rock & Roll by one of my favorite bands of all-time.
After a cool set of rocking tunes by female blues guitarist Maria Aurijema the huge crowd was warmed up & ready to rock as it was now time for the headliner.
“On your feet or on your knees, please welcome the amazing Blue Oyster Cult!” was yelled out from the side of the stage & the band with a career of evil took the stage & launched into “The Red & the Black” from 1973’s ‘Tyranny & Mutation’ album. Guitarist/Singer Eric Bloom tried feeling the crowd out by asking if they were Mets or Yankee fans. The audience didn’t really react to Bloom so Bloom asked about hockey to which the crowd yelled with approval in support of the Buffalo Sabres. Eric turned the microphone over to Buck Dharma & the band played a rocking version of “Before the Kiss (a Redcap)”. I kept thinking that the long-haired bass player really stood out & looked familiar. During a bass run on the tune from their 1971 debut album Eric Bloom shouted out the name “Rudy”. It then dawned on me it was popular bassist from the hair metal days of the 80’s…Rudy Sarzo. The band then played their big hit from 1981 “Burnin’ for You” which got a big response from the crowd of many generations. “Stone of Love” from 2001 sounded great & was played almost flawless. It is one song that they should always have on their set list even though this is the first tour that it has been played. An extended version of “Shooting Shark” from the ‘The Revolution by Night’ album was up next followed by the popular BOC instrumental from the early days “Buck’s Boogie”. The concert regular staple "Cities on Flame" was followed by “Then Came the Last Days of May” which is a chilling song from their debut which deals with a few college guys who rented a car & drove out west to score some illegal substances to which they met their fate. This song was a major highlight as it jammed for at least 12 minutes with a great guitar exchange between Donald “Buck Dharma” Rosier & Richie Castellano. Bloom stepped up to the microphone & announced that something big was coming our way & the band launched into the crowd favorite “Godzilla” .What made this version spectacular besides the crowd singing along with the chorus was the bass solo by Rudy Sarzo.During the solo Eric Bloom yelled out “You remember when he was in Quiet Riot…” & Rudy the band launched into “Metal Health”. Bloom then said “…& then he got a call from David Coverdale of Whitesnake…” & on cue the band played “Still of the Night”. Finally, Bloom said something about Ozzy saying something to his wife Sharon & the band kicked into “Crazy Train” followed by a drum solo by ex Popa Chubby drummer Jules Randino. Blue Oyster Cult ended the evening with their classic hit from 1976 “Don’t Fear the Reaper” followed by “Hot Rails to Hell” from their ‘Tyranny & Mutation’ album.
Bucky