dcoleman@7300.DEC (07/16/85)
Glenn Phillips, guitarist extraordinaire from Atlanta, Georgia, is currently touring around Boston with his band, coincidentally named the "Glenn Phillips Band." Instead of posting my own ravings, here are some more objective review riffs: "If Rock & Roll guitarists were kamikaze pilots, Glenn Phillips would be in heaven right now..." - ROLLING STONE, August '81 "A player who could stand shoulder to shoulder instrumentally with many of today's better know guitarists." - GUITAR PLAYER, August '81 "Anyone hungry for guitar excellence should grab DARK LIGHTS, Phillips' new album, pronto ... some of the most accessible 'art' to be found anywhere." - TROUSER PRESS, October '81 "Like Hendrix or Beck, what this man can do without the aid of outside devices is awesome. Lowell George called him 'the most amazing guitarist I've ever seen.'" - GUITAR WORLD, January '82 "One minute he's Mahavishnu Johnny Ramone, the other he's displaying quiet melodic class..." - MUSICIAN PLAYER & LISTENER, February '82 "Phillips plays with an imagination that would do a jazz man proud, and solos with an economy even punks will appreciate... He has power enough for Van Halen and Nugent fans, melodic ease for the Allman/Clapton school, and inventiveness for the fans of Beck, McLaughlin, and Santana." - THE BOSTON GLOBE, April '82 Besides Glenn Phillips, the rest of the band has plenty of talent. Bass player Bill Rea, whom Phillips lists as one of his musical influences, uses his fretless bass to weave intricate and melodic bass lines behind the pelting lead, occassionally stepping out with a bass lead which, when enhanced with his string of effects, might sound like anything between Cello and lead guitar. When keyboardist Paul Provost isn't flinging out twisted trails of synthesizer pyrotechnics, he's playing rhythm upside-down with his feet wedged against the ceiling. Doing what he can with the beat behind all this is drummer Doug Landsberg. They just released their first live album, (5th or 6th overall) on the Shanachie label. While listening to their albums gives you an idea of what they can do musically, it doesn't capture the dynamic nature of the music. This band must be seen live to be appreciated. In the past, the band has opened concerts for such groups as the Mothers of Invention, Little Feat, Patti Smith, and the Talking Heads, but a small club is where the band is most effective. Each of the players generates as well as thrives on the energy and excitement of the small club atmosphere. While Drummer Doug can't move around much on his stool, he has that maniacal gleam in his eyes. Bassist Bill isn't very excitable as far as moving around on stage, instead he expresses it through his playing. Pianist Paul moves around plenty, either dancing with his feet on the floor or on the ceiling, his hands always dancing on the keys. Then there's guitarist Glenn, who wears hockey kneepads on stage to ease his dropping to his knees and sliding across the floor. If he's so inclined at the end of the night, he might throw out his guitar pick and opt for a metal chair or a hammer or whatever else he finds on stage to pick the lead. Anyweigh, here's the schedule: Wed Jul 17 - Sir Morgan's Cove, 89 Green St., Worcester, MA Thu Jul 18 - Ed Burke's, Huntington Ave., Boston, MA Fri Jul 19 - Shrewsbury Sportsman's Club, Rt. 140, Shrewsbury, MA Sat Jul 20 - Player's Tavern, Whitinsville, MA, off Rt. 122 Sun Jul 21 - The Living Room, on the promenade, Providence, RI Thu Jul 25 - Rick's Place, Main St., Worcester Fri Jul 26 Sat Jul 27 - Synchronicity, 563 Main St., Worcester Sun Jul 28 - The Blue Plate Bar, Rt. 122A, Holden, MA 829-9409 Tue Jul 30 - Bunratty's, Allston, MA Wed Jul 31 Thu Aug 1 - The Grotto, Crown St., New Haven CT