| Rocker-turned-preacher pursuing pop fame again
BROOMFIELD, Colo. (Reuters) - Rocker-turned-preacher Richard Furay, a founding member of Buffalo Springfield and Poco, says he long felt overlooked for his contributions to two 1960s bands that pioneered the next decade's country-rock explosion. It wasn't until years after Furay stopped pursuing fame to focus on his Christian ministry that the singer-songwriter got his due -- when he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame with Buffalo Springfield in 1997. .
Kenny Loggins warms crowd on chilly night
The dogs in "Eight Below" might not have been able to survive the weather at Wente Vineyards on Tuesday night. That's how cold and windy it was at the Kenny Loggins' concert at the lovely Livermore winery. "This evening is going to be like a polar expedition," the 58-year-old vocalist said just minutes after taking the stage. "In order to get through this evening, you'll have to adapt. If you want to stay warm, you're going to have to stand up and dance." Kicking off his likable concert with "Conviction of the Heart," from the 1991-hit "Leap of Faith," the Washington native certainly did his best to keep the crowd warm. Fronting a five-piece band, which was highlighted by the guitar work of Gene Miller, Loggins delivered a highly enjoyable and energetic run through his long list of hits.
Riffs - a Web-only column
Lemmy Kilmister is not exactly the first name you would associate with thumping, bass-driven rockabilly and exuberant R&B and blues covers, but those are precisely the sounds that influenced him in his earlier years. He returns to those sounds with his new release The Head Cat (Rock-a-Billy), a trio date with Danny B. Harvey operating as primary soloist and Slim Jim Phantom supplying the big beat fills on their versions of Buddy Holly's “Peggy Sue Got Married," “Learning The Game" and “Crying, Waiting, Hoping."
Kilmister's voice is animated and energetic, if at times a bit to the grizzled side, but he clearly understands the spirit of the sounds, even if he doesn't always exactly replicate the tone. Other numbers the threesome effectively tackle include Johnny Cash's “Big River," Carl Perkins' “Matchbox," Jimmy Reed's “You got Me Dizzy" and Lloyd Price's “Lawdy Miss Clawdy." Phantom's drumming proves ideal for the occasion, not so steady it lacks drive or impact, but still squarely in the rhythmic pocket.
Dolls' new album marks 20th anniversary
A 20th birthday is a rite of passage. A 20th anniversary, whether it's of a high school graduation or a wedding, marks a significant passage of time. But 20 years together in a rock band is a rare achievement. The Goo Goo Dolls, who perform Saturday with the Counting Crows at the Post-Gazette Pavilion, pass that milepost this year without fanfare or overblown gestures. They mark it, after a short period during which bassist Robbie Takac and singer and guitarist John Rzeznik worked on other projects, with a new album, "Let Love In," and a newfound appreciation for the band. "We looked at each other and said, 'Oh my God, we have great day jobs,'" Takac says. "All this other stuff is great, but there's something about what we do, man, and let's enjoy it. And that was always really hard for us to say.
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