It was my privilege to catch Robby Kreiger and Ray Manzarek of The Doors last night. These two rock and roll giants reminded me that Jim Morrison was far from the only talent in this band; in fact, Mojo Rison may be the most overrated rockstar and poet ever.
I walked into the show a little late. Surprised the show started just about on time, for me, it wasn't about which Doors tunes I wanted to hear; it was about the small number I didn't, like "Whiskey Bar" and "Light My Fire." I know; "Light My Fire" was their first #1 hit and maybe greatest song, but it's also the most overplayed Doors song (maybe any song) on FM or web radio over the last 40+ years.
Ray and Robby with their band beamed big smiles on their faces to a sold-out crowd of 1500. No, it wasn't a big room, no stadium. Instead, it was personal and up-close and intimate. Robby wore a Doors t-shirt with a big picture of Jim on his back. Ray wore his gray hair in a spike, a button-down with no collar and jeans. Both well into their sixties, they looked more like forties. The played like twenty-somethings. Why? Because rock and roll keeps you young.
I read online before the show that Rolling Stone rates Robby as the 91st greatest guitarist of all-time. Are you freaking kidding me? Let's think for a second about "greatest." Take The Doors as a whole. They have to be in the Top 20 biggest rock bands ever. How can the guitarist and primary song writer of a band with such an impact and influence be ranked 91st? Someone at Rolling Stone needs a backhanded slap.
The second song I caught was "Whiskey Bar," but I guess it is to be expected as an easy song to appeal to a semi-drunken crowd. Immediately, however, I was blown away by "Five To One" and "Love Me Two Times." I have to give credit here to singer Miljenko Matijevic, whose voice was strong and solid, though he probably could have abandoned the black leather pants. Then came "L.A. Woman," featuring a new long badass solo by Kreiger which sent the crowd into a frenzy. Absolutely masterful. I was surprised they brought out "People Are Strange," which is more of a Jim song, but Matijevic nailed it. They finished with, yup, you guessed it, "Light My Fire." At first, I thought "damn", but once again, they changed it up with a long, juicy jam highlighted by Ray playing the low side of the keyboard with his right foot, kicking back the throne and thrashing like a mad man. The song had to have been more than ten minutes. Even though we were sweaty, they left us wanting more, taking a group bow with big appreciation and love. Rock and roll keeps you young.
Jim Morrison was larger than life, but "the life" went to his head. A poet who loses his humility most of the time loses a lot more, and Jim is a fine example. It's an injustice so many people define The Doors as Jim & Co., when the truth is Ray and Robby were the heartbeats of the band, the composers, and the glue which still holds strong today. I think everyone there felt younger. Rock on and stay thirsty, my friends.