date >> 02-19-2004

the venue >> famous dave's minneapolis

location >> minneapolis, minnesota

Man, Oh Man, Oh Man!!

I was again the lucky witness to a musical tornado in the person of Eric Sardinas Thursday night. What can I say that hasn't already been stated by my wife Cathy? (Cathy's Review) Eric was incredible. The band overcame some early trouble with their equipment to, again, blister and burn their instruments worse than any of the ribs smokin' in back on the grill at Famous Dave's!

Eric, as I am now coming to understand is usual with him, was able to simply make his dobro produce sounds in a range and at a speed that simply can't be made on the instrument - yet, there he was, producing spine-tingling riffs that alternately straightened and curled the hairs on the back of my neck! Mike Dupke was more animated this time around on the drums, jumping and wailing on the skins with more abandon than I've seen before. It looked like he really enjoyed being a part of the music, making it just that much more crazed and frenetic. Paul Loranger was bitingly crisp on the bass, yet smooth and sweet as an Amaretto & 7. The bass lines seamlessly welded the screaming guitar with the staccato beats to produce one helluva sound!! It was raw yet polished; intense but insane!! Does that make any sense? I'm not sure, but, that was what it was!

Personal moments for me this time around were:

• Eric's effortless mugging to all of us with cameras crawling down around the front of the stage - we ALL got multiple money-shots of him, and the graciously presented himself to each and every one who cared to flash a bulb into his face
  

• the 12-MINUTE-PLUS instrumental, reminiscent of "Liar's Dice" (?) - my personal fave song off Black Pearls (which I always personally dedicate to my ex-wife!! >:) )
  

• extended conversation time with Mike D. between sets, to glean some more insight into the world of a Rock 'N' Rollin' Blues band (Very Cool!! Thanks, Mike!!)
  

• Eric playing a fan's dobro acoustically right in the middle of 10 fans, each of us feeling like he was playing it just for us individually - inches away from us - Extremely Cool!!!!
  

• Eric eschewing his microphone to scream song lyrics off the front of the stage to the 70-or-so fans in the house, letting his raw voice attempt to compete against the amplified distortions of his dobro (yet, we COULD hear him!!)
  

I was left feeling like we were in his basement or garage, listening to a practice session - like it was the first time the song had come together - that magical moment of first creation, and I was there to witness it - live it!!!

Yes, you might say it was just a good show - like diamonds are just a good gift for a woman. With all of the pressure and heat and intensity Eric Sardinas was squeezing out of his guitar, I was sure that at any moment, he would begin forging diamonds right off of the strings.

In fact, that was JUST what he did!

show review by RICK CHEESEMAN | show review by CATHY CHEESEMAN

80 pictures by RICK CHEESEMAN >> pictures 1-40 | pictures 41-80

show review by RICK CHEESEMAN | show review by CATHY CHEESEMAN

80 pictures by RICK CHEESEMAN >> pictures 1-40 | pictures 41-80