A Night At The Opera House

Oh, how I've waited for this.

Flashback - when Ambrosia disbanded I was convinced that they would take
their place among those bands of my younger days that arrived, made a mark,
and permanently moved on.  I'd fallen hook line and sinker for their albums,
and was gushingly overjoyed seeing them live at Pittsburgh's Civic Arena in
'78, their "Life Beyond LA" tour. Ambrosia was added to that concert's bill
only 3 or 4 weeks before the show, opening for Heart.

Flash forward -- it's March 1999. I read on the Web site that Ambrosia is
booked at Bodles Opera House in early June. They have been reunited for a few
years now, gigging mostly on the west coast, so any appearance within driving
distance is a must-see.  At last I can redeem myself for missing their show
in Atlantic City last November! Who knows if they'll ever tour this area
again? I really hope they'll do "Drink Of Water." Gotta get the reservations
made ASAP!  An opera house? Check out http://www.bodles.com. Where is
Chester, New York anyway?

It's June 11. A 7:30 P.M. show. Picked up my wife Olga at 2:30, drove from
Boston (the LONG way, around HUGE Friday traffic messes in Connecticut),
checked into hotel, and found Bodles about 10 minutes before showtime.  What
a cozy place! It seats about 150, with wood-beamed ceilings, memorabilia on
the walls and a down-home neighborhood atmosphere.  A big change from that
15,000 seat arena. Got seated at a second-row table in front of Joe's mic.
Camera ready. Dinner ordered. Having read a lot of fan input on the Internet,
I'm curious as to how the music would sound over 2 decades after their hits
hit the airwaves. Anticipation almost overflowing.  I could not believe that
after 21 years I was about to see the band whose music has lived in my head
and heart for over half my life.

Up comes the announcer, noting what a treat we were in store for tonight, as
Ambrosia had played just yesterday in Albany to about 5000 people, and would
play tomorrow for about 5000-7000 in Big Flats.  On he goes with info on
upcoming events at Bodles, including an announcement that seats are available
for the second Ambrosia show tonight, and then, brings on the main event!  In
walk the band members to enthusiastic applause of a sold-out house.  David
Pack says "Are you ready to rock?" They strap in and kick off with "Kid No More."

Who the hell suggested that this is an oldies act?  Not these guys.
The original 4 may be pushing 50, but this band has bite. This is Ambrosia
with an edge.

 

Burleigh's snare drum cuts through the mix and sets the table
for an energetic, rocked-out sound. Tollak's harmonica solo wails. Ecstatic
applause. Dave thanks us for the welcome, saying we "feel like family."

A low "D" note. Don't think I know this next song. Wait - those chords sound
familiar - it's "Nice, Nice, Very Nice" with a reggae-ish beat. What a
terrific update! What tight musicianship.....another fine harmonica solo by
Tollak. Shem's grooving on that percussion. More ecstatic applause.......

Another unknown intro note, during which David dedicates the next song to all
the married couples. "Love works!" he proclaims.  With that, they launch into
"You're The Only Woman," and the vocal harmonies weave through the song with
beautiful precision.

Joe then introduces 'Freak Show," that newer song about the Jerry Springer
Lifeforms.

Y'know, I'd always viewed "Time Waits For No One" as a well-crafted, artsy
song composed of a lot of small unrelated parts glued together. Not that I
dislike it - I was more blown away by "Make Us All Aware" and "Drink Of
Water."

 

Seeing "Time..." performed live made a world of difference.  It was
this set's musical tour-de-force.  Every part flowed together effortlessly
and seamlessly, the crowd was right on cue with the handclaps during the
second verse, and the standing ovation after the closing notes said it all.

"How Much I Feel" was next -- the slightly "unplugged" version, with David
playing acoustic guitar. Sounded really nice, and a great breather from the
intensity of the previous 2 tunes.

"I Wanna Know" -- Gone is the disco-ish kick-drum beat - the updated version
has more tension, more pent-up urgency just aching to explode, with Joe
prancing around the stage with the energy of a caged lion.

 

"Life Beyond L.A."  -- David starts this song solo on acoustic guitar and in
a different key - cool touch! After the first 2 verses he teases "are you
ready?" and then the band kicks into the solo section in the song's original
key. In a time where bands can and do become sorry sights and parodies of
themselves........not these guys. Uh uh.

(band introductions)

"Angola" -- Having handed the bass over to Shem, Joe tells the tale of how
this song was inspired by a newspaper article about a U.S. economic
recession, and wonders how someone from Angola might see it.....one of the
most pointed and certainly the most fun-sounding song they do -- Shem kicks
in a terrific bass solo -- it's audience participation time!  Dave leads all
the women into singing "Wi-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-i-wi-em-em-oweh," and Joe follows
by leading the men into singing, as he said, one of his childhood favorites:
"Day-O! Day-ay-ay-oh!" and then they weave both parts together.

"Magical Mystery Tour" -- certainly a surprise to hear - Dave had said in an
interview that he "lobbied" to have an Ambrosia recording of this song
included on the soundtrack of "All This And World War II," and it turns out
that it was the record's only hit!  I'm getting lost again in the vocal
harmonies.....

"Holdin' On To Yesterday" -- the song that introduced my world to Ambrosia,
and ever a favorite. Those minor tones, intense yearning feeling and angelic
vocals just cut through me.......I will definitely be back for seconds. I
thought it interesting that this song and "Kid No More" bookend the
set........

Encore - "Biggest Part Of Me" -- which, of course was answered with another
Standing O.

What a rush - it was over way too quickly. I got lost in the joy of it all,
but took many pictures along the way.  Rich Rees was selling CDs, T-shirts,
caps, etc., downstairs, so we made our way there, introduced myself and
showed him pictures I took of the Pittsburgh concert 21 years ago.  He said
to hang around, that he'd show them to the guys as soon as he was done
selling the wares. We made our way back upstairs, bought admission to the
second show, and waited outside for a bit, where about 20 people were hanging
out hoping to meet the guys in the band.  Soon enough Rich found me and took
the pictures upstairs to where the band was, and a few minutes later out come
Dave, Joe and Burleigh!  Their visit was brief because they had to prepare
for the second show, but Dave, reiterating an announcement he made during the
show, said that he would be going into the studio June 15 to begin the
mastering process of the first 4 albums for eventual CD release, and that a
Japanese company had been contracted to do the mastering for "Road Island."
Burleigh told me he remembered the Pittsburgh gig - the man has an amazing
memory.

Walked about the town for a bit with Olga, waiting for the second show's
admission, just letting the joy sink in. Made it back inside and sat "stage
right," near Chris' keyboards.

 

I wanted to hear more of his playing in the second show, plus
get a different angle for more pictures.  It turns out that there are
only about 75-80 people for the second show, about 10-15 of which
were at the first.  Well, the introductions take place and Ambrosia walks in.

- Joe sets the tone a bit by saying that they'll be "noodling" - mixing it up
a bit for this show.  With that remark, someone starts playing the Addams
Family theme....but only a snippet. Hmm, this could be fun....

  

The following notes are fewer because I was just getting lost in the music
and taking pictures, but here is the set list:

"And...Somewhere I've Never Travelled" - What a song, and a great set opener.
 The musical and vocal landscape is magical.

"Livin' On My Own"

"You're The Only Woman" -- this time without the "false" intro.

"Mama Don't Understand" -- Joe tells the story of how this song was inspired
by a niece....

"Kamikaze" -- What a musical romp this song is! Those clashing chords seem to
come out of nowhere....

"How Much I Feel" -- as in the first show.

"Hopes And Dreams" -- with Joe switching to acoustic guitar while Shem's on
bass.

"Limbo" tease....the noodling continues....

guitar tune-up while Burleigh introduces the band

"No Big Deal" -- the rocking kicks into HIGH gear.

"Nice, Nice, Very Nice" -- again with the updated arrangement.  Really glad
to hear this one a second time.

A pause. Dave mentions a sax player he met at yesterday's show in Albany. 
Apparently he was with one of the other performing bands, and had said to
Dave that he knew all the sax parts to "Biggest Part Of Me." Upon learning
that he was a Chester native, Dave invited him to join the band onstage
during this show for the song!  With that he introduces Clifford Lyons on
tenor sax.

Joe asks him "Do you know 'Tequila?'" Clifford says "No" with that
"duuhhhh" look and Joe says "Neither do I!" and then Dave starts up the
chords!! The noodling has reached its peak - Ambrosia playing "Tequila!" One
time through and then out, but having been a keyboard player in a "tuxedo"
band for years, I thought this was a real kick.

"Biggest Part Of Me" -- Clifford is right on with all the sax lines, and
there's some NICE jamming/trading of 1-bar solos between Tollak (on scat
vocals) and Clifford at the song's tag.....

Joe announces that that's all folks, but he knows there are a lot of first
album fans out there, so they launch into "Drink Of Water."  At last - live. 
For me, this song evokes sweeping, picturesque scenes and 'scapes -- I knew
this evening was about to end, so I just got lost in the music once again --
I'll never forget this. And I easily would have understood if Dave and Joe,
touring as they are, fortysomething as they are, had to sacrifice a few of
those soaring high vocal notes before the final verse, but noooooo.....they
NAILED them.  Yes, I know I'm gushing, but hey......

"Mama Frog" -- Joe spoke about the band's early days of living together,
playing together, constant writing and jamming together, and that this was
one of the first (if not THE first) group-composed songs that came out of all
that creativity.  Another musical romp, to be sure. Oh how I wish I was on
Joe's side of the stage just before the "Jabberwocky" reading - he motioned
to someone in the crowd, asking "Do you know this?" He didn't, so Joe covered
it himself after all - I hope there's a next time 'cause I'm sitting stage
left....."see Mama Frog at her fountain".......

....and with that, they're done.

 

Burleigh, Shem and Tollak mingle with the small crowd, so I catch up with
Burleigh first. He tells me about the second "Tin Drum" CD in the
works, hopefully to be done by August.

Eventually, Olga and I make our way outside, and Dave, Chris and Joe
are meeting the waiting fans.

 
It was a dream come true to meet them all, get pictures and signatures,
and thank them for keeping Ambrosia going all this time. They mingled as if
this was indeed a gathering of old friends and family.  They sound like they
have busy music careers alongside the band. I asked Joe if there are any
"Sunken City" projects in the works, and he said that for now "it's a mystery
band..."  Olga learns that Joe's father is from Asturias, Spain, so she tries
a little Spanish....Unfortunately I didn't get to meet Shem or Tollak - I
think they were inside and the rest of the guys were outside.  There was so
much excitement that I forgot to ask Joe about the inspiration which led to
"Drink Of Water."

 

It's obvious that the guys in Ambrosia, after almost thirty years, continue
to bring fresh and genuine joy to their music. Plus there was plenty of
on-stage banter, and I missed some of it because I was loading another roll
of film (something about the entire band sharing the same towel??). Chris
North lived up to his reputation as appearing like a keyboard
madman....

Burleigh with his ever-tight timing and cool-grooving grimaces.

 
The updated arrangements of some of the tunes fit very well, and those vocal
harmonies - unbelievable.  I'm sure a lot of people who were there and take
the time to read this have unique memories of their own (e-mail me!).  It's a
few weeks later, and I still bask in the glow from A Night At The Opera House. 
Unless they do this again here or in another small intimate place (maybe
closer to Boston?), I'll remember this as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

With heartfelt appreciation and thanks,
Doug Tybor ([email protected])