It may have been eighteen years since Don Van Vielt (better known as Captain Beefheart) retired from the music world but it’s not every day you get to see his backing group live. Let alone the fact some of these guys have played with Frank Zappa, so a road trip to see the Magic Band was surely not one to be missed.
Without a support act, only those who had arrived early enough witnessed the more jazz-oriented side of the Magic Band in the first of their two sets. Having contributed to a number of Captain Beefheart albums on drums, John “Drumbo” French has since taken up the role lead vocals. All the while seemingly become possessed by the late Captain Beefheart’s wild and wonderful spirit, although he did take a moment to remind us of his superb skills back behind the kit.
Elsewhere, there may have been a dubious early bass solo from Mark “Rockette Morton” Boston but it wasn’t long until the set really got going – albeit not one for the faint-hearted. After all, if you don’t like jazz, the chances are some of this was going to be pretty hard going.
The majority of the first half of the evening focussed on psychedelic fusion and instrumental versions from the early years of the Magic Bands 1960’s repertoire. In which Drumbo having also taken up soprano sax and harmonica, as well as returning to vocals to help re-produce the multi-instrumentalist of the talented Don Van Vielt.
Despite the earlier solo Mark Boston and co are all incredible players, at times they’re almost intentionally disjointed. While somehow also completely in sync with one another, providing the avant-garde experimentation with each instrument bouncing off the next.
It’s no wonder then that a breather was in order. So while we stepped out for a bit of fresh air, the band happily chatted to the crowd, signed CD’s and stopped for photographs before returning to the stage for the second-half performance.
By this point, the venue had filled up somewhat and with the likes of “Circumstances” John French led the Magic Band into the more rock and blues numbers. Meanwhile “Electricity” from Captain Beefheart and the Magic Bands debut album “Safe as Milk” was also received with much applause, proving Drumbo’s a natural frontman as well as a great drummer.
The Haunt is a fairly small venue and suited the relaxed atmosphere with plenty of banter between band members. Along with story-telling of yesteryear, keeping the spirit of Beefheart very much alive. All of which, making for a night of the weird, wonderful and off the wall playing a great way to end the weekend and one final escape from reality.
