May 2, 1998 Conejo Valley Days
Off the 23 Freeway at Jans Rd. Thousand Oaks, CA With AMBROSIA!!!
Concert review of the Tin Drum concert at Conejo Valley Days
in CA on May 2, 1998/ Cabs Vogel
Bruce Vogel is a great Tin Dum/Ambrosia Fan from San Jose! He has seen Ambrosia many times! Bruce had a wonderful time at the Conejo Valley Days Concert!
I set out ................Saturday morning from San Jose to LA to see and hear the great music of Tin Drum and Ambrosia. Six hours later I was settled in my motel room and then drove to the fairground in Conejo Valley. Upon arriving, I noticed the big main stage and wandered over to see what was happening. I saw Burleigh standing behind the stage and went over to greet him. Soon, I was in the company of Joe, Chris, Tollak and Ricky and I knew this was going to be one memorable time. I also had the privilege to see Mary Harris and the others from Tin Drum.
Bruce & Mary Harris
Dave showed up about an hour before the show and all the guys were setting up and getting ready for their sound checks. The sky began to threaten rain and the concert was beginning to look like it was in jeopardy. The huge tarp covering the stage would not hold up in a major downpour. I went back out front in the audience to hear one of the best sound checks ever. Ambrosia was jammin on "Time Waits For No One" and other song selections to be played in full later that night. I soon realized I was standing next to Papa Frog Rex and introduced myself. We talked all things Ambrosia and Tin Drum and then settled in for some great tunes.
Bruce & David!
First up was Tin Drum. They began with "Lay Your Hands" which really set the tone for the night. The sound was clear and the driving beat to that song suggested the message "Okay folks, you want it? Here it is!!!"
The new songs were refreshing and left me asking again, "When will the second CD come out?" The great musicianship in "Wailing Wall", "Ordinary Day" and "Princess" was evident in overall.
Tin Drum kicks!
Mary Harris's vocal on "Surrender" was superb! Beside the fact that the song is well written with thoughtful lyrics, Mary brought the song to a new level. Hearing it live and seeing her pour into it was truly awesome.
Burleigh leaped into a rap beat and joked about becoming a rapper in "You Were Mine". During "Way of the World" I walked around the crowd to check out the reactions. The song is and light and bouncy and so were most of the people as they listened. Many were moving in their seats rocking with the band. They ended with the title track "Real World" which, of course, is one of my favorites.
For as much as I was anticipating Ambrosia to hit the stage, I was left wanting more of Tin Drum. In my mind, I knew all of the songs on their "Real World" CD and wanted to hear every one of them. Burleigh said afterward that they had planned to play about 45 minutes as the opener, and that's really the way it happened. Okay guys, longer set next time!!!
We want more!!
Burleigh & CABS
