Artist: Cactus Title: “V” Label: Escapi Music
Release Date: 7/18/2006 Genre: Blues Rock Rating: 4/5
It has been well over 30 years since Cactus has released an album, or for that matter, even been together. It’s my guess that some readers might be seeing this and thinking “Cactus?”, Who?”, “30 Years…huh?” Well, for those members of the readership allow me to explain that Cactus was a short lived “Supegroup” in the early 70’s. The band consisted of Carmine Appice (drums) and Tim Bogert (bass) the rhythm section of Vanilla Fudge, along with guitarist Jim McCarty from Mitch Ryder’s
Detroit Wheels and The Buddy Miles Express, and singer Rusty Day from Ted Nugent’s Amboy Dukes. Continue reading “V” by Cactus→
Artist: Travers & Appice Release: “Live At the House of Blues” Label: Escapi Music Date: 7/15/2005 Genre: Rock Rating: 6.5
Like blues artists of the 1950’s who stayed on the road playing the “chitlin circuit” throughout the 1960’s lots of classic rock’s stalwarts are still out touring today. Bands such as Mountain, Blue Oyster Cult & Derringer, continue playing small venues to appreciative lifelong fans and younger listeners who have picked up on them in retrospect. In an industry that courts younger and younger audiences with equally youthful “stars”, it tends to be problematic to be considered “past your prime”. In reality, after a lifetime of chops building, many of these musicians are playing the best they ever have in their entire careers. This pairing of Vanilla Fudge’s Carmine Appice and Guitarist Pat Travers offers listeners a sonic snap shot of their House of Blues show. The power trio format has been a staple configuration for these musicians and with bassist T. M. Stevens they present an extremely well played set of songs from various points in their careers. Continue reading “Live At The House Of Blues” by Travers and Appice→
