Robert Cray

[Ed S]

First - a little history. The Town Ballroom is the most recent incarnation of a club that's been around Buffalo since forever. In its hey-dey as the Town Casino, it was *the* place to be for entertainment from Buffalo up to Toronto. The likes of Sinatra, Cab Calloway, and John Coltrane performed there. It morphed into a local theatre company's main stage, then the university's downtown theatrical venue. Most recently it was a club called Sphere which though well intended, became a magnet for TROUBLE including some shootings.

So - now it's the Town Ballroom and there I was yesterday for the Robert Cray Band. Now, I have listened to Cray for years and generally enjoy his abums and their blend of blues and soul. In no way was I prepared for what I heard last night. It was a fabulous performance by Cray and a VERY tight band.

I always have preferred live Blues to albums anyway, but this performance left me astounded at the difference. The soul was more soulful, the blues was WAY bluesier and cutting and the funk way deeper. Overall, it was generally a LOT bluesier than a lot of his albums too. It was one of those shows where you could close your eyes and get lost in the groove, if you know what I mean.

Of course it did not hurt that I was seeing the concert with someone who - in a short period of time - has become very special to me. (For those of you who are hip to my ongoing divorce saga)

At any rate, if you dig Cray at all, I'd definitley take the time to see him live if presented with the opportunity. Of course, I' am very easy to please so keep that in mind

Edited November 16, 2005 by Ed Swinnich

[GregN]

First - a little history.  The Town Ballroom is the most recent incarnation of a club that's been around Buffalo since forever.  In its hey-dey as the Town Casino, it was *the* place to be for entertainment from Buffalo up to Toronto.  The likes of Sinatra, Cab Calloway, and John Coltrane performed there.  It morphed into a local theatre company's main stage, then the university's downtown theatrical venue.  Most recently it was a club called Sphere which though well intended, became a magnet for TROUBLE including some shootings. 

So - now it's the Town Ballroom and there I was yesterday  for the Robert Cray Band.  Now, I have listened to Cray for years and generally enjoy his abums and their blend of blues and soul.  In no way was I prepared for what I heard last night.  It was a fabulous performance by Cray and a VERY tight band. 

I always have preferred live Blues to albums anyway, but this performance left me astounded at the difference.  The soul was more soulful, the blues was WAY bluesier and cutting and the funk way deeper.  Overall, it was generally a LOT bluesier than a lot of his albums too.  It was one of those shows where you could close your eyes and get lost in the groove, if you know what I mean.

Of course it did not hurt that I was seeing the concert with someone who - in a short period of time - has become very special to me.    (For those of you who are hip to my ongoing divorce saga)

At any rate, if you dig Cray at all, I'd definitley take the time to see him live if presented with the opportunity.  Of course, I' am very easy to please so keep that in mind 

←

I have yet to see Robert Cray, but he is indeed one of my favorite contemporary blues/soul/r&b artists. Another who has inspired me as of late is Chris Cain. Anyhow, I am jealous. Must watch for Cray in my neck o' the woods. Sounds like a good time.

g

[.:.impossible]

My uncle gave me 'Take Off Your Shoes' for Christmas a few years ago and it went neglected for a while. I'll tell you, that music continued to grow on me and at times, there couldn't be anything better. I'd love to see Cray with my girl.

Glad to hear it Ed.

[Big Al]

My uncle gave me 'Take Off Your Shoes' for Christmas a few years ago

←

That and 'Shoulda Been Home' are essential greeeazy Al Green-style soul! The funk don't get much funkier than those two!

[Jim R]

First - a little history.  The Town Ballroom is the most recent incarnation of a club that's been around Buffalo since forever.  In its hey-dey as the Town Casino, it was *the* place to be for entertainment from Buffalo up to Toronto.  The likes of Sinatra, Cab Calloway, and John Coltrane performed there.  It morphed into a local theatre company's main stage, then the university's downtown theatrical venue.  Most recently it was a club called Sphere which though well intended, became a magnet for TROUBLE including some shootings. 

So - now it's the Town Ballroom and there I was yesterday  for the Robert Cray Band.  Now, I have listened to Cray for years and generally enjoy his abums and their blend of blues and soul.  In no way was I prepared for what I heard last night.  It was a fabulous performance by Cray and a VERY tight band. 

I always have preferred live Blues to albums anyway, but this performance left me astounded at the difference.  The soul was more soulful, the blues was WAY bluesier and cutting and the funk way deeper.  Overall, it was generally a LOT bluesier than a lot of his albums too.  It was one of those shows where you could close your eyes and get lost in the groove, if you know what I mean.

Of course it did not hurt that I was seeing the concert with someone who - in a short period of time - has become very special to me.    (For those of you who are hip to my ongoing divorce saga)

At any rate, if you dig Cray at all, I'd definitley take the time to see him live if presented with the opportunity.  Of course, I' am very easy to please so keep that in mind 

←

I have yet to see Robert Cray, but he is indeed one of my favorite contemporary blues/soul/r&b artists. Another who has inspired me as of late is Chris Cain. Anyhow, I am jealous. Must watch for Cray in my neck o' the woods. Sounds like a good time.

g

←

I went shopping at one of my favorite local used CD shops a few months ago, and when I walked in I noticed that there was some equipment being set up in a corner for a live performance (kind of a surprise, because it's a small shop, I've been shopping there for years, and this was the first time I'd seen that at this place). So, I'm shopping around the store, and before long I begin to hear the live music- one guy playing guitar and singing. A handful of people had gathered in front of the makeshift stage, so I couldn't see who was playing, but before long I recognized the sound as that of Chris Cain. He must be friends with the manager or something, because this was not exactly the kind of gig he deserves. I hardly recognized him- I actually hadn't seen him live since the late 1970's.

BTW, I've never heard a Robert Cray LP or CD that lived up to his abilities as a live performer, or even really represented him well in terms of his "real" self. All the commercially released stuff just sounds watered down to me. Saw him first in 1978, when he was tearing it up all over the west coast. Haven't seen him for a few years- good to know he's still got some fire in a live setting.

[Dave James]

Robert Cray, or "Young Bob" as he used to be called in these parts, is a Pacific Northwest native. He started gigging around here many years ago and began his recording career for a small label out of Tacoma, Tomato Records. They were infamous for the low grade vinyl they used that would flake off around the edges leaving a white residue. I've seen Cray a couple of times and he is, indeed, better live than he is on his recordings. And some of his recordings, especially the the early stuff, ain't half bad.

As I'm sure many of you know, Cray was part of Otis Day and the Nights in the movie "Animal House". Interestingly enough, he's the bass player. The drummer in the band is a local Portland cat by the name of Ron Steen.

Up over and out.

[Quincy]

As I'm sure many of you know, Cray was part of Otis Day and the Nights in the movie "Animal House".  Interestingly enough, he's the bass player. 

←

Speaking of Otis Day & the Nights, my car is almost always parked next to one of that Cadillacs that can barely be seen in the upper left in the scene when the boys peel away from the "If I was in your shoes, I'd be"...."Leaving..." Dexter Lake Club. Apparently they weren't supposed to actually hit that 2nd car in the lot as they left. Bad stunt driver, bad! My friend who lent his car to the movie nearly had a heart attack (and he was just a kid) when that happened, even though his car was not harmed.

That was during Cray's Eugene years (Animal House was filmed here & in the area.) Yup, he's much better when he's away from the studio.

[sheldonm]

He's playing Indy in the very near future!!!

[sheldonm]

He's playing Indy in the very near future!!!

←

...oops, it was last night.....guess I won't make that one!

[chris olivarez]

My uncle gave me 'Take Off Your Shoes' for Christmas a few years ago and it went neglected for a while. I'll tell you, that music continued to grow on me and at times, there couldn't be anything better. I'd love to see Cray with my girl.

Glad to hear it Ed.

←

That was one of his better efforts. Hopefully he'll release a live cd one of these days. Definitely want to see him live.

[GregN]

My uncle gave me 'Take Off Your Shoes' for Christmas a few years ago and it went neglected for a while. I'll tell you, that music continued to grow on me and at times, there couldn't be anything better. I'd love to see Cray with my girl.

Glad to hear it Ed.

←

Just bought it. Heard some audio samples on Amazon and well, sounds great. Can't wait.

Thanks!!

[GregN]

First - a little history.  The Town Ballroom is the most recent incarnation of a club that's been around Buffalo since forever.  In its hey-dey as the Town Casino, it was *the* place to be for entertainment from Buffalo up to Toronto.  The likes of Sinatra, Cab Calloway, and John Coltrane performed there.  It morphed into a local theatre company's main stage, then the university's downtown theatrical venue.  Most recently it was a club called Sphere which though well intended, became a magnet for TROUBLE including some shootings. 

So - now it's the Town Ballroom and there I was yesterday  for the Robert Cray Band.  Now, I have listened to Cray for years and generally enjoy his abums and their blend of blues and soul.  In no way was I prepared for what I heard last night.  It was a fabulous performance by Cray and a VERY tight band. 

I always have preferred live Blues to albums anyway, but this performance left me astounded at the difference.  The soul was more soulful, the blues was WAY bluesier and cutting and the funk way deeper.  Overall, it was generally a LOT bluesier than a lot of his albums too.  It was one of those shows where you could close your eyes and get lost in the groove, if you know what I mean.

Of course it did not hurt that I was seeing the concert with someone who - in a short period of time - has become very special to me.    (For those of you who are hip to my ongoing divorce saga)

At any rate, if you dig Cray at all, I'd definitley take the time to see him live if presented with the opportunity.  Of course, I' am very easy to please so keep that in mind  

←

I have yet to see Robert Cray, but he is indeed one of my favorite contemporary blues/soul/r&b artists. Another who has inspired me as of late is Chris Cain. Anyhow, I am jealous. Must watch for Cray in my neck o' the woods. Sounds like a good time.

g

←

I went shopping at one of my favorite local used CD shops a few months ago, and when I walked in I noticed that there was some equipment being set up in a corner for a live performance (kind of a surprise, because it's a small shop, I've been shopping there for years, and this was the first time I'd seen that at this place). So, I'm shopping around the store, and before long I begin to hear the live music- one guy playing guitar and singing. A handful of people had gathered in front of the makeshift stage, so I couldn't see who was playing, but before long I recognized the sound as that of Chris Cain. He must be friends with the manager or something, because this was not exactly the kind of gig he deserves. I hardly recognized him- I actually hadn't seen him live since the late 1970's.

BTW, I've never heard a Robert Cray LP or CD that lived up to his abilities as a live performer, or even really represented him well in terms of his "real" self. All the commercially released stuff just sounds watered down to me. Saw him first in 1978, when he was tearing it up all over the west coast. Haven't seen him for a few years- good to know he's still got some fire in a live setting.

←

I just learned Chris is comin to the midwest. Talked with his booker and I am trying to find a spot for them in Michigan. This guy is a very fine and cool musician for sure.

Now Mark has got me wondering if Cray is nearby.... must go check it.

THE bummer about being a working musician, on my end, is that I seldom get to go check out my favorite players.

g