Crack the Sky

[Rick and Roll]

Vaxman asked me to review this show, so I hope it means something to everyone....

I saw Crack the Sky for the 11th time on Saturday. In the last 10 years, they've played maybe 5 shows, all at the Recher Theatre in Baltimore. John Palumbo joked that they always end up on tour at the same place.

Went solo, at least I timed it so i didn't wait long and got a decent standing place.

Palumbo is a fascinating guy. He wrote almost all of the songs for the band, yet didn't perform on "Safety in Numbers", their 1978 record. He can play anything, but chooses a lot of the time to chew gum or drink and let the others play. This time he was really into it, doing some fun things on guitar, and singing well again.

They've got 7 or 8 records out, and Palumbo has at least 3-4 himself. Only the first three are solid all the way through, but some of the others have some high points.

About 1/3 of the way through, Palumbo threw some CD's out into the crowd at a high rate of speed. I managed to get one without trying..it hit my hand and dropped in fromt of me. Others were wrestling and making asses of themselves. Turned out to be his new solo CD "Citizen X". Surprisingly there were a good amount of songs in concert from that CD. Thwere excellent live, the CD is 3-4 minute rock songs (all instruments by him). Great lyrics (the song about the Iraqi soldier writing home will make you weep).

Side note...in 1982 my friend caught a piece of pizza flung by Rick Witkowski...they were giving slices of pizza out, but you had to catch them from 30 feet...

The band is still tight as hell. Rick Witkowski, the only other original member, is one of the most fun and interesting guitarists around. His style is unmistakable and defines the band. Bobby Hird is on the second lead, and John Tracey on drums looks like Clark Kent but plays like Superman. Glenn Workman on keys holds the band together but does it unassumingly.

Carey Ziegler on bass was absent, but his fill in was good.

The opener was "Hey, Mr. President". Hird's daughter sang with the band, she's probably 14-15. that's a later Crack tune re-done on Citizen X.

"From the Greenhouse" was next. That's on Dog City, a rare record. It's always the first or second song, and is a Floyd clone. It's a beautiful, powerful song, that I should get up to the Moon (I have it on the "Rare" collection). Soaring lead by Witkowski.

"Hold On" was next, a fun raucous number. Then "I Don't Have A Tie", a jazzy one also from the first record. Rounding out the opening numbers was "Lighten Up McGraw", usually sung by Ziegler (Witkowski did the honors).

Then they slowed it down and played "When the Cameras Went Away", a song from the point of view of a self-centered suburbanite who can't bear to care about the Katrina victims. Lyrics like "Well the cars need brakes and the pool needs paint, you know how it is" and "How can i celebrate my fortune when you're calculating your loss" was lost on the mostly drunk and nostalgic crowd. They extended it to about 10 minutes, it's also on X.

"All Fly Away" from World in Motion was next (only hardcore fans should seek that record and Photoflamingo). I got it downloaded from their website, only a few good songs on each). Another song redone on Citizen X. Good acoustic number.

"All-American Boy", from White Music, one of the greatest pop numbers ever, got the crowd back in a frenzy...then "White Music", a goofy song but rocks in concert. Then a surprise.."We Want Mine" from Animal Notes, but heavy-metalled out. The original has a honky-talk feel, obscuring the acidicly cutting lyrics. Another remake on X.

Now they're rolling...."Mind Baby" from I, into the great "She's A Dancer". Sometimes they have a three-piece horn section that extends the piece out to 20 minutes. this time it was 10+, but the jam is incredible. A third song usually with horns, "Skin Deep" was next. Very scathing lyrics couched in a dancey rock song. Palumbo had one too many swigs of Jack and fumbled the lyrics. That's ok, everyone sang them....

"Pop", another new solo tune was next. Then "Long Nights". I had this a-hole singing in my ear and I literally had my hand over my right ear. Sad song, has a haunting lyric.."If I was crazy I would take your life, so you could go up there and join the wife"...

"Flashlight", a song Weather Report could do, got everybody worked up. This time Workman brought out a lyric sheet, where Palumbo read while laughing and singing...

Then the usual 15 minute "Ice" (only 4+ on the record), complete with 5-min long piano lead and extended jam.....right at midnight. "Nuclear Apathy" after that...they weren't f'in around. And they closed with "Surf City", pausing to play "Ring of Fire", "Hey Joe", and some other songs. Always a fun song.

Of course the closer, "Hot Razors In My Heart"......

and the encore "I am The Walrus"....

the opening act was a guy who usually opens, played Pigs on the Wing to start and finish, with some Dead, Neil Young, and some other acoustic classics.

Saw a guy with a Nearfest shirt taking pictures! Couldn't catch him though (place was packed).

Hope they play next year. And vax must go!