Posted on Thu, Jul. 20, 2006

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Lock 3 Live finds its groove

British Invasion, gospel and tribute band mix working to attract fans; Yardbirds play Saturday

Malcolm X Abram

Beacon Journal

The Yardbirds are (from left) lead singer/bassist John Idan, original drummer Jim McCarty, harmonica player Billy Boy Miskinnon, guitarist Ben Keng and guitarist Chris Dreja.

It's going to be short and sweet this week, folks, so let's get to it.

I've been to two concerts during this Lock 3 Live season and both have been fun, well-attended experiences. The New Jack Swing trout with Tony, Toni, Tone, After 7 and others was packed despite the fact that the headliners were missing original singer Raphael Saadiq and they didn't take the stage until after 10 p.m.

The wife and I also trekked downtown for the Reggae Fest, which, while not nearly as well attended, was still a very good show, with Mikey Dread doing some live dub mixing (``Just the drum and bass! Now guitar and keyboards!'') that got the fans up and moving.

The organizers seemed to have found some working formulas (gospel, British Invasion, tribute bands) and eventually, they'll have to mix things up a bit, but right now it's a pretty good way to spend a Friday or Saturday evening.

This Saturday, Lock 3 Park does the British Invasion thing again, with the Yardbirds, Peter and Gordon and, of course, a Beatles tribute band.

I wonder if the cottage industry that is Beatle tribute bands holds any kind of convention and if so, is it just a roomful of people in short haircuts whose name tags read John, Paul, George or Ringo? Are there any renegade Stu Sutcliffes or Pete Bests? The occasional Billy ``the fifth Beatle'' Preston?

Anyway, the Yardbirds are the big draw here, despite the fact that Peter and Gordon (World Without Love and Lady Godiva) are actually headlining.

The Yardbirds are the '60s British blues and pop band that is probably more famous for being having three of rock's most celebrated guitarists -- Eric Clapton, Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck -- in the band during its initial '60s run.

It also contributed a few tunes to the ``heritage rock'' oeuvre, including For Your Love, Train Kept-a-Rollin', Shapes of Things, Happening Ten Years Time Ago and Over Under Sideways Down.

The Yardbirds circa 2006 still count original members drummer Jim McCarty and guitarist Chris Dreja along with harmonica player Billy Boy Miskinnon, guitarist Ben King and lead singer/bassist John Idan, who sounds a lot like the deceased Keith Relf.

The band's most recent album was 2003's Birdland, and it mixed all of the aforementioned classics, with seven sturdy newer tunes and guest guitar theatrics from Steve Vai, Slash, Brian May, Jeff ``Skunk'' Baxter and old buddy Jeff Beck.

The album is better than the average skeptical fan might expect, given how cruel time, fans and critics can be on aging rockers who don't have Keith Richards-like deals with old Mephistopheles.

If you're looking for something different, Sunday evening at the Northside will be playing host to singer/songwriter Stephanie Rearick, whose music works her dark piano-driven cabaret style with big scary minor chords and melodramatic vocals that will remind some folks of the hip Boston duo The Dresden Dolls.

That should be an interesting twist for the Northside, which leans more toward your blues, jazz, jam, folk lovers. Rearick's got a Myspace page, natch (http://myspace.com/stephanierearick), where you can hear low-key sparse tunes.

Malcolm X Abram can be reached at 330-996-3758 or mabram@thebeaconjournal.com