| 6th November 2006 02:32 PM |
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| Ten Thousand Motels |
Donovan's genius shines
By JEFF MIERS
News Pop Music Critic/Buffalo News.com
11/6/2006
Robert Kirkham/Buffalo News
It's rare to witness a concert of what might loosely be called "popular music" so brimming with spiritual resonance. Only the rarest of artists in this extremely broad genre attempt to do more than simply entertain or re-create their most recent album in the flesh, beneath the pulsating lights.
Donovan Leitch was raised with the Celtic music, the greatest of the jazz greats, the progenitors of the blues and the lyrical leanings of the great poets of the late 19th and early 20th century ringing in his ears. Perhaps he thought the whole world had been raised in a similar fashion, for since he first emerged into the popular consciousness in the early '60s, Donovan has been sending dispatches from the beatific - and beatnik - world few among us actually dwell in but seems to be the only world he's ever acknowledged as real.
Sunday evening, the Celtic folk singer - who, in truth, can't be quite so narrowly defined - offered a sold-out Mary Seaton Room in Kleinhans a mesmerizing performance part Shaman's keening, part pop performer's charm, part troubadour's testimony and all a moving form of folk-based musical genius.
This was all the real deal, and all of it was delivered with consummate majesty courtesy of Donovan's still incredibly resonant voice, virtuosic acoustic guitar finger-picking and the contributions of the upright bass player and percussionist who comprised his band. Ostensibly a concert meant to acknowledge Donovan's 40th anniversary as a recording artist, the show instead celebrated an incredible body of work and placed it firmly in the here and now.
Donovan, at 60 still boasting a spring in his step and a twinkle in his eye, took the stage with an inspired, even aggressive version of "Sunshine Superman" and owned the crowd for the rest of two sets of music drawing from 40 years of work. "Catch the Wind," his first hit, followed and had the crowd swooning, as Donovan's mix of romantic poetry-inspired lyrics and indelible folk tropes hit home in a big way. "Colours" had the crowd singing along and clapping, as the singer beamed, introducing an aspect that would be a recurring theme this night - interaction between performer and audience.
"To Try for the Sun" and "Sunny Goodge Street" proved that the songwriter was no mere folk interpreter, introducing sophisticated chord voicings implying an understanding of jazz harmony - the latter even found Leitch offering a scat solo in place of the jazz-based flute solo that augments the original recording of the tune.
After a 20-minute break, Donovan and band returned with a second set that offered an early highlight in the form of "Hurdy Gurdy Man," a song that daringly melds Eastern melodic leanings with Western rock and folk modalities and nearly 40 years after its first appearance still sounds like music of the future, the past and some space devoid of time, simultaneously. It was beautiful.
This was truly a special show, one that suggests that the idea that pop music can be spiritual is hardly an antiquated concept. Welcome back to the world stage, Mr. Leitch.
[Edited by Ten Thousand Motels] |
| 6th November 2006 02:44 PM |
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| Philip |
I saw him a few years back, one of the best gigs and musical experiences of my life!
He took the audience to another place! He is blessed with a great gift!
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| 6th November 2006 03:54 PM |
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| jb |
Why TTM, why? |
| 6th November 2006 04:00 PM |
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| F505 |
Donovan = old bore. |
| 6th November 2006 04:01 PM |
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| jb |
quote:
F505 wrote:
Donovan = old bore.
I never liked him or his music!!! |
| 6th November 2006 04:02 PM |
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| F505 |
quote:
jb wrote:
I never liked him or his music!!!
What do you like besides the Stones? |
| 6th November 2006 04:04 PM |
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| Joey |
quote:
F505 wrote:
What do you like besides the Stones?
He likes THE WHO ( ..but not as much as The Stones )
Josh is the Biggest fan of the Rolling Stones |
| 6th November 2006 04:10 PM |
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| MrPleasant |
Like Zappa, Donovan wasn't into funny cigarettes and nose candy. And his Gift From A Flower To A Garden is terrific. |
| 6th November 2006 04:10 PM |
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| F505 |
quote:
Joey wrote:
...that I know ...
Kins
Thanks. You sure know a lot. |
| 6th November 2006 04:26 PM |
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| Joey |
quote:
F505 wrote:
Thanks. You sure know a lot.
.....................ss ! " |
| 6th November 2006 04:34 PM |
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| robpop |
quote:
jb wrote:
I never liked him or his music!!!
Although that was a cool scene in Goodfellas when DeNiro and Pesci kicked the shit out of that man on the bar floor.
[Edited by robpop] |
| 6th November 2006 05:27 PM |
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| mojoman |
quote:
MrPleasant wrote:
Like Zappa, Donovan wasn't into funny cigarettes and nose candy. And his Gift From A Flower To A Garden is terrific.
superman didnt touch the sunshine? |
| 6th November 2006 05:28 PM |
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| lotsajizz |
Donovan's cool |
| 6th November 2006 09:04 PM |
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| sammy davis jr. |
Although that was a cool scene in Goodfellas when DeNiro and Pesci kicked the shit out of that man on the bar floor.
[Edited by robpop]
Yes that was a touching scene to the tune of Atlantis.......Donovan put the "airy" in fairy but he was cool by me. I grew up with my sisters record collection. |
| 7th November 2006 01:50 AM |
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| 3DTeafoe |
Donovan put on an excellent concert last December at the intimate Park West in Chicago. He was in top form. He and his band were electrified and they rocked-out.
The set list was excellent and Don's voice was as beautiful as ever.
He was very engaging, endearing and witty.
The show lasted 2 hours.
I had recently seen U2 and the Stones that season, and Donovan's concert surely held its own in the company of these giants. |
| 7th November 2006 01:53 AM |
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| 3DTeafoe |
"Yah Mon!"
Photos by Teafoe.
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| 7th November 2006 01:28 PM |
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| ListenToTheLion |
Man looks ridiculous |
| 7th November 2006 09:07 PM |
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| MrPleasant |
quote:
sammy davis jr. wrote:
Although that was a cool scene in Goodfellas when DeNiro and Pesci kicked the shit out of that man on the bar floor.
[Edited by robpop]
Yes that was a touching scene to the tune of Atlantis.......Donovan put the "airy" in fairy but he was cool by me. I grew up with my sisters record collection.
Nothing beats Pesci's death scene, in Casino, with "Skip-A-Long Sam" as score. Scorsese is a master of irony.
[Edited by MrPleasant] |
| 7th November 2006 11:12 PM |
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| VoodooChileInWOnderl |
Donovan and Linda are great persons in all senses, very very nice and cool. They gave me some cool stuff for this website, a CD of Julian Jones and many cyber-xmas cards and greetings.
I also love his music, specially "Sunshine Superman" |
| 7th November 2006 11:56 PM |
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| guitarman53 |
quote:
VoodooChileInWOnderl wrote:
Donovan and Linda are great persons in all senses, very very nice and cool. They gave me some cool stuff for this website, a CD of Julian Jones and many cyber-xmas cards and greetings.
I also love his music, specially "Sunshine Superman"
Finally somebody mentions Donovan is married to Linda Lawrence who's son's Father is Brian Jones. |
| 8th November 2006 07:24 AM |
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| VoodooChileInWOnderl |
quote:
guitarman53 wrote:
Finally somebody mentions Donovan is married to Linda Lawrence who's son's Father is Brian Jones.
Some intimate images received by them and Julian
Brian Jones' grandson Julez
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