Bongo Love John Pierce Huey Lewis and the News

[Big Poppa]

OK if it werent for Indian Casinos nobody could tour in this azoff ticketmaster live nation world. There is a little spot around the corner from where I am now
and last night was Huey Lewis. Huey is a dear friend and a golfing buddy and has supported the Casey Lee Ball Foundation.

OK Im a geezer because I like his show. Just a word of warning put on blinders when he plays the hits because grandmas do the sexy dance that you hoped you would never see again and the polyrhythmicdevoid white gramps dance like they have a random shock wave eminatin from their depends. Its the ****s getting old.

Why do I like this show? Great horn section that is tight as a drum....THe rhythm section is dead nuts on. Ill get to the John Peirce appreciation later in the thread. Huey is a great front man and they actually have set pacing and harmonies up the wazoo....(not you Fran)

John Pierce is a great LA player....He and Luke literally grew up together...their moms were pals while preggo with young Luke and John. Hows this High School Band....Steve Lukather, the Pocaro Brothers Carlos Vega, John Pierce David Paich, and Mike Landau. Both drummers are no longer with us but look up Carlos and Jeff Pocaro if you are unfamiliar...incredible crazy great legends of drumming.

John does a lot of sessions and toured with Jagger and has had the gig with Huey for years. He plays like such an adult who has a huge understanding of the bass line. Rock solid, great tone and doesnt miss a punch and doesnt play a bad note. I really enjoyed hearing him last night...There was no Bass Popcorn in the house. (thanks Craig for the Bass popcorn line)

He started the show with Hueys Stax Stuff on a Trans Red Sterling 4 Maple neck....It swounded perfect....Sterlings and soul music work great! Then he made my night by pulling out the Single H Bongo 5 and it just popped and owned its space...(but you knew that) He finished off the set with a beautiful
StingRay 5 for the hits.

A great night and thanks Huey and John for the 9 tickets and passes.....THe whole damn family went.

 

[Big Poppa]

John also has an early alder big al....He says that stays at home because he likes it so much....I sent this thread to him...if we are lucky he may join in the fun

 

[Grand Wazoo]

I've always been a fan of Huey Lewis and the news from way back (when they played the soundtrack to Back to The Future)

Yes I am also aware of the immense greatness of the Porcaro brothers, (Toto's ex drummer).

By the sound of it you attended a gig I would have loved to be at. Did you take any iPhone pics?

 

[five7]

He played the club next to the one we were playing in Colo. Springs back in the 80s and came over after soundcheck and invited my lighting man who was a killer harp player to come over and set in at their show. Huey is a down to earth kinda guy and a great entertainer!

 

[Big Poppa]

I dont take my cell phone out when at a show. I have an aversion to that....It is like we have 3,000 cinematographers at every show...I commit to my feeble memory!

 

[Mabongohogany]

Naah, can't do it-
I THOUGHT I could upload an Mp3 here; no way-

Anyhow-The Classic Song-
"634-5789"

Thre's a version by Wilson Pickett I brought to my Rhythm Section but the fidelity wasn't too good, so I found a version by Huey Lewis backed by Tower Of Power on a CD called ":The Great American Soulbook"

Killer!

It shows Huey's vocal chops and they are formidable!

Oh, and btw, I will be playing that song this afternoon with my natural H Sterling tort guard, just tuned it up (so easy to do)

And you are right0n, it is a SOUL bass. MarKBass LMII LE w/ a Mesa Powerhouse 4-ohm 212 hahahahaha.

Eachyerhartszout!
Luv it.

And Tower of Power?? Surely you jest!

Check it.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

Say what you want about their 80's hits, but they were (and are) a really tight and great band.

I have read (vaguely remember) that there is some Tower of Power connection. Did they back him up in the past?

 

[Mabongohogany]

Say what you want about their 80's hits, but they were (and are) a really tight and great band.

I have read (vaguely remember) that there is some Tower of Power connection. Did they back him up in the past?

I thought their 80's hits were in the pocket!
"Power of Love"- What's not to like?

Mebbe the connection comes from their both being Bay-area acts originally.

 

[Smallmouth_Bass]

I think I might have seen some Huey Lewis writing credits on some TOP songs.

 

[projectapollo]

I thought their 80's hits were in the pocket!
"Power of Love"- What's not to like?

I am an 80s guy and loved them! Tight, tight, tight. They were big into the early MTV world, too. I want a new drug?

 

[Steve-O]

Say what you want about their 80's hits, but they were (and are) a really tight and great band.

I have read (vaguely remember) that there is some Tower of Power connection. Did they back him up in the past?

I saw the News back in the eighties, and the Tower of Power horns were touring with them. It was a great show, at least what I remember of it.

 

[Kirby]

I have always enjoyed Huey's music. We were supposed to do a show with him years ago when I was playing for an 80's group, but something happened scheduling wise and it never turned out. One of the shows I have always regretted not getting to do.

Great story thanks for the share BP, one good thing about good music is that it is timeless.

 

[stingray96191]

One of the first dates i took my wife on was to see Huey Lewis and the News with Chicago. Huey was awesome... Chicago.. needed to stick to their older stuff... I love Huey... And will support him in any way possible. Nice to know they are supporting EBMM.
and fyi.. I'm 26, and wasn't alive when most of his hits were recorded originally.

 

[Colin]

Now this is a thread I can get into, Huey Lewis yes! I started playing guitar because of the band back in 1982. Recently when they where coming to town, John had agreed to do an interview , but unfortunately the tour was canceled. He's a great supporter of Music Man that's for sure.

 

[OldSchool Noob]

I'm a big fan as well. Always tight, always well performed and always with a touch of sly humor. An excellent band that I would pay money to see anytime!

Here's a tune of theirs that I always felt was under-appreciated:

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WIkOVe0MF1k]YouTube - HUEY LEWIS & THE NEWS - Perfect World[/ame]

 

[jlepre]

Showing my age, but back in 1983 I was in a very good cover band, and we played 3 of Huey Lewis & The News hits. They were tough tight harmonies, with tight cuts and breaks. Alot of fun, and the ladies loved it!

I love the way he used to say:

"I'm Huey Lewis, and you just heard The News!"

 

[adouglas]

Well, I'll be darned. Ol' Huey beat me to the idea of cool zebra shoes by a considerable number of years…..

 

[Colin]

Forgot to mention the reason I started using Ernie Ball strings was because of Chris Hayes (original Guitarist retired in 2000). He said in a 1984 Guitar Player interview he used 9-42 Ernie Ball strings. I was 14 and thought well if it's good enough for Chris it's good enough for me. The guitar parts for "If This is it" are perfection. I love playing that song

 

[Holdsg]

And who doesn't love the scene in Back to the Future when he pulls out that megaphone at Michael J. Fox and says "its too loud". Gotta love the 80s.

 

[oddjob]

Dating myself, but my second concert was HL&tN Sports tour (back with Mario paying bass). Have seen them many times since. Was pretty sad when Mario left but John is execellent. If anything I think they "gained" when John came onboard. BP, said it best that the rhythm section is dead nuts on - one of the better rhythm sections I've seen!