Beethoven and Rock Guitar

First it was Roll Over Beethoven from Chuck Berry.
It was more an insult than a compliment, but it was just the beginning for Ludwig in Rock and Roll.

The Beatles covered this tune several years later, then ELO, (the Electric Light Orchestra) revamped, and completely vamped this classic in the 70's when they added in Beethoven's Fifth Symphony into the 8 minute version.

And then, along came Savatage.
And then the Trans Siberian Orchestra, born of Savatage.

And now, the final performances of Trans Siberian Orchestra's Beethoven's Last Night are being performed by heavy metal guitars, rock and stage trained vocalists, dancers, Electric violinists, keyboardists  & a drummer to end all drummers.  As you read this, they may well be a thing of the past, and only available from members of their Yahoo discussion Group online (I highly recommend it to fans, or those new to TSO affectionately referred to as "newbies")

Most are familiar with TSO as a Winter/Christmas tour group that has 2 bands performing a rock opera for the holidays. It became a part of my Christmas in 2003 in Charlotte NC when they performed at the Blumenthal Theatre: complete with pyro.

The well dressed blue hairs that sat in the audience at that time had a shell shock look on their faces as they were exposed to an onslaught of heavy metal, soaring vocals and a storyline that was perfect for the season.

To their credit, only a few left, but most stayed in their seats as their initial shock melted into awe.

For Beethoven's Last Night, TSO has one group touring.  It consists of one of the finest rock musicians to ever hit the stage: Al Pitrelli, along with Chris Caffery,  bass player Johnny Lee Middleton and drummer Jeff Plate, all one time Savatage members, and part of the core of the group of musicians that now make up TSO today.

Yes, there is a storyline about Beethoven, a narrative that weaves the story, a violinist that is powered by the Energizer Bunny and then some, other gifted musicians, and vocalists that will stop you dead in your tracks.  All that, plus staging and lights that make this a true rock opera.  Paul O'Neill's vision is spectacular...but this is not about Paul O'Neill

It is the guitar playing of Al Pitrelli that  draws me to the performance year after year.  He is like many of the guitarists I admire most: not a poser, but a performer, a true musician and artist.  If you want a compete discography, its on Wikipedia, but here are a few basic points:  A Berklee student, he dropped out and played with the likes of Alice Cooper, Asia, Dee Snider,Stephen Pearcy, before joining up with Savatage in the mid '90's after the loss the incredible Criss Oliva. (Criss's brother Jon is still one of the driving creative forces behind TSO.  More on him and other TSO/Savatage key players at a later date. Remember:  this is about Al) . He had a 2 year stint in Megadeth, but it was TSO, where the creative forces were really unleashed.

He feels the music, and the classical notes written hundreds of years ago are given a new life.  Whether he plays electric or 12 string acoustic, the nuances and subtle tones are there, as well as the strength.

As an observer, I find Al an enigma...much like John Entwistle, there is a quiet power in his on stage presence.  Something is about to be released, and once he opens up, the electricity has nothing to do with the actual plug in variety.  Its aura and energy.
Its as though he were channeling Beethoven himself: challenging the master to create songs that would allow only an electric guitar to sear the soul.  Or steal the soul. The reality is soon evident:  once Beethoven is heard through a Marshall Amp, the world is forever changed.

Alvin Youngblood Hart: where have I been all of your life?

In June I had the remarkable privilege to sit in awe at the Double Door Inn, a cool, vibe-filled old building in Charlotte NC where the hallowed walls echo with the music of all who had played there...the walls themselves are littered with (or more appropriately: papered with), the signed promo shots (mostly in black and white ) from artists who had graced the stage throughout the years.

On this particular night, I was totally stoked for a musical adventure that I knew would be of monumental importance.
Earlier in the day a friend ,blues guitarist, songwriter Tony Rogers had posted a video of one ALVIN YOUNGBLOOD HART.
It was sent to him by an avid AVH Fan & Junkie, and another friend, Mike Dew, known in the Carolinas for his love of  blues & host of WNCW(the last truly great independant radio station left on Terra) "Saturday Night House Party".

I was rivoted.  Throughout the day I tackled projects that were on my desk, and the music haunted me.  Somewhere deep inside, I knew I could not allow this opportunity to pass by.  Sometimes, you just have to go with your gut.  This was one of those times.

 I had a long day behind me, and a longer one ahead, but the music I heard could not be denied, and I was poised for a night that I would neither forget nor regret.
Two quick additonal cups of coffee, a shower to shake off the cobwebs, and I was out the door.

Tony & Mike were already there, and Dew was grinning from ear to ear: fully aware that I was about to experience a master of the craft.

He could not be more correct.

My musical soul took flight from note one.  Not only was this man someone who pulled magic from the strings effortlessly, but his vocal tone was unmatched.  He moved effortlessly from one style to another, the passion never wavering, and the sound distinctly his own.  It was powerful, soulful, bluesy, sensual and playful, intertwined and woven anew from moment to moment. 

Just when I thought that I could not hear anything new, I discovered I was wrong...again.

How could I have lived on this earth without having heard or seen him before?  What rock was I under?  oh, that's right, terrestrial radio(which I had once been a part of) had long ago abandoned the notion that music should be played on the air just because it was great and deserved to be heard.  Consultants had invaded the airspace like cockroaches and left their toxic stench all over planet Radio.   (Then rare exception was WNCW out of Spindale, NC)

The Internet has become the new bastion of unsigned, undiscovered talent, and YouTube is a way for us to "discover" music again.
It was that YouTube video that put me front and center in downtown Charlotte that night, with the help of a couple of friends.

Finding it an impossibiity to sit down when my body said "boogie", I finally stood, and jammed on the sidelines, digging every note, and thrilled to be in the same room as this Magic Man.

I cornered him between sets.  A quiet,\ soft spoken man, with this light of creativity in his gaze, he had a humble attitude that made me just want to ask him "Do you have any idea how you just shook me, and this whole room to the core?"  I asked where he played in New Orleans (having lived there briefly myself in the past), he gave me a few moments of undivided attention, and I asked what music he had with him that I could buy...In what I have since learned is an unusual situation, he had CD's with Muscle Theory, a live recording from the Jazz Fest in New Orleans.  Score!

I don't recall driving home that night, because the music continued to swirl around me.  and then I went online and began to surf.

Now, I could paraphrase what I read there, but it would just be someone else's words rearranged.  Instead, do yourself a favor and check out his site yourself:  http://www.alvinyoungbloodhart.net/

Go there....read about him.  Gawk at those that have sat in with him...and then go to the tour page, and highlight on your calendar ANY date that is nearby...and GO!!

You can write me long loving thank you letters later...