I guess it depends how seriously you take your expectations of other musicians. Having thought the remember that old band that used to be so exciting (and inspirational) revival thing through more than once, I guess my own expectations have mellowed a lot. I face audience expectations regularly and, regardless of what they deserve they get what they get and I face the consequences of whether they want to continue coming to hear (not to imply that I don't pay close attention to the marketability of the music I spend my time playing - I do). It's just not that personal.
When I first heard of the Cream reunion, after I got done cringing at how it could not and would not live up to any expectations based on what happened between 38 and 40 years back, I decided I would check it out anyway (on PBS, as it wasn't worth more than that to me). What I found was, objectively, pretty much the same performances we all saw. However, I think I fell into the more charitable, or maybe less naive camp:
1. They are old. Period. The amount of originality to what they did was very very limited. But I've been listening to Clapton do that for years. Personally, it's good to see that Jack Bruce and Ginger Baker (the many times heralded dead speed freak) are looking as good as they are. I don't admire any of the three except for their acheivements (however distant they may be in the past), but I'm not much into celebrities.
2. I was curious how much each could or would be interested in putting out. Not much, compared to my fondest hope, but not a big dissapointment - people rarely live up to other folks expectations. What I did see was a very few glimmers of challenge between them. Frankly, I wasn't sure there'd be any, so I was modestly happy about that.
3. I wanted to see if there was still anything left to learn from these guys that I hadn't heard already. In some respects, I thought yes. However, it wasn't anything to do with being the Cream of old. Glad I didn't all for that one... Nonetheless, there were some bits and thoughts I enjoyed hearing.
Personally, I don't have a big problem with celebrities cashing in on their laurels. I can't say I'd necessarily do differently, given the same position and opportunity. I just hate the smell of sour grapes. What makes any of us so naive as to expect these guys would somehow (or for some reason) do this reunion the way we would most have appreciated it. It just surprises me that it seems surprising.
As to the Garden Party references, I remember talking to my sister late the evening of that MSG concert, which she had just returned from. Rick Nelson was booked to play a gig that was billed as an evening of old rock and roll. Why didn't anyone sympathize with the audience, who, after waiting 45 min for Nelson to get his sound together, were treated to Ricky refusing to play what was billed? The whole Garden Party discussion, controversy, song, etc. was no more than a fairly cynical marketing stunt. There was no way Ricky Nelson was going to gain attention for his new career direction as easily as to bash old R&R (which, as many will recall, was yet to be recognized as hip) and whine that no one appreciated his art. Shrewd.
Bill
(Message edited by bassman10096 on April 20, 2006)
(Message edited by bassman10096 on April 20, 2006)
