G reetings Sound Connoisseur’s,
Back a bunch of years ago Bob Magnusson had the brilliant marketing idea of naming his band after a well known Caltrans freeway sign that sported a clever double meaning. Road Work Ahead — the road is getting worked on so drive with caution and also, this band is going places and we’ll be hitting the road for the great European concert tour and beyond.
Well, we didn’t tour all that much (the famed northern California tour was a hoot plus a Hawaii mini tour also sported some surfing) and we only recorded three albums but one thing is for sure, we had a stellar time hanging out and playing music. Best long life friends and still so to this day.
Bill Mays was in town last week bringing his joyful sounds to the KSDS Bud Powell concert and so the night before we rounded up the Road Workers to fill in the stories from the passage of time and kick start the laugh machine. Super good hang!
For this week we’re bringing the hallucinations of Cream to the concert stage for a LIVE performance in Carlsbad. It’ll be on Sunday in the late afternoon (4pm) at the Pilgrim United Church of Christ in Carlsbad.
Cream was one of my favorite bands when I was growing up. They blasted loud with hard hitting rock sensibilities all the while going cosmic with jazz explorations — extended jams that explored the outer realms of modal harmony. It was the ultimate power trio with Eric Clapton on guitar, Jack Bruce on bass, and Ginger Baker pounding on the drums. We played their songs in our garage band back in the ’70s and now, some 50 years later, we’re taking them for a new spin.
“Sunshine of Your Love” — probably the second most iconic rock riff right behind the descending chord movement of “Stairway to Heaven.” I learned to play it when I was young and, with a surfboard under the other arm, I pretty much owned the world at large. Hah!
It’s hard to take over the planet but if you’re fortified with the songs of Cream, world domination by sound is a cinch. Their music is hard hitting, beautiful, and to my ears, just waiting to be reimagined through our jazz and Brazilian influence.
We levitate the classic “Had To Cry Today”, flat tire wobble on “Born Under a Bad Sign”, astral travel on “Badge”, and do some silent moon gazing on “Can’t Find My Way Home.” And of course we fit in a little “Sunshine of Your Love” to fully illuminate the set.
The band includes some of the best with:
Peter Sprague on guitar
Leonard Patton on vocals
Tripp Sprague on sax and flute
Mack Leighton on bass
Danny Green on piano
Duncan Moore on drums
Look for the concert details below…
And to celebrate this week’s Cream concert we’re letting loose a new video of us playing one of their quirky lesser known songs called “As You Said.” It’s almost modern classical sounding with some wicked harmony and expressive improvisation. Search and enjoy!
Good times to ‘ya and all the best, Peter