Blood Sweat & Tears originally formed in 1967. Sadly there are no longer any original members in the band. However the current line up is under the direction of original member, Bobby Colomby.
Not many bands would get away with this. Can you Iiagine The Rolling Stones without Mick or Keith? But somehow Blood, Sweat and Tears get away with it. The band bought their jazz drenched rock to The Gov and to a good crowd. Far more people than I expected at this gig.
The band’s current lead singer is Bo Brice, who was runner up in American Idol in 2005, and he launched the band into Lucretia McEvil & Reprise from Blood Sweat and Tears third album. Both trumpet players came to front of stage for an arousing trumpet duo spot. This set the scene for the evening with different players coming to the fore to display their musical ability. And musical ability they all had.
Guitarist Dave Gellis has been with the band over 30 years and he showed what a great player he is on Go Down Gamblin’ from BST’s 4th album – definitely one of the highlight songs of the evening. Dave also got to sing and play a guitar solo on the hit song Hi De Ho with the crowd joining in.
Blood Sweat and Tears are a jazz infused rock band and at times the band went into long jazz/fusion instrumentals which did drag a bit at times, but full credit to singer Bo Brice’s enthusiasm. This is more than a “job” for Bo as he gave his all all-night. At times he even sounded like original singer David Clayton-Thomas.
The set naturally finished with sterling versions of the hit songs And When I Die and Spinning Wheel, with more excellent trumpet solo’s down front.
Surprisingly the first song of the encore was Allman Brother’s Midnight Rider and was the song of the evening. They kept the Southern Rock influence but fused it with their own jazz sound. Bo Brice gave it all on this track.
You’ve Made Me So Very Happy BST’s second ever single closed the evening. Bo Bice owned this song and so he should, as he released a version after his Idol runner up placing. It was very obvious he and the band had made the audience tonight so very happy.
So is this just a cover band or the real deal? Let’s just say the band was a real deal tribute to the original Blood Sweat and Tears. Superb musicians and a very enjoyable show. The Stones would never get away with it but this band does.
A great night of musical nostalgia.
Words & Photo Geoff Jenke
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