One of the coolest things about writing this column is I get to share the cool things I come across as I aimlessly stagger through life. I’ve told you about great sandwiches, cool bands, and innovative people who make things happen. Well here is another cool thing I’ve stumbled upon. My good friend Dave “The Bass Player” Jones and I were talking just before the Zappa Plays Zappa Show at the Charleston Music Hall last week and he suggested that I check out Jeff Beck: Live at Ronnie Scott’s.
As fortune would have it, I switched on the tv the very next night and Palladia (HD music channel-411 on Comcast) was showing it! Beck’s innovative technique and jazz fusion style were like an intense firework show designed for the ears instead of the eyes. Beck, along with drummer Vinnie Colaiuta, keyboardist Jason Rebello and young Australian bass guitar prodigy Tal Wilkenfield move through a thorough a sampling of the Jeff Beck catalog with songs like Beck’s Bolero; Eternity’s Breath; Stratus; Cause We’ve Ended As Lovers; Behind The Veil; You Never Know; Nadia; Blast From The East; Led Boots; Angels (Footsteps); Scatterbrain; Goodbye Pork Pie Hat /Brush With The Blues; Space Boogie; Big Block; A Day In The Life; and Where Were You. A very satisfying set list for Beck fans. I should know, as I’ve been a fan of Jeff Back since I first heard the album “Truth” which also featured Rod Stewart and Ron Wood. The concert , recorded in 2007 is available in CD, DVD and features guest appearances by Joss Stone, Imogen Heap and Eric Clapton You can find it at Amazon.com, but I’ll probably pick it up at Barnes & Noble in the Towne Centre. With music taste as diverse and eclectic as mine, it’s the one place I’ve been able to find what I like in their music section every time I go there.
Did I mention that I went to the Zappa Plays Zappa show? Well, that was an experience in itself! Snatching up a second row seat that Dave Jones had , I got to see the show up close and personal. I don’t get to go to shows as a “civilian” very often. Usually, I’m working if I’m out at night. But this particular night, I was a face in the crowd. In those occasions, I find myself thinking how much better I could mix the sound if I were at the controls. But I will admit, I couldn’t have done the amazing job that the sound engineer did that night.
It was clear to me (having seen Frank Zappa and The Mothers of Invention in the 70’s) that Dweezil Zappa thoroughly studied his father’s guitar style and compositions, which is no small accomplishment as Frank Zappa was one of the most complex composers of twentieth century America. Zappa had to search and carefully screen the best musicians in the world to play the complex songs that he wrote.  The list of musicians recruited for Mothers of Invention over the years included George Duke, Terry Bozio Matt “Guitar Murphy” , Steve Vai, and the late Lowell George of Little Feat. So to put together a band to re-create this music couldn’t have been an easy task But it was one of the best concert experiences of my life.
At the show , I ran into Dr. Eddie White and he gave me the deatails about “Youth Gives Back: A Benefit For Camp Happy Days. Youth Gives Back’s premiere band line-up includes The Explorers Club, Sol Driven Train, Leslie, Ten Toes Up, Charlton Singleton Jazz Quartet, The Fire Apes, Doug Walters and Friends, Fireworks Show, The Wyatt Garey Band, Danielle Howle, and the Hungry Monks
Participating young bands include The Whisperjets, Slanguage, Trouble inTransit, Coletrain, the Aquatic Hobos, Co, Luke Conover, Sam Gutshall, The Gojos, Spud, New Hunger, The Makeshift, The Three Dudes, WeJohnStevens,
Debora Hudson, MT Bourque, Miles Atkinson, Nick Tipling, The Gojos,Introducing Fish Taco, and Bodies Full of Magic.
“Youth Gives Back is designed to give the young bands of Charleston a stage to play on and wake up their music philanthropy potential,” says White.
“I am most proud of helping the young bands of Charleston grow and develop. The question of this event is What do you wish you knew when you were 16?”
Two day tickets are $20 (one day $15) and available at Etix.com, the Sewee Outpost, Shem Creek Music, Encore Music, and 52.5 Records. Student tickets are $10 and under 12 are free. Respectful overnight camping is welcome. No outside coolersplease. Bring a chair! More information and directions at www.awendawgreen.com.
On a sad personal note, after 5 years of rocking, Allnightkungfu is calling it quits. We’ve had some fun, got drunk, got sober, got in fights, but for the most part we just rocked without making any compromises. It’s just time to move on.
We are all good friends and will remain that way. Jerry and Harry will continue to play in Dewey Muggles so make sure you go out and support them. They are an awesome band with their own sound which is far too rare these days. I’m sure that Marc Keller will surface in some band that needs a powerful drummer. I will be writing songs for a while and finding new people to play with.
To all the people who came to the shows and supported us, I would like to say thanks and I hope to be playing again real soon. Also thanks to the other folks who played in the band over the years:
Roy Brooks, Jason Fuller, Rick Morse, Louis Dixon, Everett Bigbee, Cooper Dozier, Jack Vaughn, Jordan B. Jordan, Jesse Judy,and Jimi Potter.
Until next week, support live music and be nice to each other!

(Contact Stu : Sjohnson@allnightkungfu.com. )