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The
Doors Live Performance, Saturday, March 29, 2003, Dallas, TX
Jeff Horton
The Doors (21st Century version) brought 1968 to the Dallas suburb
of Grand Prairie and rocked a crowd of 5,000 into a frenzy that
included one of the wildest concert finishes seen in Big D in years.
Mr. Mojo had to have been looking down with a big, big smile.
A five man version of the ultimate 60's psychedelic
rock group, The Doors, successfully passed the torch of wild-ass
rock and roll from the hands of the baby boomers through generation
X and on to generation Y Saturday in the Dallas suburb of Grand
Prairie. The Next Stage venue was not filled to the brim but included
a crowd of approximately 5,000 that was 65 per cent graying boomers
and 35 per cent their younger siblings and offspring. The band took
the stage about 8:45 pm and gave a solid two and a half hours of
entertainment. If you've been sitting on the fence about this tour,
thinking it's another money grubbing nostalgia act, drop your concerns
and buy your tickets today.
Ray Manzerak preserved the spirit of the Doors,
Robbie Krieger remains the great unknown guitarist of his era, and
Ian Astbury, was possessed with the spirit of Jim Morrison in a
performance that featured strong vocals, physical antics, "fuck
you's" and the audience dancing on the palm of his hand.
Backed by an actual bassist, the group came on
to their trademark "From Los Angeles, California – The Doors"
introduction and blasted through the first four numbers. No one
reclaimed their seat until about 60% through the show and then only
for a few minutes. Backed by a single video screen that featured
fewer images of Morrison than expected, the Doors performed a wide
range of material from their six studio albums and the Ghost Song
from Morrison's American Prayer collection of poetry.
While the three principals were individually
strong, occasionally Krieger's lead guitar and, (or with), Manzerak's
keyboards drowned out Astbury on the less intense Moonlight Drive
and Spanish Caravan. During Five to One, the video screen was filled
with 60's era footage of police using nightsticks on Vietnam protesters
and from there Manzerek drew some of the loudest cheers of the night
when urging support of "our troops" and for them to all
return safely. He then leveled criticism at a "21st century
dictator" and the need to restore peace to the Middle East.
Since the dictator remained unidentified, both sides on the Iraq
war debate could fill in the blank as they chose.
From there the group launched into Morrison's
poetry accompanied by two Native American Indians from New Mexico
in traditional dress, who, back by a hypnotic beat and Krieger's
strumming, performed a dance that was worth seeing. Manzerak's commentary
labeled all born in the USA as native Americans charged with a responsibility
for the environment and protecting mother earth. Manzerak also complimented
the crowd for having the spirit of Texas Radio and the Big Beat
as he recited the opening lyrics to The WASP.
Then it was back to rock and roll with increasing
intensity as the group assaulted the crowd with Maggie M'Gill, L.A.
Woman, and Light My Fire. Next was the traditional exit stage left
under darkness to return for Riders On The Storm. That's when this
show got really interesting.
Through out the night Astbury gave the best impression
of the Young Lion turning erotic Lizard King since the real deal
in the late 60's. At the start of the second encore number, Peace
Frog, a young blond climbed the stage but was whisked away by security
before she could get to Astbury, who happened to have his back turned.
As Krieger rocked through Peace Frog a second young lady, a brunette,
climbed the stage and was also whisked away. Then it was "Thank
You, Goodnight" and lights up as the crowd headed for the exits.
About 30 per cent had made it through the doors when the band reappeared
and jumped into Soul Kitchen, which caused a rush to the stage.
About 30 seconds into the song, the blonde appeared from offstage
and began to do a striptease next to Astbury, the brunette appeared,
and then it all broke loose as one female after another hit the
stage. The blonde stripped down to her birthday suit as more and
more young men and women invaded the stage. The blonde strutted
over to Manzerek and danced in front of him. At least 100 people
enveloped the band on stage; surrounding all the musicians where
none could be clearly seen. Astbury somehow popped out to the edge
of the stage and dived into the audience for a bit of body surfing.
Manzerak kept shouting out "Oh, man. Oh man." And those
of us in the stands, who hadn't tried to get a jump on traffic,
busted out in hoots, hollers, applause, and laughter unheard at
a Dallas concert in years. Mr. Mojo had risen and rock and roll
was restored to the edge of wildness where it belongs.
Set
list: 1. Roadhouse Blues / 2. Break On Through / 3. When
The Music's Over / 4. Love Me Two Times / 5. Moonlight Drive / Horse
Latitudes / 6. Wild Child / 7. Cops Talk / 8. Alabama Song / Back
Door Man / Five To One / 9. Ghost Song / The Hill Dwellers / 10.
Spanish Caravan / 11. Maggie M'Gill / 12. L.A. Woman / 13. Texas
Radio & The Big Beat / 14. Light My Fire / Encore:
15. Riders On The Storm / 16. Peace Frog / 2nd
Encore: 17. Soul Kitchen.
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