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December 4, 2018

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Canned Heat, one of the original bands that played Woodstock, made a long awaited return to the North Coast last week.  The four-piece band from Los Angeles brought their style of blues and boogie to The Music Box Supper Club last Thursday.

 

Although there have been several incarnations of the band, long-time rhythm section members Fito de la Parra (drums) and Larry Taylor (bass) are the two remaining members of the Woodstock era lineup.  Dale Spalding (vocals, harmonica, guitar) and John Paulus (guitar, vocals) complete the quartet and really bring the music to life.

 

The band opened up the show with a rousing version of “On The Road Again” and set the tone for a great evening of rockin’ blues.

 

After two songs from the bands Hallelujah album were played, “Time Was” and “I’m Her Man,” Taylor picked up a Les Paul and Paulus switched to a bass for “The Stumble” and “Don’t Know Where She Went (She Split).”

 

However, the unofficial theme song to Woodstock, “Going Up The Country” was what got the crowd on its feet.  As Spalding noted before they played the song, the tune can also be heard in Geico commercials.

 

Which is kind of a sad commentary as commercials have become one of the few ways people can hear classic rock today.

 

The band continued to rock out to “Sugar Bee,”  “So Sad (The World’s in a Tangle) and their cover of Wilbert Harrison’s “Let’s Work Together.”

 

The sixty minute set ended with an extended jam of “Refried Boogie” which closed this ‘60s flashback to an era of peace and love.

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Review and photos by Greg Drugan

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