Reviews Archiv 98

....and once again, I have to stretch out a bit within this concert review, to get this band a bit closer to all of you, who never knew 'em or still don't know 'em. So you catch up with everything, what's all about here.
To make it short and painless. Lake were born in the seventies, - german-american Jazz Rock formation in the style of Steely Dan, which of course were the biggest influence. Lake have produced quite a few records and some well known melodies like the two no. 1 hits 'On The Run' and 'Jesus Came Down'. Later on the band also hat a couple of chart sucesses in the US, which is rather unusal for a german artist. And I bet my grandmother, that you all, who do not know these guys, would react the same way, when you'd heard one or the other song with: 'yep, I know this melody'. But as always according to our german mentality, first of all it's the usual thing - what the farmer doesn't know, he won't eat.' And if over all the circumstance of a long year's abstinence come along, it really gets difficult.

Okidok, Lake is back again, led by Alex Conti, who once was said to be Germany's best guitarist. Conti nowadays has gathered an interesting bunch of musicians around him. First of all Adrina Askew on keyboard, who played in 'lucifer's Friend' in the past. Mickie Stickdorn on drums, who was working with Falco and Jennifer Rush. Mike Starrs - vocals, who's also got himself a name in his home country England as'Angel Montgomery' in the country scene. And last but not least there is Michael 'Bexi' Becker on bass, who is together with Alex Conti also busy in the Hamburg Bluesband.

All togehter they make the Lake 2006, and they are trying hard, to bring back the spirit from the past to the present. One thing Lake have surely in common with Steely Dan. Their music is timeless. High qualitiy poprock melodies with a huge touch of jazz drive the audiance rather to listen carefully instead of rockin' along with it. Alex Conti is better than ever and is still fascinating the small crowd (nothing new in munich here) with wonderful chords and energetic tunes. Besides that, the guitarist has got one of the most charming smiles on stage I know. Okay okay, this doesn't really belong here, and probably gets noticed only from the few females in the audiance. But - so what?! I for my case prefer to look into a friendly face instead of a dead serious one. Next to Conti keyboardist Adrian Askew does a fabulous job, an almost artistic walk across the black and white surface of his instrument. - But ..... there is also a weak point within this performance..... and that's the vocals...

Between Mike Starrs and the original shouter James Hopkins Harrsion is a whole universe. But unfortunately you can't bring the second named one back, 'cause he died on an overdose heroin in 1991. Starrs trys hard to keep the same level, but at some parts, where the high C has to be over jumped, nothing goes anymore. A song like 'Time Bomb' ist too much for him. But over all the whole gig is a brilliant performance, only the emotionless and too straight perfection from the past is missing. Back then Lake were already oceans ahead from their time, lik Steely Dan. Whether this was an advantage or disadvantage is a matter of discussions. Fact is, that the sound of Lake has not put on any dust, and songs like 'Red Lake', 'On The Run' and 'Glad To Be Here' don't sound antique. No, it rather sounds, as they've been written yesterday. Just to mention it, of course there's a very new record as well, named 'Blast of Silence, which wants to be promoted.
I for my case, would wish, that Alex Conti with his Lake would be able to connect to the past sucess. He'd deserve it. The question is only, is the music now really in time, or is it once again ahead. The dedication goes to Steely Dan with 'Black Friday', who probably is the most perfect band, who ever existed on this globe. Long live Steely Dan.