The Doors - 21st Century Live in NYC
By
Mick Stingley,
Contributor
Thursday, May 8, 2003 @ 8:27 AM
The Doors - 21st Century Live
“THE DOORS- 21ST CENTURY” careened onto the stage at Roseland shortly before 9PM, and for over two hours indulged the sold-out crowd in rubbernecking at the mangled hulk of a gleaming Thunderbird convertible horribly bent into a fiery wreck.
It’s so very, very wrong in its execution -- but it plays astonishingly well to an audience of overgrown, beer-swilling Frat-boys gone to seed and SUV-driving Soccer-Moms with saddlebags, who pine away for the romance of an imagined rogue-lover…
The incessant “Broadway-ization” of bands supplanting original members –
and in this case: one deceased (Morrison) and one in litigation (Densmore)
– with shiny new folks who take turns sharing the spotlight like the swing cast of a well-worn musical -- has reached it’s pinnacle in “THE DOORS – 21ST CENTURY.”
Cloaked in the guise of the once-mysterious and underrated Ian Astbury,
this “21ST CENTURY” sell-out to Clear Channel reeks like egg salad, as the now-sober Cult front-man finally gives in to the oft-heard Morrison comparison, trivializing, and hypocritically singing “Roadhouse Blues” and “Alabama Song,” among others.
In fact, Ian Astbury singing “Mr. MoJo Rising!” comes across with the same
depth and resonance of his singing “I Wish I Was An Oscar Meyer Weiner!”
Leather-clad and looking every inch the son of the legendary singer he apes --
Astbury beguiled the audience with his high energy and warm vocals -- but it is not enough to salvage the night’s performance, which sags with every single word that keyboardist Ray Manzarek utters between songs. Manzarek, as he has been for years since Jim Morrison’s demise, remains deadly boring in his history lessons and time --wasting between-song peace-rants and monologues.
Far beyond the brave audacity of staging this musical interpretation of a celebrated, once-exciting group -- is the unbelievable travesty of introducing new material into the broad roster of “Greatest Hits.” Whether the Saturn-driving Yuppies who formed the majority of the audience will harken towards the call of a new disc remains to be seen. What lingers, is the memory and image of a legendary staple of AOR radio, now turned into a touring musical revue unworthy of the $70 to $100 ticket prices.
The Doors of perception have been ethnically cleansed and are as see-through as an empty glass on a bar at The Hard Rock Café…
Avoid at all costs. Buy The Doors box set, and The Cult’s Love, Electric and Sonic Temple to really enjoy some cool rock and roll. If you already own those -- and you are still curious -- take SEVENTY bucks out of your pocket and throw it in the street, and then go back listen to your CDs, and maybe watch the Val Kilmer flick.
You’ll have a better time.
Set List:
- Roadhouse Blues
- Break On Through
- Ray Manzarek Lecture #1 (“Glad to be back!”)
- Love Me Two Times
- Moonlight Drive
- Wild Child
- Cops Talk (new song, lyrics by Jim Carroll/music by The Doors)
- Alabama Song
- Ray Manzarek Lecture #2 (“Peace Rant”)
- 5 To 1
- The Crystal Ship
- People Are Strange
- Spanish Caravan
- Ray Manzarek Lecture #3 ( ?? )
- Maggie McGill
- L.A. Woman
- Light My Fire/Get Up Stand Up
Encore
- Ray Mazaerek talks again…
- Riders On The Storm
- Peace Frog
- Soul Kitchen
westonlopez - 10/30/2005 7:29:51 PM Well nothing like beating a dead horse but with 1500 yes 1500 show under my belt me thinks that I can tell a turd from a tootsie roll yes I am a big cult fan yes I am a big doors fan but even more I'm a big RIDERS IN the storm fan so Next time they come through go see cold play instead u just don't get it and never will. I respect your opinion but.......you can't polish a turd ...hot or cold.
jmaone1 - 7/13/2003 11:59:18 AM The only good thing you wrote was that someday your'e dying, and hopefully real soon! Your'e the jackass, jackass! Saying to a man of color that he's racist is as intelligent as the rest of the bullshit you have been "rantig". Your'e a fucking moron.
tandy - 7/7/2003 9:01:42 AM JMAONE1 - Grow up jackass... You are just pissed because you look stupid and foolish...you are really angry and should probably seek therapy for that! Apparently you can't read or write....you shouldn't take this too seriously... you only live once and I won't be remembering you on my death bed... get a life...I'm entitled to an opinion and if you weren't such an opinionated ass wipe you could appreciate different points of view... you are probably a racist too...
jmaone1 - 6/27/2003 11:37:39 PM Hey JACK-ASS!!! Thanks for responding. The only reason you copied my remarks is because you lack the common sense to come up with your own. Can you even respond to MY OTHER REMARKS? No. FUCK YOU if you can't see past your own ignorance by correcting my error in spelling when you can't see your own.
tandy - 6/18/2003 11:26:54 AM Who says I didn't see the show dumb f@#ck... I gave it a chance...just will never spend another penny on another 21st show...Philly to be exact.. Ray never shut up... and also I copied your phrases in my last rant so you could understand what I wrote... it should be never ceases to amaze me... dork
tandy - 6/18/2003 11:13:24 AM Hey JMAONE1 - your remarks ...it never seizes to amaze me how you tallywackers try to argue your point, as if trying to convince yourselves that what you say really matters. Back at ya...what validity does your opinion have? None. Yes Coldplay... they have their own different sound and are great musicians, vocalists and writers.. sounds like your trying to recruit 21st century doors fans instead of giving an actual fact based rant. Hey, wake up!!! It's 2003 not 67 and 21st century doors need to get with the program! You closed minded twit. Back to you again...F%^& Off! Living in the past... you can stay there with the dead guys...and the people who can not improve their talents and rely on the past to make a buck... dork...
deadcarsson - 6/2/2003 1:17:10 AM any of you guys tape shows? i have both las vegas & phoenix..looking for more..i taped these my self
looks like a good time to say "come on down" & trade with me...marvelmarching@hotmail.com also known as dead cars son.....this show is killer & the doors always cause the earth to move......walls move too....
deadcarsson - 6/1/2003 11:45:15 PM so AStbury isnt jim& isnt scarey..its not 1968..L.S.D. isnt on the streets or in the air...
but this act is worth checking out..also on any given night you will probley see the best light show on the road today & that includes everyone with an act on the stages of the world..that in itself is awesome
everyone has a good time...even dead poets... ive been to 2 shows & will go to more..my only gripe is the song list should revolve more...but i think it will happen in time......the devil took over a long time ago & made money god.....so what else is new...
Robby played here in las vegas march 2002 at a pool hall for $4.....it was great & it was next to free
mick stingley hasnt taken a good shit in a long time
he might be a little like Elvis was he might die trying
benniken - 5/28/2003 1:19:29 PM Well said Jmaone!! The "imbecile" Harryman said he wouldn't respond, but guess what???? Yes I read your rants and responded promptly point by point. Why don't you just keep your moronic opinions to yourself if you cannot converse in a human manner.
jmaone1 - 5/24/2003 11:53:58 PM I AM responding to your ignorance because I know that you WILL be coming back to see if anyone posted
anything.
1. No one will ever be the same as anyone else - you would have to exactly recreate factors such as rearing, culture and enviroment.
2.Keeping that in mind, if this particular band happened to have found "magic" again, then what's it hurting? Not you, you've already made it clear that it's not for you.
I KNOW THIS ISN"T THE DOORS YOU FUCK, but I happen to have an open mind and don't try to pursuade others that something sucks WHEN I HAVEN'T EVEN SEEN OR HEARD IT. As an artist I'm always disappointed that yokels like you take up space to share your opinion on something you couldn't even begin to be informative about. I would have respect for your opinion if it was based on fact, but it's not. So FUCK OFF.
harrymanback - 5/23/2003 11:05:46 PM as science progress, we get closer to having what someday will be perfect human clones. when we do accomplish this, and we can do things like recreate your dead mother or a dead president, your dead kid or a rockstar, would you people stand by and suck on it's nuts like he/she is athentic and the real thing?? my guess? probably. i don't have a doubt in my mind that if the record industry put together a brand new LED ZEPPELIN, with exact lookalikes and soundalikes to perfection, with the right promotions and radio play, andgood word of mouth and heresay, you people (exluding people who hate ZEP), would latch on to it and call it the real thing, and support it until your pathetic selves die. i truly cannot believe that in live in a world full of so many shit sucking idiots. i will not post again. aw. if you post in return to this, i guess you'll just be proving how ignorrant you really are, in thinking i'll respond. i'm almost willing to bet money that someone will. fools.
harrymanback - 5/23/2003 10:53:15 PM as i read the next few rants i see even more ignorant people, that have CHOSEN to NOT comprehend what i've said. for one. HOW IN THE FUCK CAN I HAVE THE PRECONCIEVED IDEA THAT THE NEW GUYS WOULD SUCK IF I'M FANS OF THE NEWS GUYS PREVIOUS WORK???????????? AND AGAIN. as i've said a million times, wether they sound good or bad has nothing to do with my opinion, IF YOU COULD COMPREHEND WHAT YOU READ, YOU WOULD ALREADY KNOW THIS. i won't repeat myself, so either read my rants and then comment or shut the fuck up. i do have a question though? ...
harrymanback - 5/23/2003 10:42:49 PM benniken, you're a fucking imbecile. the next time you decide to join a conversation of a higher intellectual level than your own, do yourself a favor and pay attention to what is said. it might help you to actually read my rants in full rather than skim through all the pages and pretend that you understand what is being said.
westonlopez - 5/23/2003 11:45:33 AM LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, FROM LOS ANGELES THE 21ST CENTURY DOORS.OKAY HARRYMANBACK TOO MUCH INFORMATION RIGHT THERE,YOU ARE ENTITLED TO WORSHIP JIM, BUT IF YOU DIDN'T SEE THE SHOW THEN HOW DO YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE TALKIN ABOUT.YOU DON'T. SO WHY DON'T YOU PULL YOUR BALD HEAD OUT OF YOUR HARRYMAN ASS (WIPE IT OFF) AND MAKE AN INFORMED COMMENT OPPOSED TO THE SUPERFLUOUS BUTT NOISE THAT YOU TRIED TO CONVEY.EVERYBODY WHO WENT LIKED THE SHOW,YOU DIDN'T GO SO SHUT THE FUCK UP BIOTCH. I HAD 35 DOLLLARS LEFT TO MY NAME AND THE TICKET COST ME $30 AND I STILL HAVE NO COMPLAINTS.AND AS FOR SDMFNY YOU OR YOUR GAY LOVER PROBABLY WROTE THE REVIEW, IT WAS OBVIOUSLY THAT THE REVEIWER HAD SOME PRECONCEIVED IDEA THAT SINCE THEY HAVE A NEW GUY THEY SUCK. I GUESS YOU ARE STILL PISSED OFF THAT YOUR MOMMY NEVER BREASTFEAD YOU AND THE FACT THAT YOUR(HIS) FATHER TURNED OUT TO BE A PETER-PUFFER.I THINK WE ALL KNOW WHAT SDMFNY STANDS FOR _SOME _DUMB _MOTHER _F@$KER FROM _NEW _YORK
benniken - 5/22/2003 12:46:12 PM jmaone has a point. If you didn't see the show, then you don't really have a valid opinion.
