Spencer Davis may not suffer from stage fright, but he is “the man.”
Davis, 73, has been nursing a laundry list of physical ailments of late that might send a weaker man to his bed. That did not stop the icon of ’60s classic blues-based rock who has made Avalon his home for many years. He appeared undaunted recently as he took to the stage at this year’ s NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in Anaheim.
Spencer Davis may not suffer from stage fright, but he is “the man.”
Davis, 73, has been nursing a laundry list of physical ailments of late that might send a weaker man to his bed. That did not stop the icon of ’60s classic blues-based rock who has made Avalon his home for many years. He appeared undaunted recently as he took to the stage at this year’ s NAMM (National Association of Music Merchants) show in Anaheim.
In fact Davis performed “I’m A Man,” one of his hit songs from his salad days with the original Spencer Davis Group. This time he was playing with the Legends of Rock, a band of musicians cobbled together for the music industry manufactures’ biggest trade show on the planet.
Davis traveled to the mainland for the show with fellow musician, Avalon’s Vern Altieri, who Davis describes as the man who has done more than anyone else to keep Avalon’s eclectic music scene alive.
They were on a mission.
For some time, Davis and his music has helped inspire the Avalon music scene, which like much of the great music of classic rock is based on the blues. He has helped produce some of Avalon’s blues festivals and participated in various musical lineups that form the basis of what has come to be known mostly as the Catalina All Stars. The music they produced live on the Island was always good, sometimes great, but something was missing.
That something was a Hammond XK3 organ.
People who love blues-based, 60s classic rock have heard the wailing strains of the Hammond organ distinctively portrayed on the intro to the Spencer Davis Group’s ultimate “monster hit” “Gimme Some Lovin.”
According to Altieri, they have also heard it on many of the great classic rock artists’ works from bands such as Mountain to Santana. Without the Hammond organ, Davis and Altieri agree, rock’s golden era of classic rock would never have been the same.
Davis has been an endorsee of Hammond for some time and through his connections and with Altieri’s help, the are bringing one to the Island that is intended to enhance the local music scene and bring an authentic sound to the bands who perform classic rock around Avalon.
According to Davis and Altieri, most of the bands that perform regularly around Avalon are taking a break this year, after performing nearly year-round for many years. It’s the winter and they are taking the time to re-group and sharpen their musical chops.
“We need to learn new material,” Altieri said. “We want to start again with something fresh.”
Altieri said that the good times and the good music would start to roll again in Avalon some time in March. From then it will build into what will become the 2013 summer season of live music in Avalon with the local bands as well as the free, summertime concerts on the Wrigley Stage on Crescent Avenue put on by Xceptional Music.
For what its worth, much of the classic rock on the Island will have an authentic sound that will be hard to come by anywhere else, except in collections of vintage, classic rock recordings.
Meanwhile, other Island musicians and promoters also attended the NAMM event in Anaheim last week.
According to Altieri, Jim Amoroso of the Glenmore Hotel and Catalina Concerts was scouting out new music industry equipment that might help out the Island entertainment offerings. Amoroso has produced concerts such as “Beatlemania” in the
Casino building.
The NAMM Show is one of the two largest music product trade shows in the world, founded in 1901. It is held every January in Anaheim, California, USA, at the Anaheim Convention Center. Its European counterpart is the Musik Messe in Frankfurt. The 2013 NAMM Show was held from Thursday, Jan. 24 to Sunday, Jan. 27, 2013, and the 2014 NAMM Show will be held from Thursday, Jan. 23 to Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014.
NAMM is a trade-only business show catering to domestic and international dealers and distributors, and the product exhibits are an integral part of the show, allowing the dealers and distributors to see what’s new, negotiate deals and plan their purchasing for the next six to 12 months. Only employees of the exhibiting manufacturers and/or NAMM member retailers and distributors are allowed to attend, along with credentialed members of the press. Exhibitors are allotted a specific number of badges based on the square footage of their booth, after which a $25 fee per badge is assessed. Dealers are allowed a certain number of badges based on different criteria.
The acronym NAMM originally stood for the National Association of Music Merchants, but has evolved from a national entity representing the interests of music products retailers to an international association including commercial, reseller members, affiliates and manufacturers.
