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FEAST OF FRIENDS

By SARAH QUELLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer

SAN FRANCISCO — Before the concert began, the crowd packed inside the Fillmore Thursday night was buzzing with the anticipation of witnessing a special moment in history. This was the closest many would get to the experience of seeing the Doors live at the Fillmore. Soon Riders on the Storm, a rebuilt version of the Doors, driven by founding keyboardist Ray Manzarek and founding guitarist Robby Krieger, would set foot on a stage they first graced in 1967 when the Doors opened for the Young Rascals and Sopwith Camel.

The dramatic opening of "Carmina Burana" filled the illustrious San Francisco hall and the air was thick with THC as the band made its entrance and proceeded to play for more than two hours to a sold-out crowd filled with representatives from the Haight-Ashbury generation who were there from the beginning and younger fans from the generations since who have been affected by the music of the Doors.

To fill the role of their iconic frontman Jim Morrison, who died in 1971 at the age of 27, Manzarek and Krieger recruited Ian Astbury, leader of British hard rock band the Cult. Fans of the Cult will attest that Astbury has always had a Jim Morrison vibe, and his vocals and stage presence do well to recreate the effect of watching the Lizard King in action. At the Fillmore, he appeared in dark shades and a buttoned-up military-style jacket shaking maracas and wielding a tambourine, which only furthered the illusion.

After launching its set with "Break on Through (To the Other Side)," Astbury told the crowd, "If you thought this was going to be a nice oldies show, wake up!"

While the songs were more than 30 years old, they didn’t sound tired and, though Astbury was capable of stealing the spotlight, he clearly respected his place in the band. During "Love Me Two Times," he stood back in the shadows while Manzarek and Krieger jammed together, trading back and forth with the ease and joy of decades of experience. Watching the two of them onstage makes one wonder if they feel as young as they did in the ’60s when they’re playing this music. Throughout the night, they indulged in long, drawn out sequences that transported listeners to another time and place.

At the end of the song, Manzarek, who was beaming all night, waved, nodded in appreciation and blew kisses to the crowd. "It sure is good to be back here," the Napa Valley resident said with a smile looking out at all the Bay Area faces.

While honoring Morrison’s poetic legacy, Astbury wasn’t afraid to ad lib a little during the songs. His comments gave an even greater sense of spontaneity to the set as he touched on current issues: "We’ve got some friends inside (like Tookie Williams)," he growled angrily during "When the Music’s Over," referring to the Crips founder executed at San Quentin this week.

Manzarek also used the stage as a platform for his political views. Criticizing the destruction of the environment, the inadequate response to Hurricane Katrina and the war in Iraq, he dedicated "Five to One," to "all the fascists in power."

Still, he kept spirits high. When Astbury began chanting "Ray for President!" Manzarek made the crowd laugh, saying he’d be a terrible president because his agenda would focus on getting high, eating good food, making love and playing music.

The band took a short breather for introductions that included drummer Ty Dennis and bassist Phil Chen. Manzarek then called out a request for a pint or two of Newcastle Brown Ale before ripping into the jaunty "Alabama Song (Whisky Bar)" followed by the sly "Back Door Man."

By this time, Astbury had shed the shades and the formal coat to reveal a T-shirt that read Andy Warhol Films, Inc. He seemed to be feeling the magic of the night. He invoked some of Morrison’s moves and, during "Peace Frog," it looked as though he was dancing at a sacred ceremony around an invisible fire.

Before introducing the one new song they did, a piece entitled "Eagle in the Whirlpool," with lyrics by celebrated poet and playwright Michael McClure, Manzarek brought his brother Rick (from Rick and the Ravens, Manzarek’s first band) onstage for a brief guest appearance. There’s no telling what other luminaries from that era were in the building.

The band dedicated "The Crystal Ship" to Fillmore founder Bill Graham. The trio of Manzarek, Krieger and Astbury played an especially pretty version that sounded like a music box twinkling with Manzarek’s keys and Krieger’s dulcet strings.

Next, they’d perform "People Are Strange," a song forever linked to Santa Cruz through "The Lost Boys" that serves as the perfect anthem for a town that likes to keep things weird.

"We’d like to thank Bill Graham. God bless you man," Manzarek said, before honoring a long list of people he’s lost, from Jim Morrison to John Bonham.

Everyone left the stage to give Krieger the floor for his flamenco solo which rolled into the exotic "Spanish Caravan."

During "Touch Me," a song penned by Krieger, Astbury apparently lost his place to the amusement of his bandmates, who laughed about it and started again. Manzarek, who frequently participated vocally, yelled the song’s abrupt last line, "stronger than dirt," which Morrison lifted from an Ajax commercial that was popular at the time of the song’s recording.

Things got heated with "L.A. Woman," and Astbury announced, "This is for Jim," before diving into the "Mr. Mojo Risin’" section of the song, an anagram of Morrison that became one of his many aliases.

The band took a bow and exited the stage before returning for the first of three encores.

"God bless you guys. Wow!" Manzarek said, seating himself again at his keyboard for "Light My Fire."

Partway through the song Astbury took his leave, disappearing into the wings while the band jammed. Manzarek played with his right foot, his elbows and his hands slapping flat against the keys. Krieger followed that performance by stepping to the front of the stage for his own scorching solo that injected "My Favorite Things" (from "The Sound of Music") into the song.

The band returned again for a second encore of the dark and dusty "Riders on the Storm." By the third, Manzarek good-naturedly told his enthusiastic fans that they’d do one more and then everyone was going home. The group closed out the night with "Soul Kitchen," leaving the crowd satisfied and buzzing as loudly on the way out as it was on the way in.

(thanks, yeradaisy)

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