Bo Bice (c) is the new lead singer for the iconic band Blood, Sweat and Tears, who performed July 29 at Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa.
Chesapeake Beach, MD — Next year it will have been 50 years that there’s been a band called “Blood Sweat and Tears.” Through many iterations, the group has remained constant to its originating sound–an eight-piece band with lead vocalist. They, like perhaps the more famous group Chicago, made popular what is known as “Jazz Rock,” fusing influences from rock, blues, pop, horn arrangements and of course jazz improvisation.
None of the original members are with the touring group today, but they are still as strong as ever as witnessed by a rousing performance Friday night, July 29 for the Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa’s Rock the Dock summer concert series.
Blood, Sweat and Tears most prominent period was in the late 60’s after lead singer David Clayton Thomas replaced founding member Al Kooper. The highly-popular album “Blood, Sweat and Tears,” released in 1969, spawned three hits which all reached Number 2 on the Billboard charts: “You Made Me So Very Happy,” “Spinning Wheel,” and “And When I Die.” The only other single to crack to Top 20 was “Hi—De–Ho,” at Number 14 in 1970. That was penned by Carole King, whose grandson is now a member of the band.
Blood, Sweat and Tears’ new lead singer, Bo Bice, is pushing the band back into prominence again. Bice was the runner-up in American Idol’s fourth season. He lost to one of country’s biggest current performers–Carrie Underwood.
Bice brings to the band the hard-charging vocal style necessary to complement an eight-piece group. And he provides personality and entertainment to the band’s routine. For instance, noting the upcoming 50th anniversary, Bice quipped, “I look great for my age.”
Bice expressed pleasure in being with a group which he called “one of the iconic horn bands of all times.”
For the Chesapeake Beach performance, the band opened with a rollicking rendition of “Evil Woman Child.” They then played “Hi-De- Ho” and asked the crowd to guess who the writer was (which they did). Throughout the evening the individual talents of the various band members, and the horn section were spotlighted.
Along the way Bice gave a trivia question whose answer this reviewer had not heard–the origin of the band’s name. He said the original band had a gig and lacked a name. Some records were on the floor of the club and one of them was an album by Johnny Cash called “Blood, Sweat and Tears.” They picked it and the rest is history.
As could be expected, the band towards the end of their set played the three hit songs that the David Clayton Thomas=led group made famous. Bice performed “Spinning Wheel” as one of the songs in his American Idol performance. The closing number was “I’m Your Vehicle,” originally performed by one-hit wonder “Ides of March.”
During the performance Bice praised the enthusiastic fans who attended the concert and also praised the beach-front venue, which brings quality entertainment all summer long to Southern Maryland.
The opening act for Blood, Sweat and Tears was Joe Martone and his friend Rick.
Coming up in the Rock the Dock series.
• Keith Sweat, August 3
• Who’s Bad – Michael Jackson Tribute, August 4
• Ronnie Milsap, August 5
• John Luskey, August 6
• The Groove Spot and Show, August 7
For more information on upcoming shows and to purchase tickets go to http://www.chesapeakebeachresortspa.com/event-calendar-en.html
Contact Dick Myers at dick.myers@thebaynet.com
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