Quicksilver Messenger Service
B.B. King Blues Club & Grill, New York, NY

I attended this show expecting Quicksilver Messenger Service to revive their legendary sets of 40 years ago, when they were known as one of the best live bands to ever hit the planet. What I got was a mellow, laid back evening of fine music by terrific talents. The two original members of the band, Gary Duncan on guitar and vocals and David Freiberg on acoustic guitar and vocals, haven't lost an inch of their chops over the years. The additions to the band, Chris Smith on keys, Jeff Pevar on bass, Donny Baldwin on drums and Linda Imperial on vocals, complemented the evening in fine style. Even though the days of 25-minute versions of "Who Do You Love" are long gone, the band presented a solid set of fine music that quickly caught the attention of the house. The mood was set right out of the gate with "Fresh Air," which was followed by "Close Enough For Jazz," with Latin licks that brought Carlos Santana to mind. The rest of the set didn't disappoint. Some of the standout songs were "Pride of Man" and "Gypsy Lights." No gig by QMS would work without at least one homage to Bo Diddley, and that was taken care of in royal style with a shattering version of "Mona" that brought the room to its feet and kept it there for the closing numbers. If the opportunity arises, catch this band in its present form for an evening of fine music.—Ronnie K.