Living Colour ~ Sept. 26, 2009 ~ Berbati’s Pan, Portland, OR

Words and Photos by Joe Koch

Living Colour defined themselves in the late‘80s as a unique band with lyrical content that covered religion, politics and the fight for social equality. Their songwriting style varied, as they possessed many different musical influences combining metal, funk, jazz, soul and pop. They are definitely a band that’s not afraid to explore music with an open mind.

It’s been 21 years since Mick Jagger discovered this Big Apple band playing at CBGBs. After break-ups and miscellaneous solo projects, they are back with a fresh-sounding new album, The Chair in the Doorway. With a new album comes a tour to support it. I recently caught the band in Portland, Ore.

Berbati’s Pan was a small venue with an even smaller stage, but the place was packed. People crammed the stage waiting for the four original members — Corey Glover (vocals,) Vernon Reid (guitars,) Doug Wimbish (bass) and Will Calhoun (drums).

Will came out and got behind his drum kit, getting himself comfortable as he waited for his bandmates. Doug came out and high-fived everyone in the front row. Vernon was greeted with screams as he grabbed his guitar and waited for Corey to round out the lineup.

They opened the set with “Middle Man” and “Desperate People,” both from their 1988 release Vivid. The mix sounded a little rough at first. But it progressively improved, and by the sixth song, “Bi,” the sound was dead-on and the crowd was right there with them as they answered Corey’s call to participate in the chorus, singing “Everybody, Everybody!”

Early in the set Doug decided to initiate his birthday celebration by walking into the crowd and giving them a personal show — standing in the middle of his fans.

After “Bi” Corey introduced Will as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. He then thrilled the audience with a drum solo.

As expected with any band that is promoting a new album, Living Colour’s show had a lot of new material. If you didn’t own The Chair in the Doorway, then you were unfamiliar with about nine songs as they filled most of the middle of the set with new material like “Behind the Sun,” “Decadance,” “Bless Those” and “Burned Bridges.”

“Glamour Boys” re-energized the crowd as they bounced on their feet, screaming for more. It was like the show started all over. But, the end was nearing as they played a couple more songs before they reached the climactic song that put them on the map, “Cult of Personality.”

They left the stage and reappeared for an encore performance of the 1990 funky-soulful hit “Love Rears Its Ugly Head,” another song that allowed each member to shine their talents.

For more info go to: www.livingcolour.com