Rockin’ Out MS – Nov. 16, 2007

     The CASE For MS benefit concert at the Soiled Dove Underground was a great concert on a musical level, but even more was affecting on a spiritual level.  While this reviewer enjoyed the performances, it was the courage of a wheelchair-bound Linda Storey that was at once thrilling and at the same time thought provoking.  We expect our entertainers to be nimble and lithe – not rendered immobile by a debilitating physical malady like Multiple Sclerosis.  Okay, so you have to figure that a performer in that situation would resort to delicate folkie material, right?  Well, not Storey who, with loving help from her daughter Jessica on guitar and duet vocal, tore into some rock and blues looking almost like some 2000’s version of Janis Joplin with a sly grin on her face.

     The evening started off in fine fashion with Josie Quick and Tom Carleno of Perpetual Motion dueting on violin and guitar.  The highlight was an unexpected cover of Steely Dan’s “Josie” which burned.  You may wish to check out their website perpetual-motion.net  for more information about their CDs.

     Next up was Linda & Jessica Storey who had a fine band behind them including the Zelig-like Philip “Fly” McClard on sax who seemingly has played in every important Colorado aggregation.  The man is a treasure and his sax solos wove nicely around Kent Richardson’s lead guitar parts.  While Storey’s voice is not as strong as before MS, the fact is she was still able to muster enough strength to roll through a rocker like “Mount St. Helens Was A-Blowin’” and also melt the audience with a sentiment like “Don’t Let It Stop You”.  Jessica brought back memories of Candy Givens and Zephyr in her visit to “St. James Infirmary”.  When Josie Quick brought her blue violin on for the finale, one hoped that the magical mix of those musicians will get together in a studio sometime.

     The stars of the show were Firefall Acoustic who used this show to trot material from their new Beatles tribute CD – D – Colorado To Liverpool.  Appropriately, the MC was Archer or 99.5 the Mountain who hosts the best Beatles show in America on Sunday mornings from 9 till noon.  Steven Weinmeister, Jock Bartley and Bil Hopkins rolled through a series of excellent faux fab four including “Norwegian Wood” and “Girl”. 

     After a short intermission at which a silent auction was held to raise money for the cause, the three Firefallers returned with electrical instruments and augmented by Bartley’s son Jamey on drums.  Holy crud, kids – with apologies to regular drummer Sandy Ficca, Jamey went after the skins like Keith Moon or something which drove the guys up a notch in intensity.  “Cinderella,” “Mexico” and especially “Strange Way” sounded amazing.  Jamey’s metal-band thrash made for one special night for this reviewer, but the lasting feeling afterwards was curiosity about a debilitating illness that arbitrarily robs people differing degrees of physical strength while keeping their minds intact.

     Linda Storey quit music for a number of years after her illness was diagnosed, returned to be an inspiration to other MS sufferers.  That courage can be inspirational to everyone who faces adversity.  Thanks to she and her daughter along with Guy Errickson and Alison Zellner who give of themselves in CASE For MS.