I\'m A Badass Caption: I can haz links, style or anything that is valid markup :)

Concerts: The Yardbirds On Tour This May

Posted on Tuesday, May 11 @ 21:30:00 UTC by nightowl

While the Yardbirds weren't progressive rock exactly, I (PW ed.) think there were elements in their sound that have made our mention of them off and on not something totally off the mark. Thus...: The Yardbirds will be playing East Coast and Ohio dates this May. A true institution, in the brief period from 1963 to 1968, The Yardbirds made an indelible mark on the music and culture of the time, and then on future generations.

To the casual music fan, The Yardbirds are best known as the band that honed the skills of future ?guitar gods? Eric Clapton, Jeff Beck and Jimmy Page; and for their slew of chart hits, including ?For Your Love,? ?Heart Full Of Soul,? "Shapes Of Things," ?I'm A Man,? and ?Over Under Sideways Down.? However, led by core members and songwriters Jim McCarty (drums), Chris Dreja (rhythm guitar/bass) and the late Keith Relf (vocals/harmonica), the band's experimental explorations also provided the crucial link between British R&B, Psychedelic Rock, and Heavy Metal, while pioneering the use of innovations like fuzz tone, feedback and distortion. Even their 1968 break-up set the stage for Rock 'n' Roll's future ? leading Jimmy Page to form the New Yardbirds, later re-christened Led Zeppelin.



Reuniting decades later, McCarty and Dreja with a new generations of talented players including the raw talents of young lead guitarist Ben King, bassist Dave Smale, and vocalist/harmonica player Andy Mitchell, the group has been steadily touring and making new music.

The Yardbirds' 2003 CD, Birdland on Steve Vai's Favored Nations label featured guest appearances from Vai, and friends Brian May, Joe Satriani, and Slash.

In 2007 Favored Nations released the Yardbirds: Live At BB King's, again showing the power of the band, and its legacy of great songs.

This season, The Yardbirds return to the States under the leadership purposeful and insightful Dreja and McCarty and the future music superstars: King, Smale and Mitchell.

May 21: Parilla Center, Rockville, MD
May 22: Chesapeake Blues Fest, Annapolis, MD
May 23: Tangiers, Akron, OH
May 25: Sellersville Theatre, Sellersville, PA
May 26: BB Kings, New York, NY
May 27: Boulton Center, Bay Shore, NY
May 28: Showcase Live, Foxborough, MA
May 30: Remember The Music/Heroes, Virginia Beach, VA

[Source: Leighton Media (aside from disclaimer, of course)]

Posted in Band News (tours, comings/goings, etc)