Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush

Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush – Live at the Cleveland Agora – DVD Shoot 12/11/10

It’s going to be hard to describe what happened here today but I’ll give it a shot. Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush started at around 2:30pm Saturday the 11^th of  December and stopped somewhere around 1:00am Sunday morning December 12^th with two breaks of about an hour each in this time slot. They started things out with ‘A New Rock N Roll’ off of Child Of The Novelty (1974), a song I had never seen Frank play live in person, and I’ve seen him on MANY occasions. They went through a Hendrix set which included ‘Are You Experienced’, ‘Axis Bold As Love’ and ‘The Wind Cries Mary’. His version of ‘The Answer’ from Mahogany Rush IV (1976) was the best I’ve ever heard him play it.  Frank went through his whole career this day, from 1973 to today. When the first set was over, I thought, “how is he going to top that?” The second set was even better, playing cuts I think no one ever thought they’d hear Frank play live. ‘Tryin’ Anyway’ from Strange Universe (1975) leading into ‘Go Strange’ from The Power Of Rock N Roll (1981) was a big highlight for me. I’ll make this statement right now, Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush are more progressive than just about any band that flies that banner. Mixing jazz, rock, blues in a blender from Mars with complex passages and time signatures flawlessly executed with twists and turns that keep you hanging on to your seat. Again, when the second set was over, I thought, “no way can those first two sets be topped, plus, he’s got to be running out of steam by now.” Keep in mind, most bands doing concerts play an average of 1 hour and 15 minutes…an hour and a half at the most. Well, Frank’s third set was so intense and on fire, they could’ve combined all the Fire Department’s in Ohio to try and extinguish Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush and would not have been able to. This set included some of Frank’s epic pieces including, ‘Strange Universe’ (’75), ‘He’s Calling’ from Eye Of The Storm (2000), ‘Something’s Comin’ Our Way’ from ‘What’s Next’ (’80) and Dave Goode still had the energy to throw in a very intense drum solo.  For those who are familiar with Frank, most of his material aren’t short songs, especially live. For those unlucky people who missed this unbelievable event there is a movie being made so you can witness this. Not just a concert DVD, a movie! I have never in my life witnessed anything like this and I doubt highly anyone will ever attempt something like this in the future. When the DVD comes out grab it. Frank Marino & Mahogany Rush will blow your mind!

Setlist:

New Rock-n-Roll
All In Your Mind
Child of the Novelty
I'm Going Away
Buddy
Are You Experienced
Axis Bold as Love
Wind Cries Mary
Red House
The Answer

Dragon Fly
Change of (S)pace

<<End of Set One>>

Long Ago
Requiem For A Sinner

In My Way
It's Begun To Rain

Strange Dreams

Rise Above
Emperor IV
You Got Livin

Finish Line
Midnight Highway
Maybe It's Time
Tryin Anyway
Go Strange

<<End of Set Two>>


Poppy 

She's Not There,
Crossroads
Poppy Return.
Stories of Hero
Something's Coming Our Way
He's Calling
Strange Universe
Blue House in A Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame
- Electric Reflections
- Aftermath (Little Town/Sky Symphony)
Try For Freedom
Amazing Grace