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The Kat Club!: Source Mississippi
The Kat Club!: House Combinations
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The Kat Club!: Source Mississippi

The Kat Club!: House Combinations

The Kat Club!: los angelenos

1972


Skogie, Blue Freedom
lay out satire and 'jazz'

Reviewed by CHARLES QUIMBY
 

From the myriad of local musical talent, the Walker Art Center plucked two groups for a concert in the Walker Auditorium, obviously chosen for their departure from the play-it-like-record syndrome. The two have been granted the stamp of legitimacy.

Any similarity between the groups is purely syllabic. Skogie and the Flaming Pachucos perform a frenetic brand of rock, Blue Freedom's New Art Transformation play progressive jazz. The one, hilariously engaging. The other, brightly esoteric.

Skogie and company open Sunday late, due to a tardy flight from Rochester. The half-hour wait for drummer Al Galles was quickly rewarded.

Skogie merges the improbable with the obvious, satirizing groups and styles without the heavy handed the antics of  Sha Na Na. Musically eclectic, they most resemble the Mothers of Invention, but with an insanity all their own. Fortunately, Skogie is also technically precise. (Nothing wears out more quickly than a group that uses satire to mask their musical ineptness.)

Most of their material is original and instrumentally rich. The vocals were too often lost in the generally hectic shuffle of sound.

Skogie is sometimes prone to adolescent stage tricks, although most of the time they work. Between the gyrations of Denny Peterson (a Basketball coach's dream turned nightmare) and the ironic deadpan of Mark Goldstein, Rick (Skogie) Moore's stage persona is effectively balanced.

What more can I say? If you are anything less than senile, definitely see Skogie!

Unfortunately, most of last night's audience was too steeped in Skogie and the Flaming Pachucos to appreciate Blue Freedom. The crowd steadily dwindled down to a large handful….