Blue Oyster Cult In Concert

Appearing on the 1972 debut album titled Blue Oyster Cult, Cities On Flame With Rock And Roll has always been one of my favorite songs to hear the band play live.

The song sets the tone for the band's reputation as the grandfather of guitar driven Heavy Metal with its heavy sound punctuated by an almost upbeat rhythm.

Okay, I admit that when I heard Blue Oyster Cult was recording a song about the creature that endlessly destroyed Tokyo, I was a little concerned about the band's credibility. But when I heard the song, wow oh wow. This song rocks to no end, and what's more, the band always enjoys playing it. Even when I saw them at some community picnic three years ago, the band was thoroughly having fun with this tune.

One of the first songs I ever listened to by Blue Oyster Cult was their cover of Born To Be Wild as it appeared on their first live album, On Your Feet Or To Your Knees.

On listen to this live album convinced me this was a band that had to be seen in concert. The front man, Eric Bloom, sounded dynamic and the ultra-talented axe man, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roesser, almost seemed to be too good for their, at the time, low profile.

This eerie song about suicide after a former lover's relationship break off is another favorite of mine. The lyrics are fantastic and cover the song's deep themes.

This live version exposes Buc's amazing talent, even after thirty plus years of on the road live shows.

What a way to close a set. Astronomy was first published on the Secret Treaties album in 1974. This album is my favorite of the band's studio releases because of the raw power exhibited in tunes like Me-262 and the melodic sounds in other songs such as Astronomy.

Here, the band makes use of a laser light show, one of the first bands to use a laser, and use it effectively. You can also see good close ups of Buc's fingers as he masterfully works the frets.

After a hugely popular string of albums, Blue Oyster Cult released Mirrors to a lukewarm reception, which caused concern by the band's recording label as well as the band itself.

The band changed producers for this album and a good portion of the songs have an almost 'Pop' sound to them. But, this song, Dr. Music, is a definite rocker.

I have seen Blue Oyster Cult live more times than I can remember (I have an excuse, it WAS the 70's), and I've seen the likes of Eddie Van Halen and David Gilmore live as well, but I maintain that Donald "Buck Dharma" Roesser is second only to Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page as far as talent goes.

Before you start hurling rotten tomatoes at me and tossing catcalls my way, just sit back and watch Buc weave his magic.

Well are you? This song is as upbeat as the question it asks, and when the band performs it live, the crowd is usually loud and ready to rock with the group.

The core members of the group, Eric Bloom, Donald "Buck Dharma" Roesser, and Allen Lanier still tour to this day. The nearly forty years on the road has given the group a tightness that is a joy to watch as they almost effortlessly go through a show anticipating each other in ways that are unbelievable. Polished comes to mind.

The first track on the Agents Of Fortune sets the tone for some of the other tracks on the album as being a high energy rocker with typical Heavy Metal guitar work.

Live, the song is packed with even more high voltage than the studio version could ever be engineered to produce. I know that every time I've heard it live I was on my feet and swaying.

Let's close the show with the most popular song recorded by Blue Oyster Cult, Don't Fear The Reaper.

This song was brought under fire because of accusations that it led to teen suicide. Personally, I think all that is bullsh*t, but this is a live show and no debate on family rearing.

Get your lighters out and hold them high for this classic among classics.