Dominance & Submission

Blue Öyster Cult 
Slim's, San Francisco
February 1, 2014

Long story short, I saw Blue Öyster Cult for the first time since 1994.  It was a good show.. They opened with 'This Ain't The Summer Of Love' into 'The Golden Age Of Leather' which I took to be a homage to San Francisco since Slim's is located in SoMa (aka The Leather Daddy 'Hood of S.F.).  The band's catalog from 1972-81 is pretty sacred to me and B.Ö.C. were the first concert I ever saw in 1979 so I'll always have a soft white underbelly for them... but part of me was bummed that it was only 2/5 of the original lineup.  As good as Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma can still be, tonight only reminded me and magnified how essential Allen Lanier (R.I.P.) and the Bouchard Brothers were to the magic of the original band.  

[Pic courtesy of Sensory Abuse]

I was impressed they played 'Burnin' For You' as the 3rd song of the set and got their biggest hit out of the way early... but I was bummed by the semi-drunk guy standing next to me who danced like it was 1981 again... and he was wearing a sweater at a Rock concert.  Then I was bummed by the middle part of the set that featured crappy songs that I didn't know because they were recorded after 1981.  However, my inner teenage B.Ö.C. fanatic came back to life as the rest of the set steamrolled through 'ME 262' (THE best song about World War II, like, ever... until Maiden did 'Aces High'..), 'Then Came The Last Days of May', 'Career of Evil', 'Godzilla', 'Don't Fear The Reaper'... and then encored with 'Hot Rails To Hell' and 'Cities On Flames with Rock & Roll'.  A tight ending but I was left disappointed because they didn't play my favorite song 'Astronomy'... and I must also admit it wasn't the same without Buck Dharma wearing a leisure suit onstage... or the arena stage laser light show... or the 5 guitar jam... or Bloom riding his Harley out during 'Born To Be Wild'.  Anyway... I still had a good time and a couple of beers.

At this point in Umlaut's life, it's a double-edged sword going to see my original Rock heroes because it's a profound reality check.  When I saw Blue Öyster Cult in the 70's and early 80's in stadiums in front of 50,000 people they seemed larger than life.  Fast forward to the 21st Century and it's sobering seeing Blue Öyster Cult headline a 3/4 full club with as many people as who were probably standing in line to take a piss during their set at those long ago stadium shows.   Hope I die before I get old. 

 The 2nd time Umlaut saw B.Ö.C. - 1980

If you bought one of every Blue Öyster Cult merch item you would have paid $60.  On the way back to the car, some pimply-faced teenagers called us fags.  I still love B.Ö.C. long time.. and then 5 days later was another reality check that was altogether different.  Stay tuned..

"It's been ten years.. Half my life.."

Hot Rails To Hell

Well, Umlaut is at that age... actually I have been for awhile.. when the heroes of my youth are moving on to the next plane of existence regularly.  There have been too many to mention, but this year saw an original member of Slayer passing on in May.  This week saw the passing of Allen Lanier, a founding member of Blue Öyster Cult, whose first 8 albums are still sacred to me.   B.Ö.C. also headlined the first concert I ever attended...

[From the Umlaut Archives]

They were also the first band with an umlaut in their name to became part of my record collection.

Lanier and Patti Smith were a couple in the 70's as she was becoming the Punk Laurette of New York;  Patti even co-wrote some songs with B.Ö.C. including 'Career Of Evil.  Most people don't seem to know (or care) about B.Ö.C.'s connection with the 70's NYC Punk Scene.. but my mind is still blown away by that connection. Everyone is going to quote or play 'Don't Fear The Reaper' in honor of Lanier... but I'm going to play this song:


A decade (!) ago I started working at an audio production company in Marin County.  On my first day I was being introduced to the staff when we came to the office of the guy in charge of the Tech Department.  He was several years older than me and as we chatted I noticed that the wall behind his desk was covered with Blue Öyster Cult memorabilia and photos.  Needless to say, I became very distracted... Of course, we became friends and it turned out that he was originally from Long Island, New York and had known B.Ö.C. since their earliest days and was still friends with them.  Mind blowing.  I wish I was still in touch with that guy.

Anyway, Allen Lanier and his band will forever be associated with the Salad Days of my Music Geek existence.  B.Ö.C. are a band that changed my life with their dark and intelligent brand of Rock; Metallica even recorded a great cover version of their epic song 'Astronomy'.  I was fortunate to have seen B.Ö.C. around a half dozen times in the days before Iron Maiden and Motörhead sent me down another path in 1981... and their early music still completely resonates for me here in the 21st Century.

Rest in Peace Mr. Lanier... and also rest in peace the art of album cover design:

On Your Feet Or On Your Knees

Maybe someday the version of 'Hot Rails To Hell' recorded by Wino with the Saviours will see the light of day... I hope.