Montrose
BB Kings
New York City, New York
October 14, 2011
Tony Pijar

Ronnie Montrose, after a long absence, is back and rocking harder than ever before. A few years ago, Ronnie experienced a potentially life-threatening affliction, but has made it through unscathed and with renewed vigor. And that vitality was clearly evident at BB Kings as Ronnie and his band blew out the house!
Of course, we all know of Ronnie’s illustrious and diverse past working with the likes of Van Morrison, Boz Scaggs and Edgar Winter before heading out on his own and creating one of rock’s enduring and eternally influential masterpieces with the debut Montrose album back in 1973 with a fresh-faced Sammy Hagar on vocals. While releasing some 18 studio albums between Montrose the band and Gamma, Ronnie stuck close to the vest airing most of that debut. Opening with the riotous “Rock the Nation”, it was no looking back. Just to hear that infamous riff pumping out of the PA made the hairs on the back of my neck stand erect! How’s this for a set list: “Space Station #5,” “I don’t want it”, “Make it last”, “Rock Candy”, with ‘that’ drum beat that has inspired countless drummers over the years, “I got the Fire”, “Spaceage Sacrifice”, and “Twenty Flight Rock”. We even got a taste of the excellent Gamma through “Voyager”. It’s a shame that not more was plucked from the Gamma catalogue – a truly great band.
It was magical listening to a legend play his compositions, many of which have inspired scores of artists across the musical spectrum. Welcome back Ronnie!