Vanilla Fudge and The Lizards live at Bodle’s

Bodle’s Opera House, Orange County’s premier music venue, hosted 60’s rock legends The Vanilla Fudge and The Lizards, on Friday, July 26.

The Lizards opened the show with their retro late 60’s/early 70’s funky, progressive, heavy rock, a change from the sometimes sedate musical offerings presented at Bodle’s. With lead singer John Garner out front, The Lizards offered up cuts from their debut CD, as well as their second as-yet unreleased disc. Their music bears a strong resemblance to that of bands like Captain Beyond, Blue Cheer, Cactus and Spooky Tooth and it quickly won favor with the audience and this writer alike. The Lizards will be appearing at Bodle’s again in January, opening for Savoy Brown.

Their CD, simply titled The Lizards, contains tracks like “Something Higher,” “Sing For Me,” “The Rodeo” and the spooky “Under The City,” with its sinister spoken lyrics and menacing guitar playing. Hard rock fans take notice. Besides Garner, The Lizards includes guitarist Patrick Klein, bassist Randy Pratt and newcomer Bobby Rondinelli on drums.

For more information on The Lizards and to order a copy of their CD, visit www.thelizardswebsite.com.

When Vanilla Fudge burst upon the scene in 1967 with their dramatic, slowed-down version of The Supremes “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” a few critics lambasted them as bombastic. Little did they realize The Fudge, all of whom hailed from the New York City metropolitan area, were one of the first to combine classical, R&B and heavy rock styles. They initially based their approach around that of The Young Rascals, with the dominant Hammond B3 organ, but quickly developed their own style, which scored them a solid hit with the aforementioned Supremes tune and Jr. Walker & The All-Stars’ “Shotgun.” With success and five albums to their credit, The Fudge split up in 1970, a victim of internal conflict and record company politics. They released a one-off album in the late 80’s that tanked, but today, with keyboardist Bill Pascali replacing founding member Mark Stein, The Fudge have come roaring back with a sound that echoes their earlier days, but with a modern edge.

Included in The Fudge’s set were classics “Take Me For A Little While,” “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” “Season Of The Witch,” the soulful “People Get Ready,” “Shotgun,” and a couple surprises, including a rearranged version of N’Sync’s “Tearin’ Up My Heart” and The Beatles’ “You Can’t Do That.” Guitarist Vince Martell’s torturous whammy bar licks on “Season Of The Witch” were impressive and Carmine Appice, an extremely influential drummer, took the lead vocal on “Do You Think I’m Sexy?” the hit he co-wrote with Rod Stewart. Bill Pascali’s passionate vocals, dynamic organ work and showmanship proved he is an ideal replacement for the departed Mark Stein, who now works in the computer software industry. Bassist T.M. Stevens, who is temporarily subbing for ailing original member Tim Bogert, brought audience members onstage for vocal help on a medley of Sly & The Family Stone material. It was an electrifying performance from a 60’s band that is clearly at the top of their musical game right now, both instrumentally and vocally. Sometimes, when bands reform, the results are less than spectacular, but that’s certainly not the case with these guys, most of who are in their mid-50’s. The Fudge was also selling their excellent new CD, which contains re-recorded versions of old material and new songs. I’ve been listening to it daily ever since, while checking out their web site, www.thefudge.com. Order a copy and experience a revitalized, legendary rock band reborn.

Bodle’s Opera House in Chester, NY has always been a wonderful place to catch live music, with its cozy, intimate ambience, tasty food and reasonable prices. Bodle’s presents a varied and eclectic musical format in a smoke-free environment. For a complete rundown of Bodle’s schedule call 845/469-4595, or visit their web site, www.bodles.com.