Some randumb comments...
The last time I saw Marshall Tucker was the early 90s at the Texas State Fair. Of course, Tommy Caldwell died many years ago, though Toy was still alive, but infamous for his heavy whiskey drinking, so he wasn't with them either. The subsitute guitarist was actually pretty good at imitating Toy's work, but Doug Gray lost his voice years ago, as have many rock singers, from too many years of smoking, drinking, carousing, and screaming.
I think I'm about done going to concerts of old rockers. The experience has been mixed for many years now anyway, but here's my take: many old bands are touring on name alone. Members have quit, expired, are in rehab, or, for that matter have lost theirs voices and/or forgot to practice before touring, and their chops are gone.
Some, like the last time I saw the Eagles, were tight musically, but Glenn Frey's voice was almost gone, and rather than let Tim Schmidt sing "Take It To The Limit" (Randy Meisner sang it originally), he just had to sing it himself, moving away from the mike so we couldn't hear the squeaks on the high notes. Even Don Henley had some trouble, and they dropped the key on a couple of his songs, which most people don't notice, but I do, since I play some Eagles songs on guitar, and my ear hears the difference...
For that matter, Elton John is now a baritone, and not a tenor, and though he's still a good singer, voice-wise, it never sounds right to my ear to hear a song dropped one or two whole notes...
The last time I saw Jethro Tull, the band was musically still very good, but Ian Anderson has about a half octave range at this point.
I guess it's discouraging to see these old bands living on reputation only. At least if they've obviously rehearsed, and taken into account their lousy vocals, I'm "okay" with it, but if they're just touring to pay their whiskey bills, and didn't really bother to practice first, well they could have just stayed home.
Now, I suppose many concert goers don't really notice all that, but my ear hears it, and I'd rather remember them at their heyday. I've still seen some good concerts of the old groups, but it's getting fewer and farther between. Even Carlos Santana, one of my favorite players since way back when, seems to rely on a few "signature" licks. The last time I saw him, I was disappointed in his playing... Jeff Beck, the opening act that night, was f-n awesome. No loss of chops there!
Plus, I've seen nearly everyone I've wanted to see, and my attention span is about two hours max these days.
