For an old English guy who looks like he could have been an extra in "Spinal Tap" and hardly uttered a word during his entire performance, Jeff Beck rocks, plain and simple.
He didn't have to say anything -- his guitar did all the talking.From the beginning, Beck made it clear what kind of concert it was going to be. No introductions, no chatting with the audience about how glad he was to be there -- not even the somewhat requisite pun on Utah's predominant religion. Instead, he launched into a barrage of songs off his latest album, "Who Else!," and forced the audience to draw its own conclusions.
A packed Kingsbury Hall was treated to tunes like "Space for the Papa," "What Mama Said" and "Brush With the Blues." He did so effortlessly, along with band members Jennifer Batten (guitar), Steve Alexander (drums) and Randy Hope-Taylor (bass).
Speaking of Beck's band, Batten should have received just as much recognition as her more well-known counterpart. Plainly put, the tickets to the concert should have read, "The Beck-Batten Concert." She was amazing, playing with such ferocity and speed, all Beck could do was offer his best impersonation of "Austin Powers' " Dr. Evil by standing back and placing one pinky in the corner of his mouth. He repeated the action over and over again. The two seemed to be showing off for one another, seeing who could play faster -- every time it ended up a draw.
The night wasn't one that showcased all original material, however. Every blues or rock song Beck executed he made his own -- even when taking on another English Fab Four: The Beatles. Launching into "A Day in the Life" won the quartet shouts of approval from the audience. It started out pretty standard, but, as the song reached psychedelic proportions, the guitar only crunched harder and felt heavier. Even a laser show began on a backdrop behind them.
Beck and crew returned for only one encore, despite numerous standing ovations.
Evil indeed.