Oh, Yeah? (Killing Floor KF 98018/19)
Festival Hall, Melbourne, AU – February 1st, 1977
Disc 1 (55:11): Opening Jam, Steve Kindler Jam#1, Steve Kindler Jam#2, Earth (Still Our Only Home), Drums Solo, Oh Yeah?, Darkness – Earth In Search Of A Sun, You Know What I Mean, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat
Disc 2 (50:50): Head For Backstage Pass, She’s A Woman, AIR Blower, Scatterbrain, Freeway Jam, Diamond Dust, Blue Wind, Led Boots
Jeff Beck’s initial association with Jan Hammer ended with several dates in Australia in February 1977, about a month before the release of Jeff Beck with the Jan Hammer Group Live. The February 7th show in Brisbane has two silver releases, but the Melbourne show on February 1st has only Oh Yeah? on Killing Floor.
The tape used by Killing Floor is a bit distant but clear enough to be enjoyed. There are little cuts between some songs and one in “You Know What I Mean.” But it is a rare tape from a poorly documented time in Jeff Beck’s live career.
It is also one of the strangest Jeff Beck concerts. It’s a good twenty minutes before he comes onstage. Violinist Steve Kindler entertains the audience with long, haunting and surreal melodies before they play “Earth (Still Our Only Home).” There is a lengthy drum solo before “Oh Yeah?”
Beck finally comes onstage for “Darkness – Earth In Search Of A Sun.” But, even though he’s onstage, he doesn’t take over as he does in other shows and lets the other musicians take the lead. Kindler takes control of a rather limp “Goodbye Pork Pie Hat” for example. They continue with their experimenting with a reggae arrangement of “She’s A Woman.”
The show ends with “Blue Wind,” complete with “Train Kept A Rollin'” reference, and “Led Boots” as the encore. The show is bizarre enough to keep your interest and Oh Yeah? is one of the essential Jeff Beck releases to have in the collection.
