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Like most people I got to know Living Colour through their big hit in the early 90s ‘Love Reares Its Ugly Head‘ and I thought it was brilliant. They score a couple of more hits but then broke up. I kind of forgot about them until I bought ‘Times Up‘ somewhere on sale and started playing ‘Love Reares…’ with bands and later on the amazing ‘Cult Of Personality‘ as well. When they reunited and started touring I intended to go see them whenever I got the chance. That didn’t happen until recently. So  I headed to Paradiso in anticipation of what would come. And I wasn’t disappointed at all.

Living Colour at Paradiso Amsterdam, 1 November 2008 (ronald says 5 out of 5)

The four members of the band are looking a bit older and singer Corey Glover also put on a bit of weight. But from the first notes they play it’s clear that nowadays they even rock harder. The fat grooves are funky and edgy like always and Glover’s voice is clear and powerful. They have always been a creative band so they also have plenty of electronics hooked up on stage to include weird effects in their songs. They play all their big hits including the previously mentioned two songs, ‘Elvis Is Dead’ and ‘The Glamour Boys’ that I always found a bit out of place. The boys seem to feel comfortable and the crowd responds very well. A typical 90s rock crowd: most of ‘em guys late in their 30s like me. But that doesn’t keep them from forming a small pit in front of the stage.

As you can expect from brilliant musicians like these guys they all get their solo’s. Amazing to see what bass player Doug Wimbish magically produces from his bass guitar. Using all kinds of effects he plays an impressive solo that almost sounds like an ordinary electric guitar followed by one that’s filled with spacy and crazy sounds. The incredible drum player Will Calhoun gets plenty of time to show his skills in a long drum solo. Although some of it is a bit too technical for most people to enjoy parts of the solo are very fine grooves and the last bit in the dark with colourful light drum sticks is a lot of fun to watch. By that time they have already won everyone over. Glover decides to become more intimate with the audience and climbs the balcony, runs through the crowd, sits next to them while shouting “What’s your favourite colour!?”. All we can answer is “Living Colour!”.