This is the review of a gig that Kasim Sulton played as part of Meat Loaf's band (The Neverland Express) out on a pier in NYC on a cold June evening in aid of a Breast Cancer Charity:
Rock 'n' Roar For a Cure – 5th June 1999
New York City
Well, saw Kasim running about doing his musical director and schmoozing deal (bunch of music people were there, as were some at the Hard Rock show too). Patti, Pearl, Damon and Ray were also spotted musing about too. Kasim had some family there, so I was glad to see that. A lot of the band had family in attendance.
Clothing wise (for the show!), Kasim is still sporting his short hairdo, no facial hair that I noticed :), had on a black jacket (not the leather one) that almost came to his knees in length (the jacket did come off during the show and in fact during the acoustic set, Pearl was so cold in what she was wearing, he ran off stage and got it for her to put on, since she didn't have a jacket on the side--such a sweety!), a maroonish / black long sleeve sweater, and black pants. Will spare you all the details of everyone else's attire!
The show was almost similar to Wednesday's Hard Rock Taping (which was >similar to the UK / Europe tour), it even started late. Started out with Lemon--again to me the past two times had this harder more rocking edge to it (even the backgrounds seemed slightly different), and I'm talking even better then the UK --I seriously think this has to do with the musical director's influence (that would be Kasim :)! ). A musical director, from my understanding figures out which songs will be played (with the help of the artist), and he decides how those certain songs are going to be played out or sound (this is just a SMALL part of ALL that they do), and so Kasim being the somewhat perfectionist that he is, really must have been a stickler to detail and sound especially on Lemon. Yes, Lemon, each tour I've heard it (as with other songs of course), had always been played somewhat differently, but this tour (and even more so the past two evenings), it was played the best I've ever heard it--the varying backgrounds, the sounds, etc all jelled quite nicely together.
Ok back to the set list, next was Dead Ringer and this time Meat had Amanda stop being temporary wardrobe mistress (as she was on Wednesday) and got to play bar fly girl with Patti and Pearl. Then after that was I'd Lie for you and Anything for Love. Right into Lawyers, Guns, and Money. They didn't do Is Nothing Sacred, so there was no chance for Kasim to have yet another "show stopping moment" like on Wednesday (I still think that was so funny!).
Then followed Paradise and well there was no curtain, as it was cold but Meat was all set to go in his tux anyway, but out comes Patti already in the ratty robe (she had earlier mentioned to us how she wasn't going to change into the wedding dress if it stayed as cold as it was). He's giving her this look like "what the heck??" and she, between lyrics, told him shut up (away from the mike) so they just played it as is with the robe look!
After Paradise I was so cold I was hoping it was gonna be like Wednesday and only have two songs left, but guess what?? I was wrong! They did a brief sit down acoustical set. They first did 16 tons, Two Outta Three, then You Took the Words. I think that was it. Amanda came out for the acoustical set somewhat last minute and they didn't have a stool for her so Kasim was giving her his (what a dear) and was gonna get another but I think they didn't have another as she and Kas sorta had to sit on it together!
The only people who were sitting were from left to right, Pearl, Kasim, Amanda, Meat, Damon and Patti. Tom, Ray and John were stuck up on their perches the whole night again. Then of course everyone got up for Bat Out of Hell. Then they took their bows and were done!