WHAT A SHOW! It captured a moment in time and the fun this band was having at the start of their amazing run.

I just re-read for the second time the 1997 Goldmine article The Cars: Shake it  Up, Drive It Out by Steve Roeser.  I had read parts of it several months ago but forgot some of the details of the band’s breakup and when I re-read it I got that icky feeling all over again, that sense of sadness about what happened to Ben and the way The Cars ended. And the way Ben, who by others’ accounts had always seemed easy-going and pretty happy was really hurt and hurting by the time they recorded and toured for Door to Door. And was unable for the better part of the next decade to unburden himself.  Why? Why do I feel so sad about a band that broke up thirty six years ago? A band that I hadn’t really listened to beyond their first few albums? There was just something heartbreaking about the disintegration of the relationship between Ben and Ric and the way the band just sort of fell apart, how sad it was in light of how absolutely fun it appeared to be at the beginning of their rise.  There was a sense of  sheer buoyant energy at the band’s September 14, 1978 show at the El Mocambo in Toronto.  You could just feel the hope, the relief at finally “making it”, the anticipation of what was to come, at what was on the horizon for a group of guys who were on the cusp of something huge.  And especially for Ric and Ben who had been together for so long and who had experienced the lowest of lows on their journey to stardom.

Wow. Just wow.  What an absolute treasure this recording is.  The band absolutely rocked the house at this show. There was a fantastic energy in the way they played.  You can  literally feel it  through your speakers or headphones. And hearing Ben’s sexy speaking voice as he talked to the audience is so wonderful.  The mixing was probably not the best- I’m certainly no expert on that, but you can clearly hear Ben’s voice stand out on some of the songs in which he sang backup-and what a voice he had. And Elliot was truly able to shine at this show.  He was pure energy here.  Listening to how amazing this show was, and how much fun the band seemed to be having made me feel sad knowing how they ended.  But for a few years, they were on top of the world. 

The show opened with Let The Good Times Roll  then segued into Bye Bye Love. Ben was in top form on this,  at his passionate best, changing some of the phrasing and just absolutely killing it.  You can feel his intense sexiness just by listening.  And you can really hear Elliot on backing vocals and his distinctive guitar.  The rest of the set is:

A rollicking Nightspots-Ben’s sexy voice talking to the audience, telling the crowd “They say they can’t hear you yellin’ on the raydeeo” as they cheered. I love how his phrasing was unique even with his speaking voice. Just yum.

My Best Friend’s Girl

Moving in Stereo

Since I Held You

Then….the ABSOLUTE FIRE Take What You Want.  This live version is probably my most favorite Cars song not sung by Benjamin.  Elliott Easton was a freaking maniac on this.  Why no one talks about this song as an example of Elliot’s complete guitar mastery is a fucking mystery.  This song alone places him in the pantheon of great guitarists in my opinion. 

Here’s a link to the song:

The fun continued with-

They Won’t See You

Don’t Ya Stop

Just What I Needed – Benjamin sounded so fine!

Two songs for the encore; a really hot Candy-O with both Elliot and Ben shining and an absolutely delicious You’re All I’ve Got Tonight in which Ben’s backing vocals were very clearly heard and he sounded amazing.

A couple things: fantastic that they performed songs from the Candy-O album which had yet to be recorded.  I think they sounded better at this show than the performance a few months earlier at the Agora in Cleveland.  They are good at that, and the crowd’s love for Ben and Ben’s love for his hometown is endearing, but the El Mocambo show had some extra energy or magic.  At least in my opinion. It’s very interesting to me the interaction with the audience and how various members of the band introduced songs.  Ben in particular was so darling and chatty and talkative.  Some of the criticisms of this band were that they were not exciting to watch on stage, that they were almost cold and did not interact with the audience during concerts. I never had the sense to see them in concert. Was that true?  When did that change?  Why did that change? 

Oh how I wish these guys had been able to maintain this sense of excitement and passion and just pure fun.  The combination of musicianship, Ric’s funky new-wave look and quirky lyrics, Ben’s hotness, David’s hotness, Elliot’s adorableness combined with his killer guitar fills, Greg’s synth prowess- all created magic in a bottle.  Of course all good things run their course, but listening to this show at the advent of their career just hits hard because had they been able to reconvene before Ben’s death I think they could have had a real second act. 

I also can’t for the life of me fathom why only Ric really went on to a long-lasting career in the industry.  I mean several of his “solo” albums had either Ben or Elliot or  Greg or all of them play.  So basically they were Cars albums.  And all of Ric’s solo songs sounded like The Cars. And that’s what makde Ben’s solo efforts kind of cool.  They didn’t sound like The Cars, they sounded different. I don’t know if it was management, or mis-management, or the record company, or it was Ben himself, but damn he could and should have had a more robust solo career.  When you think of all the performers who didn’t have half his talent or good looks or gentle demeanor who had longer careers it simply makes no sense. He said it himself that he knew he was born to be a musician.  

Anyway, if you haven’t listened to this show, or haven’t listened to it in a while, here’s a link.  Do yourself a favor and take a while to enjoy the music.