Slims, San Francisco, CA

Located in the South of Market district is the much celebrated Slim’s nightclub. The layout and style of Slims is completely retro, with a floor level open plan arrangement and the obligatory bar and grill eating area to the rear. Across from the entrance and along the adjacent back wall is a very impressive, and distinctly saloon type bar! Will I need a gun in here?

Arriving later than planned the place was totally packed, and after managing to acquire a Budweiser the best vantage point seemed to be half way up the stairs leading to the gallery at the rear.

BOC hit the stage around 21:30 to excited cheers and applause. To the delight of the audience the band immediately launched into a string of classics from “Blue Oyster Cult”, “Mirrors” and “Cultosaurus Erecticus”, and it was a treat to observe Eric Bloom and Buck Dharma interact and strut their gutsy stuff!

Unfortunately, the sound came across a bit patchy in places, and Buck took a little time to hit ‘the zone’. As a result,  the sound was almost detached at first. Perhaps because of this, Buck’s signature Steinberger just didn’t seem to produce the fat woody tones of the Les Paul and SG guitars that were the hallmark of the bands classic sound from yesteryear.

But as the sound-tech improved, and once into his rhythm, Buck’s bluesy fret work, combined with Eric’s distinctive glitsy vocals began to find their mark and served to rekindle something of the essence of BOC;  flamboyant, yet subtle with dark mystical overtones!

Complementing Eric and Buck in this current line up are Richie Castellano (bass) and Jules Radino (drums). Perhaps my vantage point at the rear didn’t help much on this occasion? All in all, despite the few sound glitches here and there, I couldn’t help but feel privileged to have witnessed these grand masters in such an intimate and laid back setting like Slims.

SB