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by a blatant Charlie Peacock fan, Robert Longman Jr.
When Charlie Peacock goes on tour, he selects a few key dates
(mostly music festivals) in which to bring a full band, which
includes some or most of these people from the studio crew : Roger
Smith; Jan Eric Volz and Aaron Smith (of the 77s); Brian Spencer
(Peacock's replacement in the band Vector); Lyle Workman and Mike
Urbano (ex- of Bourgeois-Tagg and Todd Rundgren's band); Brent
Bourgeois (a Top 10 star in his own right); vocalist Annie
Stocking; and 77s lead Mike Roe.
But the rest of the dates usually feature a three-man acoustic
band : Peacock (vocals, keyboard), Jimmy Abegg (guitar and/or
bass), and Vince Ebo (vocals and hand percussion). This trio has
made for some intimate and awesome live, mainly acoustic
experiences. Those who have caught the trio in those smaller
settings become Peacock's hardest-core fans. West Coast Diaries
#2 was an attempt to capture on tape some of this feeling, as was
'Whole Lot Different' on WCD #1; another attempt is the Peacock
Trio's 1990 Front Row video (Sparrow), which I recommend you check
out. All the Diaries are now on CD.
Some highlights of WCD #2 :
Song #1 : "Nobody's Gonna Bring Me Down". It's a 'count it as a
blessing' song. Not easy, though : "Should that monkey come
around again/ he can't touch me no, and he can't win ". That
monkey, once squarely on his back, was alcohol; even if he slips,
there is no going back to what was. Listeners tend to find their
own monkey here. The whole song does not deny trials and even
failures, but in it Peacock is reveling in the victory, now and
future.
Song #5 : "No Place Closer To Heaven". Peacock has spoken of
this as an invitation to the fellowshipping feel of trio concerts.
But its lyrics suggest other uses, for evening fellowships and
studies, probably evening worship experiences, and perhaps even
the Eucharistic service. It is a celebration of the presence of
God where two or three are gathered.
"There is no place closer to heaven
than here with you tonight."
Song #6 : "Don't Have the Power". At first listen, the song
seems to be grossly escapist, for "I cannot change a thing", thus
I should leave things alone. But a second look is more
revealing. The song acknowledges the fact of power over some
things : "I know you've got those things/ that sit right in your
hand/ You can tell them what to do / and they do as you command".
It follows, however, with the main point : we are all more
power*less* than powerful, and the most important things are in
God's hands not our own. We can't just decide to live without
air, nor are our minds able to solve all those great mysteries of
existence, nor do we control the course of history. We *don't*
have that kind of power, nor should we, and we must be honest with
ourselves about it. Roger Smith adds the bouncy piano (the only
guest shot on WCD #2), and that plus the trademark interplay
between Ebo and Peacock make this track real fun.
Song #7 : "Unchain My Soul" : We who "Don't Have the Power" even
to understand and change ourselves much less our world are also
unable to work out our own deliverance or anyone else's.
Deliverance is a GIFT, and we need it. The song is a plea to
(unnamed) God to give it -- and hurry ! Again, the trio's
signature sound is the harmonics and answer-vocals between Peacock
and Ebo, here brimming with soul and stoked with energy.