On Thursday, October 13, Jeff Beck and Johnny Depp brought their collective talents to the Ulster Performing Arts Center. Musical compadres dating back to 2017, this stop was part of a North American tour offering support for their recently released collaborative album, 18.
Even though this event was promoted as Beck/Depp, the night belonged to the guitar mastery of Jeff Beck. At 78, this fifty-year musical veteran backed his Rolling Stone magazine ranking of fifth in the list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time” with his performance.
The multiplicity of tones poured freely from Beck’s guitar. Was it with a whammy bar, created by a hammer on, maybe the use of a slide? It did not matter. Each style illuminated this master’s extraordinary style and ability.
Supporting Jeff in the rhythm section were bassist Rhonda Smith and drummer Anika Nilles. The power behind their playing could be felt as it hit you in your seats. Keyboardist Robert Stevenson added accents to the music in all the right places and completed the trio behind Beck.
Approximately two thirds of the way into the show, Jeff Beck turn to the side of the stage, put his hands in the air, and started bowing. Out from the shadows strutted Johnny Depp. With his rock ‘n roll swagger and electric guitar strapped on you knew he was ready to rock.
With Beck being rooted in instrumentals, Depp’s vocals added another dimension to finish out the night. The two collaborated on a mix of tunes including covers of the Beatles and The Velvet Underground. The night wrapped up with a powerful rendition of Killing Joke’s “The Death and Resurrection Show.”
