Jerry Lee Lewis Remembered; review of his March 1, 2000 concert at the Galaxy Concert Theatre

Sadly, Jerry Lee Lewis passed away today at the age of 87. TJR and yours truly pay tribute to "The Killer" in a new episode available HERE. 

Below is my March 3, 2000 review of Jerry Lee Lewis' March 1, 2000 concert at the Galaxy Concert Theatre in Santa Ana originally published in the Orange County Register. A special "Thank You" to Kelly A. Swift for her photo taken at the concert...Robert Kinsler 

Jerry Lee Lewis performing at the Galaxy Concert
Theatre in Santa Ana on March 1, 2000.
Photo: Kelly A. Swift

JERRY LEE LEWIS, HELLBOUND HAYRIDE

Where: Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana

When: Wednesday night, March 1, 2000

REVIEW: Legendary pianist's spirited Galaxy performance is a lesson in Rock History 101.

By ROBERT KINSLER

Special to the Register

Although rock music is somewhere under age 50, its pioneers are mostly gone. The voices of Bill Haley, Elvis Presley, Eddie Cochran and Roy Orbison live on only through the magic of recordings. However, one of rock's true survivors proved to be alive and well in an hour-long performance at the Galaxy Concert Theatre in Santa Ana on Wednesday night. Jerry Lee Lewis may walk — and talk — like a senior citizen being satirized, but get him behind a grand piano and he is transported back in time to the birth of rock 'n' roll.

Such was the case throughout his 16-song set before a capacity crowd at the Galaxy, where — backed by a solid three-man band — the so-called "Killer" displayed plenty of fire.

Although Lewis didn't perform standing up, climb all over his instrument like he has for much of his career, the music-making itself provided plenty of opportunities to celebrate his living legacy.

The Louisiana native launched things with a roaring version of Chuck Berry's "Roll Over Beethoven," his vocals confident and fingers nimble as he fired off the boogie-woogie style that has been imitated by countless blues and rock players since the mid-1950s. 

There was a slow and sparse rendering of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," a runaway take on the classic "Sweet Little Sixteen" and his own classic "Whole Lotta Shakin' Going On."

And "Great Balls of Fire" remains an exuberant celebration of youth, even in the dancing hands of the 64-year-old Lewis.

Opening act Hellhound Hayride came to the stage armed with a heavy brew of rockabilly and blues. The quartet may never be able to escape completely out of te shadow of te '50s artists who developed early rock, but like te Reverend Horton Heat, an energetic dose of punk thrown in with roots-rock structures can go a long way in able hands.

The bluesy "Sad Romance" and blistering "Hot Rod Soul" (dedicated to Social Distortion guitarist Dennis Danell, who died this week) were standouts.