I have had the opportunity to attend two Doors of the 21st Century concerts. The first was the Harley-Davidson show at Fontana, and the second was at the Universal Amphitheatre in Los Angeles.

The Harley-Davidson show was an outdoor event. It was a "standing on asphalt only" event, with no chairs. This was a venue with a special stage and lighting set up for The Doors. There was a country-western band first. My friend and I (he's 66) made our way up to the stage at the front. We had to brave country-western music for an hour! With both the "warm-up" and The Doors, my 48-year-old legs got pretty darn tired standing the whole time!

The original band members, Ray and Robby, looked fresh and ready. My impressions were as follows: Robby played magnificently. I was in awe. Probably the best guitar, bottleneck, and slide I have ever heard. Ray’s playing was excellent as well. Ian, well, he sounded like Ian, belting out Morrison’s lyrics with *guarded* authority (this would change at the next concert).

I was less than impressed by the obvious absence of the "sound of The Doors," specifically, the sound of the Vox Continental and Gibson organs. The new organ sound lacked the power, authenticity, mystery and sound of the two "cheeze" organs that made this band famous. I was sorely disappointed. Overall, however, the show was great!

Now for the Universal Amphitheater. By this time, things had changed for Ian! He left the "guarded" sound he had at the Harley-Davidson show and was now in full command of his voice. You could hear the new authority and self-confidence in his voice! He was also much more accurate in his lyrical presentation of the songs. He had obviously practiced at lot! The drummer was simply awesome. Robby and the drummer played off one another which was inspiring and unique. Ray spent too much time in-between songs talking to the audience. I came to listen to the music. The bass player was extremely good but I would have rather heard a Fender Rhodes piano bass being played by Ray's left hand. Again, the Vox Continental and Gibson "cheeze" sound were sorely missed by me.

The show, IMO, was marred by what appeared to me to be Ray inviting the people (girls) to come up on stage. This seemed to me to be very staged, and will likely be part of the successful marketing of a video. Ray, in a 48-year-old guy’s own words "you didn't sell me." Fun seeing the people on stage? - yes! Look contrived - yes!

My overall impression of the Harley-Davidson show vs. the Universal Amphitheater? Easy…The D21C were much more polished at the Universal Amphitheatre and it showed. Nothing beats practice.

If I were to be a music critic and reviewer the following are the only things I could ask to be changed. Go back to the original keyboard, or synthesize to emulate the "cheeze" sound of Ray back in 1967-70. Find a more accurate singer than Ian. I really, really LIKE Ian, but he just doesn't sound like Jim Morrison. Maybe because I have Jim's voice so ingrained in my mind from all the years of listening to it I'm just too partial, I don't know.