The Elves - Part I
by Jim Tansley
The hum and crackle of the largest P.A. I had ever seen
filled the air. This "buzz" could only mean one thing --the
show was about to start! The stacks of Sunn amplifiers and
Marshall amplifiers lined the back of the stage forming a
dense wall with the red power on lamps visible on the
darkened stage.
The front of the stage was lined from left to right with a
black Gretsch drum set very close to the edge of the stage;
next to the drums were all the footpedals and special
effects for the lead guitarist; front and center was the
spot for the bass player/ lead vocalist; next to him was
the gear for the rhythm guitarist/lead vocalist and
finally, the keyboards were set up on the right of the
stage. The huge P.A equipment was piled up on each side of
the stage like small skyscrapers. This stage arrangement
was the most unique set up I had ever seen because the
drums were positioned along side of the band instead of
behind the band like all the other bands I had seen.
At the foot of the stage, in front of the vocal
microphones, were rows of multicolored spotlights facing up
towards the band ready to reveal the band once the music
started. The roadies were no longer scurrying around in the
dark taping down all the P.A snakes, cords and electrical
wires. Meanwhile, the crowd was getting restless.
There was some movement on stage---someone sat down at the
drums -- I heard the click of the hi-hat cymbals and the
electric rush of guitars being plugged in. Suddenly I heard
the roar of screeching guitar feedback --- loud feedback!
It was the opening to the song " Hot Smoke and Sasafrass
"by The Bubble Puppy (1969).
With an explosion of lights and sound ,there on stage, were
The Elves---drummer Gary Driscoll, lead guitarist David
"Rock" Feinstein, bass guitarist and lead vocalist Ronald
Padavona (Ronnie James Dio), rhythm guitarist and lead
vocalist Doug Thaler and keyboard player Mickey Lee Soule.
The 5 note staccato drum fill by Gary (1e&a 2) seemed
to trigger the white strobe light which gave the band a
stop and go effect during parts of the song. The spotlights
were an integral part of their show -- changing colors as
the band played the changes of the song. One minute the
Elves were bathed in a blue light --the next minute--
purple, red, orange, green or yellow. They were, with out a
doubt, the loudest band I had ever seen. The way they all
moved up to the mics to sing (with the exception of the
drummer) at the same time gave the impression that this
band knew exactly what they were doing ---they were a
professional band and played with such conviction!!
Not only that but their appearance was stunning! The Elves
had the longest hair I'd ever seen (down to the middle of
their backs) but more unusual than that was the fact that
Dio and Feinstein were so short that they really looked
like elves!! I was just a kid but I knew that this band was
something very special!!