Cowbell Blues

If you're planning on catching the sold-out Blue Oyster Cult show at the Granada, here's some advice. Don't ask the band to explore the studio space. Don't ask about Gene Frenkle. And please, absolutely, positively do not ask for more cowbell. It's not that the band hates the eternally funny Saturday Night Live skit where Will Farrell immortalized his legacy (and that of the BOC) with his impersonation of an imaginary cult percussionist whose devotion to the cowbell makes "Don’t Fear the Reaper." In fact, blessed with a rare sense of humor for a classic-rock outfit, the band professes to love the skit. But it's a safe guess that Blue Oyster Cult has heard every single variation of "more cowbell" for six years now and given that they're a pretty kick-ass band, they deserve a little better. I mean, come on; this is a band that wears gold-plated diapers. The Blue Oyster Cult will play to a sold-out crowd Friday at the Granada Theater, 3524 Greenville Ave. Doors open at 7 p.m. Call 214-824-9933 or visit www.granada-theater.com.
Sun., Aug. 26, 7 p.m.