Vice featuring Cory Glover at the Bitter End

Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Corey Glover was an aspiring actor when guitarist Vernon Reid recruited him into Living Colour in 1985, reportedly after hearing Glover sing "Happy Birthday" at a friend's party. Living Colour found immediate success with the release of its debut album, Vivid, in 1988. The album was certified platinum in 1989 and again five years later. The album's single, "Cult of Personality," won the 1989 Grammy Award for Best Hard Rock Performance and the band was named Best New Artist at the MTV Video Music Awards. Living Colour split in 1995, and Glover started a solo career, toured in the funk bands Galactic and Soul Rebels Brass Band, hosted various shows on VH1, played the role of Judas Iscariot in a touring company of Jesus Christ Superstar, recorded with the band Ultraphonix, and formed the band Vice. Vice consists of Glover, guitarist Mike Ciro, bassist Booker King, and drummer Nat Townsley.

Vice returned to the Bitter End tonight, this time with the addition of keyboardist Benny Harrison, and cranked out an assortment of hard rock, pop, and rhythm and blues songs. The first song was a raging rocker, and at the end Glover assured the audience that this music was designed to be played loud. The band quickly moved to lighter fare, however, and demonstrated how these well-seasoned session players were capable of playing most any genre of music. Vice was tailored to be an all-embracing vehicle for Glover's extensive musical interests, so each song seemed to push him in a slightly different direction. In the end, Glover proved to be an outstanding vocalist, ready to enhance rock, soul and blues songs with a rich, husky voice. "Cult of Personality," the set's closer, brought the set back full circle to where Glover's music career started. It would have been interesting if he had sung "Happy Birthday" as well.