Category: Concert Reviews
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper, featuring his wife Sharon, played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
Alice Cooper played a sold out show at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall, 3/24/2018
If you’re a fan of heavy metal, you can’t say that Alice Cooper isn’t an influence on it, whether you like him or not. Though he has said many a time how he thinks that shock rock is dead, he manages to keep it quite the contrary. With sick (literally) theatrics and costume changes, Alice has been in the business for fifty years now. And with a new album, Paranormal released in July, and his recent 70th birthday celebration, he has no plans to stop anytime soon.
“You have been chosen to spend the night with Alice Cooper. It’s too late now for you. He’s coming.” said a voice over the curtain designed with Alice’s trademark eyes with spiders as the pupils. As the audience of mainly baby boomers and Gen-X’ers began to rise to their feet, (which they remained doing so the entire show, which was pretty shocking if you ask me) it collapsed, and the band, as Alice slowly walked out in an unhooded black cloak, began the 2000 title track to Brutal Planet.
The next four or five songs were wall-to-wall hits. Smash hit No More Mr. Nice Guy, electrifying opener to 1971’s Killer, Under My Wheels, and the groovy title track to Billion Dollar Babies, which turned 45 this year. Alice swung a sword and a number of canes around throughout the night, throwing most of them into the first few rows of the sold out crowd.
Iron Maidens guitarist and as described by my concert buddy, a “mega babe” Nita Strauss and highly acclaimed drummer Glen Sobel both had solos that blew the roof off of the place. Nita had many short ones, including about two minutes of just her onstage while Alice and the group prepared for one of the most anticipated songs of the night, Poison. And Sobel smashed for five minutes in the middle of Killer’s Halo Of Flies.
Now, you’re probably wondering: What theatrics?
During the Wayne’s World cameo’d tune Feed My Frankenstein, with a little help from some masked men, Alice, covered in a blood stained buttoned up lab coat, was strapped to a platform, and was “turned into” a Frankenstein with a two foot head. After a set of songs from Welcome To My Nightmare, and a new song, the all-hands-on-deck Paranoic Personality, he was dragged into a straight jacket due to his insanity, just to rip into the early hit, the Ballad Of Dwight Fry. This part featured his wife Sheryl playing Nurse Rozetta, of whom he tried to strangle to death with his sleeves at the end of the song.
It descended into the guitar solo at the end of Killer’s title track, and out came the guillotine.
Following Alice’s execution, one of the masked men began to prance about the stage for maybe 30 seconds with Alice’s head, while his band paid their respects by blasting the repetitive chorus of I Love The Dead. Alice came out minutes later in a blood drenched white button down to belt out his first hit, I’m Eighteen, following an encore of his trademark School’s Out, which involved a lick of Pink Floyd’s Another Brick In The Wall Part 2.
Alice doesn’t blab or tell stories onstage like most artists do anymore. His shows these days are more of a rock opera than a standard classic rock concert. Think of it as The Who playing Tommy all the way through, just without the whole storyline and such. In fact, he only spoke directly to us near the end when he introduced the band, and thanked us.
But whoever wants to complain can go get their head caught in a guillotine.
Categories
A Respectable Tribute Band
Tribute bands normally get a lot of crap from music snobs. Of course, it’s better to go see the real thing live, but sometimes, that’s impossible. Maybe the band split up, or the artist is dead. Maybe it’s too expensive. Or, maybe the tribute band tries too hard to sound like the original thing. But what if there wasn’t a group as such? What if they perfect the original sound of the original band, and even have their accents down?
Enter RAIN.
RAIN: A Tribute To The Beatles has been going since 1975, stopping on Broadway, and going through five or six different lineups in 40 years. Normally, there are two actors to play each Beatle, and offstage, there’s a keyboardist/sound mixer to help make the performance match up to the Beatles’ studio work, only if needed. Most every song performed between Please Please Me and Revolver were only played with the four main instruments: Rhythm guitar, bass, lead guitar, and drums.
The guys stopped at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater recently, and it was apparently a really big deal. Last year’s annual gala was literally centered around their announcement of their stop here. And maybe a little bit of Ringo Starr’s intimate, invitation-only date that had been coming up. RAIN asked for all cameras, cell phones, and electronics to be shut off. Sure, every venue asks that, but this particular night, the venue treated it as if Prince or Bob Dylan was in the building, for there were signs all around the outside of the venue saying how photography was not allowed in any way, shape, or form.
Of course, I had to sneak a couple of shots on my phone during the encore, and once per costume change. But that’s beside the point.
RAIN had a killer stage setup. Near the beginning of the show, they reenacted The Beatles’ historic debut Ed Sullivan performance. After a Cavern Club/early days reenactment, the stage lights went down for about thirty seconds, and surely, the arrows pointing down onstage were suddenly there. It was like magic. Their screens were also pretty dazzling. They recreated the background to The Beatles’ 1969 rooftop concert, along with an audience from their Shea Stadium show from 1965.
This tour, however, is very different from your normal RAIN show. Because of last year’s 50th anniversary of the legendary Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, the band has decided to play the album front to back. It made the setlist total up to about 40 songs, about as long as the real Paul McCartney’s. Speaking of which, obviously, they can’t play every Beatle song ever written, so of course a few will be left out. But it was pretty shocking that The Night Before was played, but not Let It Be, perhaps one of the most recognizable Beatle tunes ever. But of course, if a snob has a problem with that, the door’s right there.
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Many Floridians don’t quite understand how spoiled rotten we are when it comes to Billy Joel. The Rock and Roll Hall Of Famer has stopped in Florida twice a year since 2014. Once for a normal tour show, and once for New Year’s out in Sunrise. So the announcement in October that his first non-MSG show of 2018 would be in Tampa was no surprise.
Just like every Billy show, the sold out crowd was warned to make their way to their seats around 8:20 when the ending credits music from The Natural began to play. Three minutes in, the lights went down, the Generation X crowd went ballistic, and the Piano Man and his band silently came out to begin.
A single blue light shined on Billy as he played the first minute of Miami 2017 (Seen The Lights Go Out On Broadway), which opens with one of the most complex piano riffs of all time.
“This is our last gig in Florida for the year!” Billy pointed out, following an electrifying version of 1982’s Pressure. This may foreshadow that he won’t play in Sunrise on NYE this year, and may return to New York to celebrate.
After poking fun at the people who had seats behind the stage, (“The piano here is set up sideways so, you’re actually better off than the people up here.”) Billy threw out some “fielder’s choices.” Normally, one a deep cut, one a hit. Vienna winning against Just The Way You Are, (“It WAS a hit single!”) and Everybody Loves You Now over Turn Around and Got To Begin Again, all songs from his obscure 1971 debut Cold Spring Harbor. And, needless to say, just like every time, Zanzibar gave the boot to Stiletto.
Some classic riffs opened some songs throughout the night. Ode To Joy (and Billy accepting a banquet of flowers from an audience member, mocking an stereotypical actress) opening My Life and Paul Simon’s Me And Julio Down By The Schoolyard for Don’t Ask Me Why just to name a few.
With all the retirement tours coming up, Billy sure had us worried for a few minutes. He told a story about how he was in Italy once, and Frank Sinatra was scheduled to play on the other side of the country. It was an immensely big deal in Italy, but apparently he cancelled because “Frank don’t like bein’ 70.” Billy’s going to be 69 this year. 69. His former touring mate Elton John will be saying goodbye to touring for the next three years, as well as his old friend Paul Simon.
After a promised ride through The River Of Dreams (“We’re gonna do that later!”) Billy’s guitarist Mike DelGuidice took the mic, and belted out an opera classic Nessun dorma. Doing so, he proved that you’d be surprised what some backing members can do.
After the story of Brenda and Eddie in the crowd-pleasing Scenes From An Italian Restaurant, Piano Man began. I think that’s what everybody came to hear. There weren’t many people who came for deep cuts and all that. They wanted hits, especially Piano Man, which had every baby boomer, Gen X-er, and millennial standing and howling out the words. There WAS one deep cut, though. 1973’s Stop In Nevada, off of Piano Man.
After two and a half minutes offstage, Billy returned for an encore of six songs. Shredding (whatever) a guitar during We Didn’t Start The Fire, swaying his hips like Elvis during Uptown Girl, and throwing around the microphone during It’s Still Rock And Roll To Me, no one wanted the night to end. He returned to the piano for his last three songs – – 1978’s Big Shot, Only The Good Die Young, which began with a minute long interlude of Led Zeppelin’s Fool In The Rain, and You May Be Right, which included Zeppelin’s Rock And Roll to close the song, and ultimately close the show.
All that was missing from that ending was Billy’s trademark closing piece of advice: “Don’t take any shit from anybody,” which he tells his crowd at almost every show.
Last time he was here, it wasn’t a totally different show. However, that was when Billy paid tribute to the then-recently fallen David Bowie, and Glenn Frey of the Eagles.
But right or wrong, if you’ve never seen Billy, do yourself a favor and get a ticket next time he’s in your town, nosebleed or not. Remember, if you buy a seat all the way back, you have a shot at getting in the front row.
The closest you can get to “seeing The Beatles” these days is by going to see the last two standing members during their solo shows. This year was truly the Year Of The Beatles for me – – I saw Paul McCartney at Amalie in July, and I actually traveled out of state to see the other living Beatle.
Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band stopped in Florida this time around, but Fort Lauderdale in the middle of the week was not gonna happen, and his private, invitation only Clearwater show at Ruth Eckerd was also not gonna happen. So, I decided that just in case he (God forbid) retires to the ole’ octopus’ garden in the shade before he can come back, I would travel to Atlanta to see them at the Fox Theatre.
Around 8:10, the twelfth, and longest running, All-Starr Band (featuring prog legend Todd Rundgren, Mr. Mister’s Richard Page, Toto’s Steve Lukather, and Santana’s Gregg Rolie, just to name a few) got set up in front of the nearly sold out Atlanta crowd, without the boss present.
“Ladies and gentlemen…” one member began. “would you please welcome RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND?!” Oh man, did they get welcomed.
As the the lights went up and the All-Starr Band, going on five years, ripped into the Carl Perkins penned Matchbox, which The Beatles gave their take on in 1964, the luckiest drummer in the world came jogging out to the roar of Atlanta. With his cherry red blazer on, Ringo spread “peace and love” across the theater with his trademark peace hand gestures.
“Yes, I know my name… there’s a girl waving” Ringo remarked two songs in. While trying to “tell a little story,” he kept on being interrupted for a solid minute by the audience. “Half my act is talking to the audience, that’s why I forget what I’m doing.” Finally, Ringo introduced “the only song we’ve ever written by Lennon, McCartney, and Starkey,” What Goes On, off of The Beatles’ 1965 landmark Rubber Soul album, and that got the audience on their feet.
The four key members of the All-Starr Band were then introduced through their music. Rundgren’s first number of the night was his 1972 hit I Saw The Light, followed later on by Bang The Drum All Day (of which he actually banged on a little drum), and closer to the end, his band Utopia’s Love Is The Answer. Before his second was performed, the All-Starrs helped him jokingly effortlessly perform “a brand new song” that they “worked all afternoon on,” which was a ten second lick of his other solo hit, Hello It’s Me. “I swear, it sounded so much better in rehearsal.” Rundgren joked.
Next up was Gregg Rolie, who also got three songs, all by Santana. First up was Evil Ways originally written by Willie Bobo. Following later on throughout was an odyssey through Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen, and Tito Puente’s Oye como va, which was also a Santana cover. Rolie also played in Journey for a period in time, but no signs of them whatsoever were displayed.
Of course, you gotta have some mainstream in an All Starr Band show. Steve Lukather was there representing Toto with his touring saxophonist and backing vocalist Warren Ham. “This is a beautiful theater, it’s a beautiful place. Sold out? Alright!” Of course, Toto really had three hits that are easily recognizable, all of which were performed separately: The earworm Rosanna, the synthed-up Africa, and their 1978 debut single Hold The Line, all of which included three to four minute sax solos from Ham. “Alright, stand up. Here’s another one for you, everybody get on up!” Lukather ordered. And stand up we did, and danced, we did.
Next in line was the lead singer for Mr. Mister, the one and only Richard Page. Many people may not know him or his band by name, but I’m sure everyone has heard at least one of his three songs. Two of them – Kyrie and Broken Wings – were hits from his band that gave the show such an energetic vibe, there was no need for the audience to bolt the words out to him. There was also a slow dance Page song played, You Are Mine, described as “a song you may not know.” “These iconic musicians, amazing hit songs, something for everybody. I gotta say most importantly, it’s being onstage with…the legendary.”
Who was he pointing to? Touring drummer Gregg Bissonette? (man, Ringo must really like Greggs.) With all due respect to him, no. Of course, you can’t have a Ringo show without Ringo songs, both with The Beatles, and on his own.
Ten songs in, the drummer jogged over from the drums to a keyboard (Yes, a keyboard.) to rip into Don’t Pass Me By, off of The Beatles’ legendary White Album. “I’ve written lots of songs, but this is the first one.” he claimed. More Beatle hits kept on coming, including Yellow Submarine (“I don’t think I have to tell them about this song. Ya know, if they don’t know this song, they’re in the wrong venue.”), and the first Ringo voiced tune, Boys. He then began blending his songs in with the All-Starrs’, playing three of his most famous solo songs. First came You’re Sixteen, then Back Off Boogaloo, and of course, Photograph.
The night concluded with his other two voiced Beatle songs – 1965’s Act Naturally, and off of Sgt. Pepper, With A Little Help From My Friends, with a surprise guest on Ringo’s drums, Chris Fryar of The Zac Brown Band. “Zac! You made it!” Ringo pointed out towards the audience. “You gonna shave your beard? Ha ha ha, he’s not really there.”
After the legend ran offstage for a minute or two, the All-Starrs began playing the chorus part to Ringo’s fallen bandmate’s Give Peace A Chance, a fitting end to a Ringo show. As it played, he came jogging back out without a jacket of any kind, and just his sparkly black peace sign shirt to make more of his hand gestures. “Remember, peace and love, peace and love is the only way.” he reminded us on his way out.
Though he’s right either way, we could always use more in this world.
Rhythm guitarist and brother of Pete, Simon Townshend
If you’re not crazy for British rock legends The Who, but enjoy them for their hits, this is not really the kind of show that would be up your alley.
Longtime, and current, lead singer Roger Daltrey has done solo tours before, but none quite like this. The A Quick Run While Pete’s Away five date tour was announced back in August, and only features Daltrey with members of The Who’s backing band. Pete Townshend is on a yearlong sabbatical from The Who, as the tour name says, but there was still a Townshend onstage – – his little brother, Simon on guitar.
Around 7:30, a somewhat newcomer to the music world, Grammy nominee Leslie Mendelson, opened with selections from her 5+ year career and her new album, Love & Murder. One of these songs were created with help from the Grateful Dead’s own Bob Weir. Really.
“Roger and I go way back. Well, we actually do.” Mendelson bragged halfway through. She once played Baba O’Riley with The Who during a benefit gig for charity. “I was tossed a harmonica, and I said ‘But I don’t play it.’ And they said ‘Well, you do now.'”
“The New York weather is following me around!” she earlier joked while acting surprised about how Florida’s weather has suddenly become cooler. Following her 35 minute set with guitarist Eric Kimock, a brief intermission occurred, as she made her way near the Ruth Eckerd lobby to where two Daltrey shirts were being sold to sell and sign CD copies of Love and Murder. Fans were immensely impressed at this new talent, but at 8:21, the lights went down for the real deal. The Pinball Wizard and company walked out to Clearwater for the first time in eight years.
Following a few jokes of how forgettable the night may be if he forgot the words, the band ripped into the overture from The Who’s legendary 1969 rock opera, Tommy. Immediately following was their smash hit Pinball Wizard, also off of Tommy.
As the songs kept dropping, they got more and more obscure. 1981’s Another Tricky Day was dedicated to Donald Trump. “Nothing to do with me, but I’m sure he’ll relate to this song.” There were also some songs that were obscure enough to have never been played in front of a live audience, be it Who, Townshend, or Daltrey. Athena off of 1982’s It’s Hard, the second most recent Who studio album, hasn’t been played since the tour to promote that album.
But the biggest surprise was the debut, the literal live debut, of The Who’s 1975 album track, How Many Friends, which has never in written history been performed live by the band. “Way back when we recorded this in 1975, you even wondered, and I doubt many of us can, count on our friends.” Daltrey recalled. “I knew people with…millions of friends.”
Just about every song had the audience give at least a standing ovation, from the doo-wop style Daltrey earworm Days Of Light, to the song to thank us fans for being fans (Without Your Love), to the electrifying Baba O’Riley. The latter had every member of the audience frenetically howling out the words, as you would likely expect – – After all, it was The Who’s biggest 1970s hit. (with the possible exception of Who Are You, which was also performed to a standing crowd.)
Two songs from The Who’s 1971 live album, Live At Leeds were performed. In comparison to other Who tunes, Young Man Blues and Summertime Blues have faded away into obscurity, but you know what? Nobody seemed to care.
The night ended with Roger and keyboardist Loren Gold playing Always Heading Home, a brand new song from a “forthcoming album.” Needless to say, it’s never been played anywhere else before, at any time.
Daltrey is very openly involved in the Teenage Cancer Trust charity, which helps out teenagers with cancer. “At least, before they turn eighteen, and get moved in with old farts like me.” Daltrey pointed out. He went on to praise the Tampa Bay area for having three hospitals working together to fight teenage cancer, including Moffitt.
And just keep that in mind. The next time you buy something related to The Who, be it a ticket, a licensed shirt, or Roger’s album when it releases, there’s a good chance that at least a portion of your sale will go to the trust.
Frankly, they deserve it.
Yes feat. ARW rock Ruth Eckerd Hall on October 11.
Guitarist Trevor Rabin shredding out a solo late in the show.
Keyboardist Rick Wakeman with a keytar at the end of the main set.
Guitarist Trevor Rabin singing and playing one of his many electrics.
Keyboardist Rick Wakeman playing two of his synths at once.
Lead singer Jon Anderson with his acoustic guitar.
Lead singer Jon Anderson.
Trevor Rabin and Rick Wakeman have the ultimate duel.
Yes feat. ARW bid farewell to Clearwater.
It was only last year – – This past Saturday to be exact – – when prog legends Jon Anderson, Trevor Rabin, and Rick Wakeman brought Yes music to Clearwater. But this was Yes like you’ve never heard before. Steve Howe and Alan White were not present in any way. It was the three mentioned, along with Louis Molino III on drums, and from Jeff Lynne’s ELO’s backing band, lefty Lee Pomeroy on bass.
In April, rather than new music, the second US leg of their tour was announced, where they wanted to hit some towns they didn’t play last time around. But they must have loved Clearwater’s energy so much, they came back. Oh, and not to mention like, three other dates in Florida. (in order, Melbourne, Clearwater, West Palm Beach, and Miami)
Like last year, the show’s beginning at precisely 8:10 alerted us with a symphonic rendition of the main riff of Perpetual Change. Following the backing members, Rabin in his black t-shirt, and Wakeman in his wizard cape (because why the hell not?) walked out from opposite sides and hugged to the roar of the audience. The four ripped right into 90125‘s Cinema, and the night began.
In the middle of the song, Jon Anderson came fluttering out, completing the lineup. As he hopped onto his platform so he could reach the microphone, the opening riff of Perpetual Change could be heard.
Many changes were made from last year’s setlist to improve, or deteriorate, the fans’ wants. I’ve Seen All Good People replaced with the Fragile album track, South Side Of The Sky, and off their massive 1991 reunion album Union, Lift Me Up replaced with another Rabin-era song, Changes. Really, the only major blow was the removal of The Meeting, an Anderson Bruford Wakeman Howe song, which was replaced with I Am Waiting, off of 1994’s Talk.
But who’s anybody to complain? Anderson bolted out the 12 songs played in two hours, Rabin shredded out a solo running roughly four minutes near the end of Hold On, and Wakeman pounded out an organ solo just as long in the middle of their 20 minute 1977 epic, Awaken. And you can’t forget about the backing members either. Pomeroy got a number of bass solos, some of which could convince you that original Yes bassist, the late Chris Squire was present. Molino smashed out hits with an energy that greatly differed from what original drummer Bill Bruford or current drummer of Steve Howe’s Yes, Alan White had.
But the part of the show that was perhaps most unexpected was the jam session at the end of their main set. Following the end of their smash hit Owner Of A Lonely Heart, all five of the guys began to play solos, change key, and even stop to listen to the backing members. When both guys finished, they received a “thumbs up” of approval from Rabin. Last time around, Rabin and Wakeman simply walked off stage and into the first five or six rows of the audience. But hearing Yes simply jam out, and do a brief cover of Sunshine Of Your Love by supergroup Cream was better for a fan who just came for the music.
Anybody can run up and touch Rick Wakeman’s glittery cape, but not many get to hear Yes cover Cream.
“Some of these songs were written 42, 3 years ago,” Anderson stated following the end of South Side Of The Sky. “That’s before most of you were born!” Most of the fans in the house were either in their 30s and had grown up in the Rabin era, or in their 40s, 50s, even 60s, who got to know Yes during, or perhaps before, Wakeman’s time. There was also not a soul who grew up with Anderson’s replacements, Benoît David or Jon Davison.
The show wrapped up with an encore of Roundabout, which excluded Squire’s bass solo. It had just about everybody in the nearly sold out house on their feet, singing and clapping along to the kings of prog. Will the guys tour together again? It’s very likely – – With new music on the way, a Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame induction earlier this year, and a name change to Yes feat. ARW, (as oppose to simply ARW last year) perhaps this won’t be the end of the road.
And even if it is, there’s always Howe and White.
Original guitarist of Foreigner Mick Jones shredding a Les Paul.
Current Foreigner frontman Kelly Hansen, who strongly imitates Steven Tyler.
Blake High School choir singing backup on I Want To Know What Love Is
Original drummer of Foreigner Dennis Elliott made a surprise appearance
Original lead singer of Cheap Trick, Robin Zander
Original guitarist of Cheap Trick, Rick Nielsen
Rick Nielsen, son Daxx, and Robin Zander of Cheap Trick
Original bassist of Cheap Trick, Tom Petersson
Jason Bonham, son of Led Zeppelin drummer, the late John Bonham
Unless it’s one that loves it, there’s usually a reason behind why a band, or two, or three, will go out on tour. This year, Paul McCartney and Billy Joel don’t have a reason – – They’re touring just because they love it. But then, there are some that have a reason. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are celebrating forty years this year. So is Foreigner, who decided to bring an all-American band that was around at the same time as them.
Cheap Trick.
About a handful of 70s arena rock bands that are still together have all, or most of their original members, Cheap Trick being one of them. On the other hand, groups like Journey, Asia, and Chicago are still rocking, but most of their original members are gone. Foreigner is one of those groups, but in my mind, Foreigner is one of those few groups that whether or not you’re a fan of them, you’ll do whatever it takes to see them live. Lou Gramm may not be with them anymore, but Kelly Hansen takes his place better than most second front men in rock do, or have.
Jason Bonham, son of the late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, is also tagging along, and as you can probably imagine, he’s just celebrating Led Zeppelin in general with his Led Zeppelin Experience. Zeppelin’s formation will be turning 50 in two years, so maybe Jason Bonham will be on the road with some other people then. They were up first on the stage at, as the ticket stub promised, 7:00 sharp. Lead vocalist James Dylan and Bonzo Jr. took Tampa on an electric ride through ten of Led Zeppelin’s greatest hits, (Whole Lotta Love, Over The Hills And Far Away) somehow excluding the sing-along Stairway To Heaven. “We’ll be back here in Tampa sometime later this year,” Bonham announced at the end of his set. The LZE will not return to Florida this year as of now, but Bonham himself will be playing drums with former Van Halen bassist Michael Anthony, and Vic Johnson in VH singer Sammy Hagar‘s supergroup, The Circle in Coachman Park on September 17.
At 8:00, “the best f*cking rock band you’ve ever seen, Cheap Trick,” was introduced to Tampa, and the Amphitheatre for the second time in two years. Their last show in Tampa was last September when they opened for Heart and Joan Jett & The Blackhearts on the Rock Hall Three For All tour. The Hall Of Famers, walking out in their regular hat and glasses disguises, opened their set with their trademark intro song, Hello There, followed by a cover of Day Tripper by The Beatles. Robin Zander, wearing all white, as usual, wailed out the hits created with original guitarist Rick Nielsen (California Man, The Flame, Dream Police, to which Robin literally fell onto his knees for near the end) and also some tracks from their new album We’re All Alright!, which released in June. The set came to what seemed like a premature end when Zander brought out his daughter Robin-Sailor, and some friends of hers, to wrap up the show with the iconic Surrender.
The clock struck 9:27, and literally everyone not seated began rushing back to their seats. The theater was loud, yet unenergetic during the first two bands. Now, it was time for the real deal. The black curtains fell and revealed the modern incarnation of Foreigner, along with guitarist Mick Jones, the only remaining original member of the group. “I’m not sure if all of you aware of this, but this year is Foreigner’s 40th anniversary.” frontman Kelly Hansen bragged, to which the roar of the crowd was the received response. The entire set was nothing but wall-to-wall hits, (Cold As Ice, Feels Like The First Time, Urgent) with Hansen strutting around in white tights, giving a Steven Tyler sort of vibe to the show itself.
And if you were wondering, yes: Juke Box Hero was performed at the end of the main set, and it was truly epic.
Hansen left the stage during the intro, and a minute later, appeared out of nowhere on a rising pole in the crowd, singing the first verse of the rock classic. Except they didn’t just rip through it. At what would be the 4:18 mark of the original 4:18 album version of the song, the first verse was just concluded. Juke Box Hero was not just a performance like the other songs that night – – it was a complete rock and roll odyssey. But they were just getting us warmed up for what was to come.
An encore of the 80s smash hit I Want To Know What Love Is was given along with Tampa’s Blake High School choir, and once the eight-minute rendition of the song had come to an end, the crowd was pretty confident that it was over. That Foreigner had brought 40 years of rock and roll to Tampa, but frankly, I really feel bad for whoever left early. “Is there anything you wanna say to ’em, Mick? Maybe any special friends you wanna bring on out?”
Who else walks out but original drummer Dennis Elliott?
Denny got up to current drummer Chris Frazier‘s kit and smashed out the beats of Long Way From Home, and of course, Foreigner’s other signature song, Hot Blooded. As unexpectedly mind-blowing this was, it wasn’t the first reunion this tour. Last month in New York, Mick Jones brought up Lou Gramm, along with original members Ian McDonald and Al Greenwood for the first time since 1979.
I’m pretty confident in saying that everybody went home either happy or drunk. But hey, whether you felt like the flame, or needed cooling, or were as cold as ice that night, Foreigner proved that even without Lou Gramm, they still bring stars to people’s eyes, jukebox hero or not.
Where were you on September 17, 2005? Maybe you were a teenager, child, or toddler. Maybe you didn’t live in Tampa. Hell, maybe you weren’t even born yet. But some special people were at Amalie Arena, then known as the St. Pete Times Forum, seeing Sir Paul McCartney, a quarter of the biggest band of all time, live. It was only his third time in Tampa. Until his 1990 stop at the old Tampa Stadium, his only time in Florida for a ticketed performance was in Jacksonville with The Beatles in 1964.
But now, things are different.
In April, the people over at Amalie Arena made the groundbreaking announcement that The Cute One was going to present his One on One tour at the venue, causing a practically instant sellout. People were literally standing in line at the box office to get their tickets the old fashioned way. Those that had seats behind the stage were probably feeling incredibly lucky because we all knew that if we didn’t have a ticket already, we’d have to be dedicated to Macca enough to risk buying an overpriced nosebleed seat on StubHub, and then face the fact that there would be a slight chance that you wouldn’t get in, considering all the bots on there.
The doors opened at 6:30, food and merchandise stands opened, and at 8:38, the blue spotlights on stage went out. Some eighteen-or-so seconds of darkness later, there he was. Macca, in a white button down and dark blue blazer, received probably the loudest roar of excitement ever given at this venue upon walking out. The show opened with A Hard Day’s Night, a song that he hasn’t played on tour since The Beatles’ 1965 tour, followed by a lively blast-from-the-past, Junior’s Farm.
“I’ve got a feeling we’re gonna have a lot of fun here tonight!” Paul declared. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that he was right. Every element of the show, from the 39 song set list to the psychedelic laser show during Being For The Benefit of Mr. Kite!, made the tickets worth purchasing in every way. And only two decades of his long and winding career were ignored. Though pushing the 90s and 2000s aside, Paul went as far back as The Quarrymen’s In Spite Of All The Danger. Whaddya mean “who?!” They were the band that would evolve into The Beatles! On the other hand, the first few verses from his 2015 collaboration with rapper Kanye West and singer Rihanna, FourFiveSeconds, was also given a segment to shine.
To bring the 60s into the show, Paul and friends made a point to pick and choose mostly the better known songs of his off of every Beatle studio album, except for Beatles For Sale and Yellow Submarine. Representing the 70s, to a lesser extent, were those monumental anthems from Wings. A piano-driven Nineteen Hundred and Eighty-Five, and a turbulent ride through Jet were both early specifics on the setlist. The 80s? We were treated to 1980’s Temporary Secretary, and also a heartbreakingly poignant composition from his career, which I’ll get to.
Paul told stories of all kinds, from the time he saw Jimi Hendrix open a show with the Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band title track two days following its release, when he was told by the Russian Defense Minister how his records helped him learn English, and to when he fell in a hole onstage during his last visit to Tampa. “I’m lucky to be here tonight.” he remarked. Sadly, many of his musical compadres were not so lucky. He dedicated songs like Love Me Do to late Beatles producer George Martin, who passed away last year, and earlier, Maybe I’m Amazed to his first wife, Linda Eastman.
But the two major dedications he made were to the two fallen Beatles, John Lennon and George Harrison.
Paul dedicated his 1982 album track, Here Today to Lennon, following a twenty-six second applause, after Paul demanded to “hear it for John.” The song was written shortly after his 1980 death in New York City, and was written as “like, a conversation we never had, where I could tell him things I couldn’t tell him.” A lot could have been gotten out of the entire show, but he concluded that segment with a really good life lesson:
“If you want to tell someone something, tell them now.”
Later on in the show, Paul was handed a ukulele, and began a relatively upbeat rendition of the Harrison penned Beatles track, Something. But out of nowhere, once the first three verses were complete, the entire backing band broke in and finished the song off the way it originally sounded, with a slideshow of photos of primarily Harrison scrolling by.
Following his main set ending with Live and Let Die, which involved about four explosions and some fireworks, and Hey Jude, which surprisingly did not start much of a sea of cellphone flashlights, Paul brought up two fans to the stage: A Sarasota veterinarian in Paul’s Sgt. Pepper outfit, and her son, sporting a black shirt with the Beatles logo on it. They, by Paul’s request, danced onstage together to Get Back. “Speaking of getting back, we’ve gotta go home!” he concluded, to which boos and moans were his response. His band ripped into the medley you hear at the end of the Abbey Road album, which involved Golden Slumbers, Carry That Weight, and The End. “Tell you what, we’ll see you next time!” were his final remarks to Tampa.
Many people probably doubted that, but from the good spirits Paul was in, and the way he sang and played, there just may be a next time. But hopefully not with a twelve year gap in between.
Josh Bradley Live 