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November 15, 2008
Elton John at Mohegan Sun Arena
By SEAN SPILLANE
Staff writer
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If an artist you like is on tour to promote a greatest-hits album, do not miss that show.
Further proof was provided Friday night when Elton John played the Mohegan Sun Arena on a tour that celebrates the release of his latest hits package, “Rocket Man – Number Ones.”
The concert was everything any Elton John fan could hope for, 26 of his best songs played in a concert that ran for nearly three hours. If all of the songs performed weren’t all actual No. 1 singles, they were at the very least fan favorites.
From the opening notes of “Funeral for a Friends,” the sold-out arena was filled with an electric feeling, not only appreciating what was being played, but wondering how he was going to top himself with his next song. To make the night seem more enjoyable was the fact that Sir Elton looked to be having a blast on stage, smiling broadly and periodically getting out from behind his piano to acknowledge the crowd, making sure to give some love to the fans who bought tickets behind the stage.
One of the two songs I wasn’t too familiar with, “Madman Across the Water,” was well received and Elton used the song to go off on an extended piano solo. Elton and his band did quite a few improvisational jams throughout the concert, with mixed results. After a while, the jams started to seem a little tedious and audience attention seemed to lag.
But even if that were so, Sir Elton would reel the crowd back in with one of his major hits. “Madman Across the Water” was followed by “Tiny Dancer,” which had the fans perked up and singing right along. The night’s only major lull came when the slow song “Believe” was followed by “Take Me to the Pilot,” which started with an extended piano solo before finishing strong.
The next song was “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and, again, the fans jumped right back into the spirit of the event.
This is not to say the “jam sessions” were uninteresting, because they were not. Elton drew out the ending of “Levon” and turned it into something resembling an energetic gospel song. And “Rocket Man” found him putting an echo effect to good use, layering his voice to create an almost psychedelic sound.
If I could find one thing to complain about, it would be the Elton either can’t hit the high notes anymore or doesn’t even try. It was missed on decidedly songs such as “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Daniel,” “Tiny Dancer” and “Bennie and the Jets.”
But I can cut him some slack as he is 61 years old now. He might not be able to do what he did as a younger man – who can? – but he still manages to sing with a passion usually reserved for performers half his age.
The end of the concert was an Elton fan’s dream. After a solo “Candle in the Wind,” the last six songs in his set were all up-tempo hits that had the 10,000 in attendance on their feet and dancing.
And Elton, bless his heart, didn’t linger off-stage too long waiting for the encore, instead choosing to come back out and sign autographs for a lucky 50 or so fans in the front rows.
The encore was a brief two-song set that started with The Who’s “Pinball Wizard,” which was a hit for Elton after his performance in the movie version of “Tommy.” Strangely enough, The Who opened its encore at the Mohegan Sun 17 days before with the same song.
The finale, “Your Song,” was dedicated by Elton to his fans, who he thanked for supporting him and giving him a life in music.
He also promised to be back on tour next year and he said it will be another Face 2 Face tour with Billy Joel. I saw that tour in Hartford in 2002 and I recommend you start saving up for your tickets now.
The set list
Funeral for a Friend/Love Lies Bleeding/The Bitch is Back/Madman Across the Water/Tiny Dancer/Levon/Believe/Take Me to the Pilot/Goodbye Yellow Brick Road/Daniel/Rocket Man/Honky Cat/Sacrifice/Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me/All the Young Girls Love Alice/I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues/Sorry Seems to Be the Hardest Word/Candle in the Wind/Bennie and the Jets/Sad Songs (Say So Much)/Philadelphia Freedom/I’m Still Standing/Crocodile Rock/Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting)
Encore: Pinball Wizard/Your Song
Posted by Sean on 6:27 PM | Comments (0)
November 11, 2008
Ratdog at The Klein
I’m sure that the people who built The Klein in Bridgeport did not have this in mind when they opened the venue in 1940.
The stately auditorium welcomed about 1,200 Deadheads Sunday night for a Bob Weir & Ratdog show and it was a bit chaotic. They were clogging the aisles, smoking those “special” cigarettes and swilling and spilling gallons of beer. If the symphony crowd could see their beloved home Sunday night, their heads might very well have exploded.
I was a bit surprised because followers of the jam-band scene are usually very respectful of their surroundings. Heck, groups of them even stay an extra day at Seaside Park to clean up after the annual Gathering of the Vibes festival.
My colleague, Bill Paxton, went to the show with me — this after seeing Ratdog twice on Long Island in late October — and he seemed surprised by the antics of a few “idiots” in the crowd. But I guess that it’s human nature to remember the few idiots rather than the majority of the peacefully assembled crowd.
I guess my main concern is that the idiots will ruin it for the rest of us. The Fairfield Theatre Company, which presents the concerts at The Klein, has done a remarkable job bringing interesting acts to the venue and it would be a shame if that ended because of a few disrepectful fools.
Anyway, on to the show.
It was pretty much the standard fare, according to Ratdog fanatic Paxton, who said he’s seen the band 50 or 60 times. Weir led the band through an 80-minute opening set and, following a 25-minute intermission, came back for another 90 minutes.
Admittedly not a Deadhead, though I like the music, I was lost for most of the first set. The only song I knew was “Dire Wolf.” That didn’t detract from my enjoyment, however, because I didn’t mind getting lost in the extended guitar jams of Weir and Mark Karan. It also helped that the obligatory drum solo was mercifully short.
The second set was more to my liking, simply because I knew a few of the songs. You can’t go wrong hearing Weir performing “Mexicali Blues,” “Uncle John’s Band” and “Sugaree.” Also, the band did a great version of the old Buddy Holly chestnut, “Not Fade Away.”
The only problem I had with the second set had nothing to do with Ratdog, but rather with the aformentioned idiots. From where I sat downstairs, the Klein reeked of vomit and pot smoke, not exactly roses and tulips. I’m kind of used to the smell of marijuana at concerts — an occupational hazard, so to speak — but the odor of the vomit was making me want to . . . well, vomit.
The one musical letdown in the set was Ratdog’s cover of Bob Dylan’s “When I Paint My Masterpiece.” I much prefer the version done by The Band, but Weir’s slower version seemed to excite the crowd.
For an encore, Weir and his bandmates ended with an a cappella number, “Attics of My Life.” I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a concert-closer performed a cappella, but I guess, after more than four decades as a working musician, Weir can pretty much do whatever he wants.
First set: Help on the Way/Slipknot!/Minglewood Blues/They Love Each Other/Odessa/Crazy Fingers/Dire Wolf/Cassidy/Big Railroad Blues
Second set: You Win Again/Mexicali Blues/When I Paint My Masterpiece/Uncle John’s Band/Samson and Delilah/Sugaree/2 Djinn/Not Fade Away
Encore: Attics of My Life
Posted by Sean on 7:33 PM | Comments (8)
November 10, 2008
J.D. Souther at FTC
After seeing J.D. Souther at the Fairfield Theatre Company’s StageOne Friday night, I ventured out to my favorite local watering hole to see who was around. I ran into a few friends and, after telling them how I spent most of my night, they turned very curious about the show.
Was it fun? Did he sound as good as he used to? Did he sing [insert ’70s hit song here]? It wasn’t all new stuff, was it?
That’s a lot of questions about a man who had just one hit single, “You’re Only Lonely,” and is better known for writing songs made into hits by his Southern California compadres Linda Ronstadt, Bonnie Raitt and, most notably, The Eagles.
So, here are the answers: It was fun, sort of.
No, he didn’t sound as good as he did as a young man.
He did play a few of the songs that other artists made famous
And, yes, there were a few selections from his new record, “If the World Was You,” which is quite good.
Initially, Souther seemed to be a bit aloof, as he opened with the new “I’ll Be Here at Closing Time,” followed by an oldie, “White Rhythm and Blues.” He didn’t really address the audience until soneone’s cell phone started ringing. Though bothered, he let it slide with a little joke.
However, a woman’s constant yapping caused Souther to stop in the middle of “The Border Guard,” a new song, and give her a talking to.
“He Chatty Cathy, shhh,” he said, without raising his voice. “Actually, there’s another show in the parking lot, why don’t you go check it out.”
Those in the audience obviously agreed with Souther, as they gave Souther an ovation for silencing the annoying background noise.
Souther also got louder ovations for his ’70s songs, some (“Jesus in 3/4 Time,” “Prisoner in Disguise”) I was not familiar with. You go for what you know and I had been listening to “If the World Was You” a lot lately, so I was more interested in the new material.
Naturally, Souther received the most applause when he sang two of the megahits he co-wrote for The Eagles — “New Kid in Town” and “Best of My Love.” It was great to him him reminisce about those songs, especially the story of how The Eagles’ record label didn’t want to release “Best of My Love” as a single. Good thing for the band and Souther that they didn’t listen.
I’m not one that demands technical perfection from musicians. Quite the opposite, in fact. I feel that a missed note here and there humanizes the songs. If I wanted to hear the songs exactly as they were recorded, I’d stay home and listen to the record. But Souther, I must admit, tried my patience.
His guitar playing was shaky at times and his piano playing was often amateurish. It might have just been a bad night, but even he admitted, after a rough turn: “That’s why I usually hire really good piano players.” He certainly could have used one Friday.
Souther’s singing was solid, if unspectacular. There were quite a few moments when, if you closed your eyes, he sounded as smooth as he did in his heyday. But he’s in his early 60s now, so to expect anything other than flashes of his old voice is to expect too much.
Still, all things considered, it was a fun night . . . sort of.
Here’s a partial set list from Friday night. There are three songs I couldn’t figure out and I couldn’t even track down on the Internet. Sorry.
I’ll Be Here at Closing Time/White Rhythm and Blues/Jesus in 3/4 Time/(Unknown)/A Chorus of Your Own/Silver Blue/The Border Guard/Baby Come Home/Rain/Faithless Love/New Kid in Town/In My Arms Tonight/Journey Down the Nile/Talking to the Moon/(Unknown)/Last in Love/All I Want/You’re Only Lonely/Best of My Love
Encore: The Secret Handshake of Fate/Prisoner in Disguise/(Unknown)
Posted by Sean on 6:05 PM | Comments (0)
