some thoughts on the ringo show...

Review by Josh Chasin (Switch to
)
2/21/1999

I saw the All-Starr band this past Wednesday in NY, the first Ringo show I ever saw... I liked it.

As Lia's brother pointed out, all Ringo's songs are like singalong, "follow-the-bouncing-ball" type things... I give him credit for creating an ensemble where for most of the show all he's doing is sitting at his drum set-- because he really isn't a front man, at least not for an entire show...

Yes, it was glorious to see Todd playing the role of guitar hero-- the only guitarist in the band. Let's face it, in the shows he's been doing most of the time for the last 12 years-- where hew comes to your town alone, with a piano, a couple of guitars, and the latest in hi-tech karaoke-- the experience is less about musicianship and more about charisma, the cult of personality, the basking in his very "todd-ness." With Ringo, for the most part it was as if he was stripped of the opportunity to communicate with his audience in any way save for his guitar. I thought he rose nicely to the challenge, painting colorful swaths through almost every song.

I thought his playing was outstanding on the Free song "All Right Now", both that classic riffing, and the lead work. As has been said, the Cream songs were highlights. In "Sunshine of Your Love", Todd and Jack Bruce traded vocal lines, and I am pretty sure that only the two of them and Simon Kirke were on stage for the song... I found myself fantasizing about the three of them going out on tour as a power trio...

The most notable element of the show for me was the definite musical spark between Todd and Jack Bruce. Todd introduced "Sunshine of Your Love" by saying the tour was a fantasy for him because every night "I get to play THIS song with THIS man..." Todd's playing on "Sunshine" was killer, with him and Bruce playing off, and pushing, one another. And in Todd's songs Bruce added some nice touches. On the instrumental break in "Bang", which is basically a bass solo with drums, Bruce used the song's riff as a point of departure for some very cool improvisational riffing. And "Hammer" also prominently featured Bruce's bass stylings.

Overall, I enjoyed this show way more than I expected to. In fact, I damn near tripped the light fandango...


Other reviews for Ringo Starr's All-Starr Band
2/17/1999 - Beacon Theater - New York, New York


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