Burlington show review

by Anna Toberman (Switch to
)
7/14/2002

We are driving through miles of tall corn on two-lane blacktops en route to Burlington, Iowa on a Sunday afternoon. My husband asks, "Are you SURE there is a concert at the end of this road?" It certainly seems improbable, given the remoteness of the venue and the fact that shows in much larger cities have been cancelled during this troubled season's Walk Down Abbey Road.

By some miracle the show does go on. I meet fans from Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin and Illinois who also have driven hundreds of miles through cornfields to see Todd.

Memorial Auditorium is located literally on the west bank of the Mississippi River and is an older structure, seating about 2,400 with folding chairs on the floor. It seems about half full -- and the atmosphere is very laid-back and friendly, like a family reunion. I see some friends, who like me are seated at the front, and there's time to have a beer before the show starts.

I am wearing two leis made on Todd's home island of Kauai, and my intention is to give them to him somehow during the show. He made the long trip here, too, and I want to give him an Aloha from Iowa. As the first set starts, my husband whispers, "Todd saw the leis!"

He is dressed in his uniform for this tour -- a black vest and pants. He looks lean and energetic, and his voice is strong through the opening numbers and his own mini-set.

The security guys do not allow cameras to be used during the show (some are confiscated) but they don't seem to mind that people stand near the stage. During Todd's swing version of "Hello It's Me," I walk up and wait for an opportunity that finally comes. Todd bends toward me and lets the leis encircle his neck, then swiftly does a manuever to free up his mike cord. His arm stretches out to me, so I grasp his hand and get a surprise kiss! I hear some cheering from the crowd -- it's an amazing moment for me.

Todd leaves the stage for a long time after that, and the other performers have their turns in the spotlight. The sound system seems to have some problems. Vocal performances from Christopher Cross and Alan Parsons sound very distorted from my seat, and later microphones give out entirely. But the songs are enjoyable nonetheless. Mark Farner struts the stage like an old rooster and elicits a few chuckles.

Everyone who is here will remember Jack Bruce's performance. Of course, "Sunshine Of Your Love" is a knockout in terms of music. Jack traverses the whole of the stage, playing with fervor and virtuousity. I notice his face is contorted in an expression that is either ecstatic or apoplectic while at the right of the stage. Moving back the other direction, he falls backward and hits the stage, but bounces back on his feet, not missing a note! At first, I think his "stroke" is part of the act, but later hear from people who were standing at the stage that he actually tripped on equipment or the piece of paper with "Eleanor Rigby" lyrics. Whew!

I am happy to see Todd onstage during the second set. Even though his bandmates are wonderfully entertaining, Todd is mesmerizing. As my friend Jeff says, Todd's guitar gently rips your face off -- and it does. He and other band members are frustrated with some equipment problems, but they treat them with humor and keep going. At one point Mark Farner's mike goes dead and Todd takes over the lead vocal. Even with the glitches, the Beatles material flows one song to the next and it's blissfully fun.

After the show, a small group of us wait for Todd behind the auditorium. I finally get to use my camera as he accommodates each autograph request with the "community Sharpie." We learn that the group is leaving for Canada tonight and that they'll be sleeping on the bus, a routine that they must be accustomed to but I cannot imagine that they enjoy. Todd is wearing both leis -- one made from orchids and the other from ti leaves.

We meet friends back at our hotel's sport bar for a few drinks. It turns out the band is staying there, too (this is a night of improbabilities!) and soon we are joined by John Beck, Steve Murphy and Godfrey Townsend, who are very friendly and unassuming. They sit with us, order drinks, and chat about the tour, their careers, and general subjects. When "Go All the Way" comes on the bar's background music, they sing along to it -- the harmonies and little bits they had to learn but now don't use due to Eric Carmen's departure. I look across the table at my friends -- who also can't believe we're hearing this treat. We're nearly rolling on the floor laughing. John keeps looking at my watch, as their 1 am departure time gets nearer. The next day is a work day, so my husband and I call it a night. We couldn't ask for a better time or any other improbabilities that could top what already happened.


Other reviews for overall Solo dates 2002

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