Policemen lined the glacial parking lot like doubled mirror images with shields and batons, but laughed to one another as if it was ludicrous for them to be there. The workman’s rock portrait was the talk of almost everything left of the dial. Baseball-glove-skinned scalpers made deals, although the box office peculiarly still was selling tickets to the sold-out show. Some guy’s newly purchased admission slipped out of his hand and another guy stepped on it and smiled until the first walked out in defeat.
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Bob Seger & The Silver Bullet Band
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 Entertainment
Art
Allstate Arena
Chicago, Ill.
November 30, 2006
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The city was about to get seven inches of snow plus and people from around the world were on the phone to their friends and spouses, asking where they were when Thin Lizzy began playing The Boys Are Back in Town. I barely got my ticket, but assuming since Bob Seger has been with Capitol Records since 1968, they would see no obstacle in coming out from the hotel after a long Hollywood flight to add a close seat to an after-party pass.
Breaths were drawn and the crowd rose in the largest proverbial courtroom in the feel-good-rock arena as Bob Seger walked out to his mic in a black T-shirt, jeans, and sneakers. This wasn’t a legend that had been reclusive for 11 years for familial reasons. This was family. It was like Dad was home.
Seger began singing slowly, crouching, stomping his feet, and raising his fists in a waiting uppercut position. Many may note that sadly much of the gravel is gone from his voice. It’s still the same, but it sounds like someone took the pea out of the whistle. It comes back when he’s really belting one out such as “Old Time Rock and Roll” – which this rendition Tom Cruise would not be able to move if he heard – and “Horizontal Bop.” Still Katmandu was not exactly the way we remember it last time we went there, but there’s something better about being in the arena than being in the hardware store and hearing every predictable note. By the end of the night, many would have to sit down, because they couldn’t keep up with The Motor City spirit.
Joni Mitchell had told Seger his voice would get lower and lower as he got older, but that really doesn’t seem to be the issue. It’s just some of the grit is gone. Though it has peeled away over the years to reveal a melody, which made “We’ve Got Tonight” much more intimate as he sat and played it at the piano. The guy behind me who was double-fisting his seven-dollar beers was openly weeping, looking at his friend in his homemade leather vest saying, “Damn fool made me cry.”
The Silver Bullet Band is a collection of ages and almost makes one feel like sweating Rocky Horror Picture Show songs rather than just hearing female backup singers and five-altered saxophones through a monitor. The band practices six times a week. It would be ignorant for me to say it shows as this is, by many standards, supposed to be the best live show anyone can see. Alto Reed, saxophonist, stood in a spotlight as though he were standing below a streetlight and wielded a sax almost as long as he is tall. The crowd chanted “Moose Moose,” as Jim Brown played guitar alongside Mark Chatfield with his long, blonde Nelson hair and Bob played air guitar, doing ZZ Top dances. When Patty Loveless couldn’t make it into town, singer and percussionist Laura Creamer sang “The Answer’s in the Question.” with Bob. He managed to get her on the phone and was courteous enough to tell everyone where she was. Seger actually stopped a long applause from the crowd to introduce his horn section who danced together like the Jordinaires. It’s not just a one-man-show. Bob is truly proud of and close to his band.
These unlikely assembled musicians paid tribute to Chuck Berry with “C’est La Vie” and played a romantic message to Bob’s wife called Satisfied. Seger told us how many years ago each song was written and recording, stating he hoped we remembered it. No matter who you were, you were happy in that room. Things were possible. Life was clearer. There was a comfort as he played in his glasses - occasionally broke out the sweat band until his hair was wet. It didn’t solve everything, but it made people forget the bad for a few hours. No matter who you were, as Bob said, you were special. So don’t let anyone change you. Everyone’s eyes were glittering with thanks by the time he let out the line, “Ain’t it funny how the night moves?”
For certain, Seger is accessible as if he’s playing your backyard, and the entire audience addresses him by first name. He is the every man and should not be looked at as an entertainer or a rock star. He should be regarded as that guy who started singing on the line one day when everything was quiet, and when you were driving home, you were thinking, “Man, what is that guy doing working with me?” He’s every Detroit elevator mechanic and parts technician sitting in his garage at night with the acoustic just writing in his head and humming with his eyes closed. The most endearing thing he said was about a song he wrote regarding basketball and how it’s become so complicated and regulated. He titled it Simplicity.
“They’re changing all the rules and I say keep it simple; you’ll do real good,” Seger grinned over his now-grey beard and gave a thumbs up.
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Best Damn Review I've read yet!
Written by Guest on 2007-01-09 11:57:00
great review - you get it! You deserve to review a Seger concert. No stupid cliches about Springsteen being more intellectual etc. I saw him in Detroit on Dec 20 - it was incredible. Yes, Bob is like family. Great review |
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