Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band Entertainment Art Charter One at Northerly Island Chicago, IL July 13, 2008

This is a concept that concert promoters should really pick up on and how do I say it delicately? STEAL! Let’s face it; just out of the 80’s alone there are a ton of bands we’d love to see live but who wants to hear anything else but the hits? Bands like Flock of Seagulls, Psychedelic Furs, and Men at Work would be great but only for 20 minutes, and only if I don’t have to sit through the other songs that I fast forwarded on my cassette player back in the day. I didn’t want to hear them then and I certainly don’t want to hear them now in 2008.

Although I’m sure this isn’t exactly the reasoning behind it, it is the model that the All-Starr Band follows. Each member in Ringo’s band gets a moment to step up front and center in the spotlight and play their big hit. Walking into the Charter One Grounds on a post card picture Chicago summer night, I thought this year seemed to be a little lighter on star power than it had in the past. However, by the end of the show I came out pleasantly surprised. Everyone on that stage tonight had a song I remembered growing up with and for the most part loved.

This year Ringo brought Men at Work’s Colin Hay on acoustic guitar, Billy Squire on electric guitar, The Average White Band’s Stuart Hamish on bass, Gary Wright on keyboards and Edgar Winter on keyboards and sax, and drummer Gregg Bissonette.

The show opened with a surprise, a less known song from The Beatle’s Rubber Soul album. “What Goes On” was an unusual choice to open the show with but welcomed. Ringo then followed it with a song from his 2003 Ringo Rama album, “Memphis in Your Mind.” It’s no secret that Ringo isn’t the best singers that ever lived, yet his warmth is what seems to come out. Without question, this crowd was here for one person and that was the drummer of The Beatles.

Through the course of the show everybody takes turns in the spotlight showcasing some of their hits. Billy Squire came out and played “Lonely is the Night” and “In the Dark,” Edgar Winter offered up "Frankenstein" and "Free Ride," Colin Hay played a loose version of “Down Under,” Gary Wright delivered the classic "Dream Weaver," and Stuart Hamish came out and killed the instrumental "Pick up the Pieces."

Although Ringo had drummer Gregg Bissonette, that didn’t mean he didn’t grab some sticks and get behind the skins as well. Ringo played the drums during the song he introduced as one he originally played with his old band. “Boys” although was a track he covered with The Beatles, he also played it in his previous band Rory Storm and the Hurricanes.

Ringo didn’t disappoint the crowd this evening and played a lot of their favorites. The Buck Owens classic that was on The Beatles Help album, “Act Naturally” was another nice surprise to hear live. “If you don’t know this song you’re in the wrong place,” Ringo points out before going into the sing along “Yellow Submarine.”

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band is a wonderful and unique concept for fans and the performers. Every one of them has showcased some great musicians and this year was no different. Ringo with all of his peace sign flashing can be some what hooky. Still, you feel he has his heart in the right place and his fans eat it up.

Comments

Great Review... Written by Guest on 2008-11-28 20:57:33 But why did it take you 4 months to get it out?

uhhh.... Written by Guest on 2008-11-28 23:41:45     wtf this happened eons ago

All True Written by publisher on 2008-11-29 03:39:45 Got lost in the shuffle but thought it should still see thel ight of day...yes..no!?!

Written by Guest on 2008-12-04 17:18:24     the concert was great.     i loved it.

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