Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band-Fri., June 6th, 2014@Casino Rama, Orilla

Posted by BK on June 7, 2014 in Concert, Events, Music, Music Reviews, premiere | Leave a comment

It was two years ago in 2012 when Ringo Starr and His All-Star Band started their North American/World Tour in Niagara Falls. This will be the very first time his “All-Star Band” will tour with the same All Starr Band members line up from the 2012 junket. Ringo Starr the one time Beatle drummer launched his latest North American/World tour on Friday night at Casino Rama in Orilla. Remembering his 2012 tour, this set was a longer show(2 hours) for the 73-year-old Starr and his bandmates — singer-guitarist Todd Rundgren (Utopia, The New Cars) & second drummer Gregg Bissonette along with newest member and multi-instrumentalist-backing singer Warren Ham, singer-guitarist Steve Lukather (Toto), singer-bassist Richard Page (Mr. Mister), singer-organist Gregg Rolie (Santana, Journey), was a treat for the fans who really seemed to enjoy their two hour set. The show started with Matchbox, previously covered by the Beatles, before getting  into solo classic songs such as:” It Don’t Come Easy” and “Wings”, the latter from his last solo album, Ringo 2012.The same one liner from the last tour was receited as Ringo said “Thanks all three of you for buying it,” a joke spoken later in the evening when he played the tune from that 2012 disc called “Anthem”. Richard Page of “Mr. Mister’ fame still had his strong vocals and displayed it on Mr. Mister hits as: “Kyrie”,” Broken Wings”, and a new song, “You Are Mine” a folk ballet being released on his new album which he said Starr was gracious enough to let him play. Ringo then said “Because I’m crazy” The fans loved Ringo’s wit and one liners and give him a big roar of approval!. Starr would eventually climb up to his drum set on an elevated riser in the middle of the stage and handed the first non-Ringo/Beatles song off to Rundgren with “I Saw the Light”and for the rest of the night each musician-singer taking their turn in the spotlight with their respective hits. Greg Rolie had the crowd on their feet and the one of the biggest cheers from the crowd with such Santana songs as Evil Ways, Black Magic Woman and Oye Como Va, while Lukather handle the guitar solos and eventually lead vocals on Grammy Award winning band Toto with mega hits such as:” Roseanna”, “Africa” – which got the entire crowd on its feet for the first time – and”Hold The Line”, which he described as “a good ole Canadian drinking song!”and the crowd responded by “cheering” to Lukather. Todd Rundgren worked the fans in a frenzy with the spirited “Bang On The Drum All Day” and “Love Is the Answer”(Cover from their Utopia album) Ringo Starr’s fans  were dancing on the aisle to such Beatles tunes as: ” Boys”,” Don’t Pass Me By” – “the first song I ever wrote,” as he explained – and “Yellow Submarine”. Page brought out a “Beatles”style bass to compliment the songs that were covered during this set.  Ringo got the crowd into the concert with alot of audience participation and interaction with the crowd.  Doing the Beatles’ “I Wanna Be Your Man”, and the show-ending ” With A Little Help From My Friends/Give a Peace A Chance”  the demographic of the crowd was pretty evenly divided among young/old, crazied female(reminiscent of Beatle Mania) and male fans. The well guarded front area was eventually set free when the security loosened up and allowed the exuberant fans to crowd around the front stage.  It should be interesting to see the next group of “Superstars” to join Ringo on his travels back here in a few years from now.
Set List:
1-Matchbox(Carl Perkins cover)
2-It Don’t Come Easy
3-Wings
4-I Saw The Light(Todd Rundren cover)
5-Evil Ways(Willie Bobo cover)
6-Rosanna(Toto cover)
7-Kyrie(Mr.Mister cover)
8-Bang the Drum All Day(Todd Rundren cover)
9-Boys(The Shirelles cover)
10-Don’t Pass Me By-(The Beatles cover)
11-Yellow Submarine-(The Beatles cover)
12-Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen-(Fleetwood Mac cover)
13-Anthem
14-Honey Don’t(Carl Perkins cover)
15-You Are Mine(Richard Page cover)
16-Africa(Toto cover)
17-Oye Como Va(Tito Puente cover)
18-Love Is The Answer(Utopia cover)
19-I Wanna Be Your Man(Beatles cover)
20-Broken Wings(Mr.Mister)
21-Hold the Line(Toto cover)
22-Photograph
23-Act Naturally(Buck Owens cover)
24-With A Little Help From My Friends(Beatles cover)
25-Give Peace A Chance(The Plastic Ono Band cover)