[Slowhand] Concert Thoughts

[Dale Kalina]

We took in three shows in four nights this week - all very different and all for the most part interesting.
 
First was Carole King at the relatively intimate (4000 seats) Auditorium Theater.  This was her first tour in 11 years, and my first experience in seeing her in concert.  The audience was incredibly respectful - no one  tripping over our feet going for beers or the toilets, no incessant side conversations, everyone remaining seated and enjoying a great two hour show.  For age 62, she still looked and sounded great, the 40+ years of music still sounded fresh, and rather than bury herself amongst a big backup band/orchestra, it was just her and two guitarists, so she was up front and audible.
 
Saturday was EC at the not so intimate United Center.  Having read the reviews and heard recordings of  some of the shows, there were, unfortunately, no surprises.  For a UC audience, the crowd was pretty well-behaved  but into the music (at least in our section - although a guy in front of me appeared to spend the entire Robert Randolph set programming his cell phone) so we could enjoy the show.   There was some fine guitar work making for a good (not great) show.  Had it been my first EC concert, perhaps I would have enjoyed it as much as I did the Carole King show.  Having seen him many times, it held my interest but there were few moments that were truly memorable. 
 
A few things about the show that were interesting:
 
Robert Randolph is a ball of energy.  The opening set was fun to watch, and the set finale, with the band trading instruments was a unique experience.  RR's additions to the encore were a plus       
 
Doyle's contributions were a marked improvement over AFL as a second guitarist.  Doyle's licks and style added to the mix, whereas Andy was pretty much invisible .
 
As I watched Doyle playing, I was very confused.  He had a lefthanded guitar which is confusing enough, but his fingerings were odd looking - until I realized that his guitar is strung in reverse.  I guess he must have learned playing a righty guitar upside down then got a leftyt version that has been strung like an upside down right handed instrument.  
 
Would it really hurt to introduce the band? 
 
Backup singers should not show flabby bellies in bare midriff outfits.  Doyle's pregnant backup singer (wife?) when he opened for EC at the RAH was a real pleasure to look at compared to what I saw Saturday. 
 
Last night we saw Annie Lennox (oh yeah, and Sting, too) at the cavernous Tweeter Center, which is anything but intimate and probably has the worst acoustics of any venue I have ever been in.  Annie did a regretfully short set as the opening act for the Stingmeister, but had the audience going.  It was a shame she got shorted on time, especially so Sting could spend more time trying to turn his tunes into pointless extended jams.  Most of his show, which was over orchestrated with up to 4 backup singers, two drummers/percussionists was pretty unremarkable, even though the audience seemed to be having a great time listening to his pap.  We had gone mainly to see Annie Lennox, which was well worth it.  It was our first (and hopefully last)  Sting experience.  We left early.  In retrospect, it made the Clapton concert seem a lot better.
 
Summary:
 
Carole King - Great songs, great energy, great experience
EC - Good songs, good energy, good experience.
Annie Lennox - Great songs, great energy, great experience
Sting - Some songs, energy?, a once in a lifetime (I hope) experience.
 
Dale
 
 

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