1. With A Little Help From My Friends:
Ringo took the stage to the strains of an abbreviated introductory
passage ("Billy Shears...")
2. It Don’t Come Easy
3. Octopus Garden:
Ringo commented that they don’t often play this one live, a
fact lamented in many an "All-Starr Band" review (for
the record, Ringo’s fear that a concert with this song AND
"Yellow Submarine" would make it feel like an "underwater
show" proved unwarranted – ed.). The song was performed
in the original key, with Ringo confidently nailing the vocal. Some
strong lead guitar work from Steve Dudas really helped this one
along, and from this point forward, the show seemed to be elevated
to a new level.
4. Choose Love:
about halfway through the title song of the new album, Ringo took
his seat at the drum kit (similar to how he did it on the Letterman
Show and Good Morning America performances in recent days).
5. I Wanna Be Your Man:
Ringo remained behind the kit for this one, which featured some
nice harmonica playing from Mark Hudson.
6. Don’t Pass Me By:
Ringo took to the piano for the introductory verse of this song,
as he did on the most recent All-Starr tour, and "Storytellers"
performances, while Gary Burr handled mandolin duties.
7. I’m The Greatest:
For the record, Ringo sang "now I’m only 32 …"
as he did on the original recording (which, by the way is itself
now 32 …)
8. Give Me Back The Beat:
for this number, a small kit of 2 drums and a cymbal were brought
out front for Ringo to use while singing. He commented, though,
that there would be no high heels, alluding to All-Starr Sheila
E’s similar percussion set up. As on the album, Ringo name-checked
the three primary Roundheads ("Gary’s rocking..., Mark’s
rocking..., Steve’s rocking…").
9. Memphis In Your Mind:
the rare non-hit, non-new album track from Ringo Rama.
10. Photograph
11. Never Without You:
every bit as touching as the live Roundheads version from the Ringo
Rama promotional CD.
12. Back Off Boogaloo:
perhaps the evening’s "heaviest" and most rocking
number, Ringo took to the kit for the second part of the song (as
he did on "Choose Love" earlier).
13. Boys:
Ringo stayed on drums for this one. Candidly, this is one he always
seems to "phone in" on the All-Starr sets. The performance
here featured some heavy drumming and really rocked. At this point
Ringo took a break, leaving the Roundheads to do some Beatle numbers.
At recent Beatlefests, Mark Hudson has alluded to an idea he’s
pushed to Ringo, whereby the band would play and sing Beatle songs,
and all Ringo would have to do is drum his signature parts (i.e.
"Ticket To Ride", "Rain", etc.). This was not
to be, but the crowd was in good hands nonetheless.
Following Gary Burr’s solid performance of "You Can’t
Do That", Hudson joked that Ringo had hand-picked this next
spot, "Revolution 9". He then launched into a ripping
medley of "Long Tall Sally", "I’m Down"
and "Oh! Darling". Steve Dudas handled the guitar demands
admirably here.
Following this mini-Beatle set, Ringo returned for:
14. Yellow Submarine
15. Act Naturally
16. With a Little Help From My Friends
(joined by Max Weinberg and Little Steven of Bruce Springsteen's
E Street Band) The show ended at 10:10 p.m., but the general consensus
among the fans was that there’s no reason Ringo couldn’t
or shouldn’t do more shows like this. The Roundheads serve
him well, and the intimacy of the club setting was definitely a
plus. While I personally enjoy the All-Starr format, it seems like
the "Ringo Revue" compared to the genuine rock show witnessed
tonight.
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Ringo
Starr & The Roundheads In Concert
