Post by bedderdazed on Nov 29, 2008 17:13:46 GMT -5
I rarely enjoy when a performer encourages me to clap along.
Usually everybody starts slamming their hands together in unison (with good intent) and then we get bored and the whole thing fizzles into two or three loud drunks clapping off beat.
This mind-blowing show last night was different. We clapped because we wanted to, or almost had to. We often pounded our hands and sang along at the top of our lungs.
Security even let us get a closer look during the encores, in a glorious theater. where the sound was near perfect from my seventh row seat.
Ray's voice was on. He spoke often. His antics were unpredictable. He smiled regularly. He talked about the impetus for several songs, including one likely written under the effects of morphine.
We ate it up. We were noisy for the many old Kinks songs, quite as church mice for the newer stuff.
For the most part it was two guitarists strumming away along to Ray's beautiful voice.
No, it wasn't quite the Kinks, Dave wasn't there and Mick was a no show.
Or was it? Ray spoke several times about Dave and asked twice for us to salute the only lost original Kink.
At a Kinks show at JFK stadium, in Philadelphia (the USA home of Live Aid), I saw the Kinks --very predictably-- blow headliner Foreigner off the stage. Foreigner-- like many other rockers-- simply chose to play, while they nearly ignored the audience.
At that gig, Ray noticed-- and made sure everyone else did ---a certainly then foolish young man wearing a green shirt.
We all laughed and collectively worried as that guy, about half way back in the crowd of about 40,000 stood on the edge, and very top of the stadium.
Seems like Ray has always watched us as closely as we watch him.
Wow, did we have fun when the kinks toured regularly?!
This show was no different. Ray gave shout-outs to several longtime friends, and made most everyone feel very much at home, this day after Thanksgiving. He seemed to make eye contact with the entire audience, and even played regularly to the balcony.
The amount of early Kinks served us was flattering to an older crowd who ate it up. Davies stayed away from the most recent Kinks albums, while his solo stuff was wonderfully delivered and most welcome.
Worst thing you can hear at a concert is for Mick Jagger to say, "Now one from the new album"--but not with Davies and not in Tampa.
The beautiful old theatre might have held about 1,000. Rock concert ticket prices continue to go up and the venues get smaller. It's so nice to get that close and hear that well.
At that JFK show, I was a long way away--at the opposite end of the stadium. But at both shows there was a strong bond.
Now is a chance to get a good look (and listen again) to a legend. If your city is as far away as my JFK seats were, get on a plane and enjoy one of the few constants many of us have shared for the past few decades. music.
On to Orlando, Sunday night. Bill Rettew
Usually everybody starts slamming their hands together in unison (with good intent) and then we get bored and the whole thing fizzles into two or three loud drunks clapping off beat.
This mind-blowing show last night was different. We clapped because we wanted to, or almost had to. We often pounded our hands and sang along at the top of our lungs.
Security even let us get a closer look during the encores, in a glorious theater. where the sound was near perfect from my seventh row seat.
Ray's voice was on. He spoke often. His antics were unpredictable. He smiled regularly. He talked about the impetus for several songs, including one likely written under the effects of morphine.
We ate it up. We were noisy for the many old Kinks songs, quite as church mice for the newer stuff.
For the most part it was two guitarists strumming away along to Ray's beautiful voice.
No, it wasn't quite the Kinks, Dave wasn't there and Mick was a no show.
Or was it? Ray spoke several times about Dave and asked twice for us to salute the only lost original Kink.
At a Kinks show at JFK stadium, in Philadelphia (the USA home of Live Aid), I saw the Kinks --very predictably-- blow headliner Foreigner off the stage. Foreigner-- like many other rockers-- simply chose to play, while they nearly ignored the audience.
At that gig, Ray noticed-- and made sure everyone else did ---a certainly then foolish young man wearing a green shirt.
We all laughed and collectively worried as that guy, about half way back in the crowd of about 40,000 stood on the edge, and very top of the stadium.
Seems like Ray has always watched us as closely as we watch him.
Wow, did we have fun when the kinks toured regularly?!
This show was no different. Ray gave shout-outs to several longtime friends, and made most everyone feel very much at home, this day after Thanksgiving. He seemed to make eye contact with the entire audience, and even played regularly to the balcony.
The amount of early Kinks served us was flattering to an older crowd who ate it up. Davies stayed away from the most recent Kinks albums, while his solo stuff was wonderfully delivered and most welcome.
Worst thing you can hear at a concert is for Mick Jagger to say, "Now one from the new album"--but not with Davies and not in Tampa.
The beautiful old theatre might have held about 1,000. Rock concert ticket prices continue to go up and the venues get smaller. It's so nice to get that close and hear that well.
At that JFK show, I was a long way away--at the opposite end of the stadium. But at both shows there was a strong bond.
Now is a chance to get a good look (and listen again) to a legend. If your city is as far away as my JFK seats were, get on a plane and enjoy one of the few constants many of us have shared for the past few decades. music.
On to Orlando, Sunday night. Bill Rettew