Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Ringo Starr Rewind...9 Years ago today, Thursday, July 31, 2003 Mohegan Sun Arena


Ringo’s Eighth All-Starr band was for the most part, the most original hit laden line-up, to that point in the All-Starr history; besides the Fourth All-Starr band, Frampton, Bruce, Brooker and Kirk.  For this incarnation, he tapped Colin Hay of Men at Work fame on gutiar.  Also, an obscure (in the US) name, Paul Carrack, who has one of the voices you know, but you might now know his name for piano.  On bass was John Waite who is best known for his hit song, Missing You.  But I guess he also played bass with his old band, the forgettable The Baby’s.  Returning on drums was the ever talented Sheila E.  At the helm as musical director, who Ringo relies on to get everything together, is the uber talented, Mark Rivera.  This tour was a long one, 33 dates over three months.  This is a highlight in my Ringo Starr career because it marks the first time he played the Mohegan Sun Arena.  In 2001 when he played there, he played in the Pavilion, which was a big 5,000 seat white tent they set up in the parking lot while the arena was being built.  

Stock photo from the 2003 tour
I got tickets for my Mother and I in March when the tour was announced on Tickets.com.  I scored 8th row off to the right side.  This took place on a Thursday, and for a weeknight, the play was filled.  Ringo came on right at 7, like the ticket said.  He’s always known for a prompt start, even if the place isn’t filled. 

The announcer announced the band, they got into place, the lights went down and Ringo opened the show with It Don’t Come Easy.  Colin and Mark played a joint solo in the song.  I love Colin Hay, I’ve seen him 10+ times in concert on his own, and 3 times with Ringo, but he is a very scripted guitar player.  Like me, he doesn’t like to improvise, most of his guitar solos were the same as the official recording, which was recorded on the first night of the tour, a music industry no-no.  But it is a decent show, although it suffers from Brent Carpenter’s (chosen style) of intermingling documentary footage between songs.  The now out of print DVD and CD simply entitled Tour 2003 is a gem.  After It Don’t Come Easy, he said hello to the audience and mentioned that he played this venue on each tour, all 8.  This was incorrect.  He started playing the casino in 1997.  This was in fact the 8th concert he played there, but not the 8th band to play there. 

Ringo told Colin to start Honey Don’t.  He played the opening that sounded just like the recording.  My mother, who joined me, said he looked like he put his finger in a light socket.  I remember that he had really spiked hair.  Paul took a turn on a piano solo.  He really is a fantastic singer and player.  Colin and/or Ringo messed up the guitar solo.  Colin didn’t play enough bars or Ringo missed coming back in, they shared a laugh about it and finished the song.  Ringo then mentioned his new CD Ringo Rama, and said he was going to do a few tracks.  He introduced Memphis in My Mind.  He screwed up the third verse.  He did it on the official recording too.  It had a bluesy piano riff courtesy of Paul. 

Ringo then introduced Paul Carrack and they played on of the very first song he wrote, How Long.  There was a bit in there for the audience to sing along.  His voice was silky smooth as usual.  I really wish he would tour America.  I saw him at Ringo’s birthday at Radio City Music Hall.  He was walking with Colin Hay after the show and I said hi to both, I think Colin recognized me, I’ve only met him like 8 times.  He’s very approachable and a nice gent.  Paul seemed nice too.  Mark Rivera played a great sax solo. 

Up next was Colin Hay.  I’m pretty sure Mark Rivera learned the flute just to play Down Under.  He’s very versatile and Ringo is lucky to have him.  After the song, Colin remarked, ‘thank God for the hits’ and then introduced John Waite who sang Isn’t It Time from The Baby’s. 

Sheila E sung A Love Bizarre with Colin singing under her.  She did an extended drum solo and had her name on the bass drum which also light up.  She even hit drums behind her while she was doing her drum solo.  Colin played a funky jazzy guitar riff. 

Sheila reintroduced Ringo who sang Boys.  Paul played a nice riff on the piano.  Since there were only 4 All-stars, they got to sing 3 songs a piece (except for Sheila).  Colin did Overkill, which was a highlight for me.  He did not do this when he was in the 2008 All-Starr band. 

Ringo came down from his riser to sing Act Naturally. Colin did an admirable job of playing the twangy country guitar riff that song needs.  You’re 16, which is the last time it was played on tour was the standard arrangement, but with nice piano work from Paul.  Mark played Barri-sax, I believe.  Yellow Submarine was next.  Ringo inserted “Mohegan Sun” into the appropriate part and got a rise out of the audience.  He got everyone on their feet during this song. 

This was the first tour Ringo did since George passed.  As a way to tribute his friend, the All-Starrs did Here Comes the Sun.  Each All-Starr did a verse, Sheila played the shaker and Colin played the guitar.  While it wasn’t the first time a Beatle’s song was played on tour with the All-Starr’s it was the first time it was played by all of them as a feature during the tour.   

Ringo came back out to play the new song, Never Without You for George.  This song proved difficult for Colin to play.  He did try though.  Mark played an acoustic guitar.  This tour was difficult because they really could have used a second guitarist.  Like in the last 4 tours, there have been 2 guitar players; one lead and one rhythm.  Mark pushes Ringo, like when he made him try Oh My My in 2008.  That was the tour highlight for me.  They did Don’t Pass Me By for the first time on this tour.  Ringo even played the first verse on the piano, which shows he’s more than just a drummer, and was in the right place at the right time and whatever else people say about him.  Mark substituted the violin from the White Album for Harmonica.  I have never cared for the recorded version.  After this song, a high roller couple came in late and Ringo said something like, “just wouldn’t book your ticket early?”  This was also the last tour that the No No Song was done on.  It’s good to retire some songs to make room for others. 

After this song, Paul Carrack took over and did the Squeeze hit, Tempted.  It rocked, and hoped it would make it to the CD or DVD but didn’t.  Next up was the too thin for his own good John Waite singing When I See You Smile.  For The Glamorous Life, Shelia came out from behind the drum set to the timbales and rocked them, even playing with her high heels.  She was playing with the front men, even helped Colin on the guitar for a few seconds.  After a lengthy timbale solo, it was back to Ringo for I Wanna Be Your Man.  After that, it was back to Paul for a poignant version of The Living Years from his Mike + The Mechanics days. 

John played his ultra hit, Missing You.  He couldn’t play bass on this song, so Mark strapped on the bass.  Colin then did Who Can It Be Now, one of the biggest hits of the evening.  Mark nailed the sax solo and riff. 

Ringo left the drums and closed the main show with Photograph.  Ringo did the bit about not leaving the stage during the encore break, but making us clap as if they had left.  Now he just plays straight through; none of this fake encore stuff, everyone knows the artists are coming back out.

The second to last song was the forgettable 1992 single, Don’t Go Where The Road Don’t Go.  It has been played on a few tours, but now has been retired.  It’s got the same message as the No No Song, but with a different melody. 

Ringo then closed the show for good, doing With A Little Help from My Friends.  After doing his jumping jacks and peace and loving, he was off the stage in a flash and the All-Starrs ended the song and the show.  They bowed and Colin said good night and it was over. 

After the show, I got a mug and program.  It was the first of many concerts I have seen at the Mohegan Sun Arena.  I really miss the days when they used Tickets.com.  Before they switched to Ticketmaster® fans really had a chance to get really good seats and not get hosed the way we do now.  I got eight rows from the stage in section 1 with was house right.  It was a prime location to watch the show as we were too close to watch on the big screens, but could see the action up close. 


It Don’t Come Easy
Honey Don’t
Memphis in Your Mind
How Long
Down Under
Isn’t It Time
A Love Bizarre
Boys
Overkill
Act Naturally
You’re Sixteen
Yellow Submarine
Here Comes the Sun
Never Without You
Don’t Pass Me By
No No Song
Tempted
When I See You Smile
The Glamorous Life
I Wanna Be Your Man
The Living Years
Missing You
Who Can It Be Now
Photograph
Don’t Go Where the Road Don’t Go
With A Little Help From My Friends. 

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