If there was ever any doubt that Michael Buble is a showman in the vein of class-acts like Frank Sinatra, his concert at the Pepsi Center Tuesday shattered those doubts.
Much like Sinatra, Buble is able to draw in crowds of all kinds, as the packed stadium displayed. There were teenage couples sitting next to couples with walkers, and every age group in between. Also like Sinatra, Buble is able to enliven any crowd with his witty sense of humor, banter, and of course, his soaring voice.
He kicked off the show with a thundering version of "Cry Me A River," complete with fireworks to coincide with his hitting the final notes, he drew the audience in with gigantic numbers like that, "Feeling Good," and one of his self-penned hits, "Everything."
A voice as smooth as his also lends itself perfectly to the ballads and light fare that were also Sinatra's bread and butter, and he eased his way through a string of classics like "Georgia on My Mind," "All I Do is Dream of You," and "Me and Mrs. Jones."
The best thing about seeing Buble in concert is his interaction with the audience. He was constantly telling jokes and conversing with crowd. For somebody whose voice is larger than life, his personality is extraordinarily humble, and his constantly expressed gratitude cannot be doubted for a moment.
This finds perfect expression in what he claimed would be how he closed every show with, "A Song for You," penned by Leon Russell. No song better expresses Buble's love for his audience.
And do they love him back? Guessing based on the fact that the crowd sang along with every song, and when he went down onto the floor to sing an acoustic version of "Home," (hilariously doing the starting lines of "Freebird," and Jason Mraz's "I'm Yours" first), his reception was like an athlete or more appropriately, a rock star.
Blame it on the fact that he just wants to have fun with his audience. He broke into random versions of Michael Jackson's "Bille Jean" and The Beatle's take on "Twist and Shout," from Ferris Bueller's Day Off, when talking about his childhood in Canada.
There is no doubt that as long as Buble keeps bringing beloved music to audiences both young and old, and keeps his humble nature, he'll give Ol' Blue Eyes a run for his money.
Setlist:
Cry Me A River - Crazy Love
All of Me - Crazy Love
At This Moment - Crazy Love
Mack The Knife - More/Special Delivery
Everything - Call Me Irresponsible
I've Got the World on A String - Call Me Irresponsible
Best of Me
Crazy Love - Crazy Love
Georgia on My Mind - Crazy Love
For Once in My Life - Michael Buble
Billie Jean/Twist and Shout
All I Do is Dream of You - Crazy Love
Home - It's Time
Save the Last Dance - It's Time
How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You) - It's Time
Heartache Tonight - Crazy Love
Haven't Met You Yet - Crazy Love
Encore:
Feeling Good - It's Time
Me and Mrs. Jones - Call Me Irresponsible
A Song For You - It's Time
Showing posts with label concerts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label concerts. Show all posts
Monday, April 5, 2010
Patty Griffin at The Paramount Theatre - 03.29.10
Patty Griffin has created a cult following for years, based on her completely stunning voice, a mix of the country stylings of Emmylou Harris and the soul of Aretha Franklin. Most of her music has been in the country, or alt. country vein, but when she took to the stage at The Paramount Theatre, it was in support of a gospel album.
Downtown Church, Griffin's latest, is full mainly of covers of the wide history of spiritual music, and while it might seem a departure for her, her voice with it's amazing range is perfectly suited to such soaring melodies.
During her performance - after a brilliant blues/country opening set by Buddy Miller, in which Griffin performed for the whole set - she mostly stuck to songs from Church or songs she had written that fit the bill of "spiritual," like the twin high points from Children Running Through, "Heavenly Day," and "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)."
While it might not seem so based on her music, Griffin has a humble and hilarious stage presence, which she displayed to full effect, cracking jokes about being on a "lapsed Catholic gospel tour," and bantering with an audience that gave all its attention and energy to her, causing her to stop often and make sure it was a Monday night.
The reception for Griffin showed that as long as she is in possession of such a moving voice, it doesn't matter what she sings. If she sings it, they will come.
Downtown Church, Griffin's latest, is full mainly of covers of the wide history of spiritual music, and while it might seem a departure for her, her voice with it's amazing range is perfectly suited to such soaring melodies.
During her performance - after a brilliant blues/country opening set by Buddy Miller, in which Griffin performed for the whole set - she mostly stuck to songs from Church or songs she had written that fit the bill of "spiritual," like the twin high points from Children Running Through, "Heavenly Day," and "Up to the Mountain (MLK Song)."
While it might not seem so based on her music, Griffin has a humble and hilarious stage presence, which she displayed to full effect, cracking jokes about being on a "lapsed Catholic gospel tour," and bantering with an audience that gave all its attention and energy to her, causing her to stop often and make sure it was a Monday night.
The reception for Griffin showed that as long as she is in possession of such a moving voice, it doesn't matter what she sings. If she sings it, they will come.
Monday, March 29, 2010
John Mayer at the Pepsi Center - 03.23.10
Despite all that goes on in his personal life, John Mayer still puts on a hell of a concert.
After an invigorating opening performance by Michael Franti and Spearhead - who had the crowd clapping and jumping for a straight hour, demonstrating the joyful power of music - Mayer took to the stage.
Keeping the banter to his usual self-deprecating style, he instead focused on the music, giving the crowd at the Pepsi Center who braved a snowstorm to see him an evening of blistering guitar work.
Taking most of the setlist from his latest release, Battle Studies, he burned his way through a cover of "Crossroads" that would make his friend Eric Clapton proud, and sent his guitar wailing through "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room."
Keeping in touch with his more pop/folk roots, he played his first hit, "No Such Thing" with all the energy of somebody just getting started, and gave fans a double treat with a solo-acoustic versions of "Comfortable," from his debut EP, and brilliant cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'."
Mayer is a musician very much in touch with the wide range of influences on his music. From tapping into a U2-esque guitar line on "Heartbreak Warfare," to leading into "Half of My Heart" with Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman," and injecting his soulful "Gravity" - perhaps his best song to date - with Otis Redding's "I've Got Dreams," Mayer imbues his music with a sense of history, which is part of what makes it so accessible.
The other part is the sheer fun and joy the fans get out of it. The crowd sang along to practically every song, taking the lead in the bridge of live favorite "Why Georgia," and it was obvious that despite his personal missteps, it's the music that matters.
As long as Mayer remembers that - and keeps putting his heart into his shows - he'll be fine.
Setlist:
Heartbreak Warfare - Battle Studies
Crossroads - Battle Studies
Vultures - Continuum
No Such Thing - Room for Squares
Perfectly Lonely - Battle Studies
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room - Continuum
Assassins - Battle Studies
Comfortable - Inside Wants Out
Free Fallin' - Where the Light Is
Waiting on the World to Change - Continuum
Half of My Heart - Battle Studies
Bigger Than My Body - Heavier Things
Why Georgia - Room For Squares
Encore
Who Says - Battle Studies
Gravity - Continuum
After an invigorating opening performance by Michael Franti and Spearhead - who had the crowd clapping and jumping for a straight hour, demonstrating the joyful power of music - Mayer took to the stage.
Keeping the banter to his usual self-deprecating style, he instead focused on the music, giving the crowd at the Pepsi Center who braved a snowstorm to see him an evening of blistering guitar work.
Taking most of the setlist from his latest release, Battle Studies, he burned his way through a cover of "Crossroads" that would make his friend Eric Clapton proud, and sent his guitar wailing through "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room."
Keeping in touch with his more pop/folk roots, he played his first hit, "No Such Thing" with all the energy of somebody just getting started, and gave fans a double treat with a solo-acoustic versions of "Comfortable," from his debut EP, and brilliant cover of Tom Petty's "Free Fallin'."
Mayer is a musician very much in touch with the wide range of influences on his music. From tapping into a U2-esque guitar line on "Heartbreak Warfare," to leading into "Half of My Heart" with Bob Dylan's "Just Like a Woman," and injecting his soulful "Gravity" - perhaps his best song to date - with Otis Redding's "I've Got Dreams," Mayer imbues his music with a sense of history, which is part of what makes it so accessible.
The other part is the sheer fun and joy the fans get out of it. The crowd sang along to practically every song, taking the lead in the bridge of live favorite "Why Georgia," and it was obvious that despite his personal missteps, it's the music that matters.
As long as Mayer remembers that - and keeps putting his heart into his shows - he'll be fine.
Setlist:
Heartbreak Warfare - Battle Studies
Crossroads - Battle Studies
Vultures - Continuum
No Such Thing - Room for Squares
Perfectly Lonely - Battle Studies
Slow Dancing in a Burning Room - Continuum
Assassins - Battle Studies
Comfortable - Inside Wants Out
Free Fallin' - Where the Light Is
Waiting on the World to Change - Continuum
Half of My Heart - Battle Studies
Bigger Than My Body - Heavier Things
Why Georgia - Room For Squares
Encore
Who Says - Battle Studies
Gravity - Continuum
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