Ringo's All-Starrs, 1999

Beacon Theatre NYC, 16 February 1999

Here are two Ringo / Gary reports from the Procol Harum newslist:

From: WRES2345@aol.com
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 09:14:44 EST
To: procol@progrock.org

Re: Another Ringo Review

I concur wholeheartedly with Jeff's review of the latest Ringo w/Brooker et al tour. I saw them last night in NYC and very little new material or arrangements occurred. GB sang Whiskey Train, A Salty Dog, and AWSoP. ASD received a standing ovation. (This time around the whole band accompanied him.)

Jack Bruce performed Theme From An Imaginary Western solo on keyboards prior to ASD. The encore consisted of two songs: Sixteen and With A Little Help From My Friends. GB wore a beret for the last half-hour of the two hour concert (with no intermission). The whole band looked like they were enjoying themselves, but personally I thought the songs were not as soulful as I've heard them played on prior occasions. However, if you haven't seen this All-Starr line-up yet and just want to sit back and relax, then I recommend this concert.

One last item: The audience spanned several generations from youngsters (some of whom had to be up past their bedtimes) to folks in their sixties. There was very much an awareness of Procol Harum including old and young alike based on reaction to the PH songs. I saw a young girl, maybe 9 years old, gyrating wildly in her seat to Whiskey Train. It's that kind of reaction that warms my heart.

From: MChass2967@aol.com
Date: Wed, 17 Feb 1999 20:28:44 EST
Subject: Re: Another Ringo Review

I was also at that show and I agree with 2345's concurrence (where were you sitting?). As stated in some of the previous notes, this was very similar to the previous couple of tours except for Todd Rundgren replacing Peter Frampton (this may or may not have been an improvement; have to think about it some more).

His remark about their playing one of his songs at Green Bay Packer games was greeted with boos; I guess realizing where he was, he then let out a 'Go Jets!' Timmy Cappello was pretty much interchangeable with Mark Rivera, last tour's token unknown American on miscellaneous instruments.

For Gary's songs: Whisky Train included the 'Hey Bartender' intro, but no drum solo. Jack Bruce was really smoking (cooking?) on bass. The lead guitar seemed a little low in the mix. As for that 'PH song about the sea', yes, ye olde NaCl Canine, the whole band (minus Ringo) accompanied GB. Very understated drumming. Todd R. spent the last half of the song trying to get seagull sounds out of his guitar. AWSoP had Timmy Cappello on organ, Todd R on acoustic guitar and it seemed half the hall was singing along. This one also got a standing ovation.

Needless to say, Gary was in fine voice.

Probably the non-PH highlite was White Room, with extended jamming between Jack and Todd at the end. There was a weird version of Love Me Do, featuring a 5 part harmony (everyone but Simon Kirke).

I was hanging around the musicians' entrance to the place prior to the show and saw most of them come in. Gary didn't seem to hear my 'Yo Gary!' so I couldn't get to show him my official BtP t-shirt. (He wasn't wearing his.)

I would definitely recommend seeing this show. I guess the only way we'll ever get to hear more than 3 or 4 PH songs over in these parts is for Gary to revive a certain British rock group...