That's probably the best lesson from Tuesday evening's concert with Ringo and the gang in Livermore, CA.
A couple of things made the evening memorable before the show even started. First, the weather was absolutely gorgeous. I mean California gorgeous. Temps were in the low '70s as the evening began. There was hardly a cloud in the sky. It was suggested we bring a light jacket in with us and though we ended up using it, we could have also done without it. The weather was that beautiful.
Then there was the venue. I'd never been to Wente Bros. before and wondered before arriving if Ringo's playing in a semi-isolated place like this meant a lowering of his profile from bigger venues.
But Wente is a gorgeous little place nestled in the hills among several East Bay wineries. The concert amphitheater area, located several miles from the winery's tasting room, also includes a restaurant and golf course. The concert area itself was not too big, not too small. Nearly every seat had a great view of the stage.(You can see a view of the concert seating here and here.)
Those who chose to purchase a dinner ticket with the show got to partake of a luxurious buffet. We didn't ourselves, but the food around us looked and smelled fantastic. And that didn't include the bottles of wine at every table. For some, certainly, the show was not the big attraction.
As usual, souvenirs were available. They ranged from a $3 button to a $50 sweatshirt. We went for the $15 program, our usual custom.
The crowd seemed to be a more extravagant and older mixture than the usual crowds you find at a Beatle related show.
About 15 minutes before the start of the show, a member of the Wente family came out to welcome the crowd, introduce the sponsors (commercials at a concert?) and conduct the charity auction the venue has before each show. The item to be auctioned was one of Ringo's paintings, "Okey Dokie," autographed by Ringo. It was said to be the last copy. The bidding, coaxed on by the persistent auctioneer and the crowd, ended with a final bid of a measly $4,000.
The All-Starr Band was then introduced. The members, all except Ringo, of course, bounded on the stage. Unlike previous years, Ringo didn't keep the crowd waiting and was introduced almost right away to a huge welcome from the crowd, and the band kicked into "With a Little Help From My Friends." Ringo looked quite sporty, dressed in a light blue jacket, dark blue jeans and a orange sport shirt. He was in a great mood, joking with those in the front rows.
The band was at their best on the Beatle numbers, sounding very tight. They sounded less cohesive on the Roundhead numbers.
Here's the setlist with some random notes:
Rod Argent adds a lot of energy, though his vocals are a bit weak. Billy Squier is a guilty pleasure. Probably everyone was hoping he'd do "The Stroke," but he looked like he was enjoying himself, as did Edgar Winter, who really played to the crowd. Richard Marx is probably the most dispensible, though his vocals had an Eagles air to them. Hamish Stuart added a bit of a McCartney connection. Sheila E., though, is still the spark and the shiniest All-Starr.
The last number made the show most memorable for us. As Ringo sang, "With a Little Help," we took our water glass and hoisted it several times in a toast to Ringo. He took notice at one point and definitely nodded in our direction. It was a no doubter. My co-worker, Michell, who also attended, agreed he had. On a night of beautiful weather, Ringo had made it even better.