REVIEW: Ringo Starr and the All-Starr Band Concert at Freedom Hill Amphitheater in Sterling Hts.,Michigan on Saturday, July 28,2001Ringo Starr brought his 7th All-Starr Band line-up to a capacity crowd at the Freedom Hill Amphitheater in Sterling Hts.,Michigan, a city of about 125,000 eight miles north of Detroit. The concert lasted for two hours and fifteen minutes straight. There was no intermission and no encores. The Amphitheater and lawn audience was at full-capacity.As was to be expected, the audience consisted of all ages.
Ringo Starr opened with his no.1 hit from 1973, co-written with George Harrison, "Photograph", which was followed by the Beatles version of "Act Naturally". Greg Lake then did "In the Court of the Crimson King", a song from his days with King Crimson. Ian Hunter did "Cleveland Rocks" and later the David Bowie-penned "All the Young Dudes" from when he was with Hott the Hoople in the early 1970s.Howard Jones and Sheila E. also did several numbers. Roger Hodgson of Supertramp played lead guitar and piano, performing "The Logical Song" and "Take the Long Way Home" from the classic 1970s album, BREAKFAST IN AMERICA. He noted as well that the "All-Starr concept" was a "great idea" that he attributed to Ringo Starr. As vocalists, Lake and Hodgson were the most powerful, although all the All-Starrs sang well.
Ringo Starr performed "Yellow Submarine", "Boys", "I Wanna Be Your Man", and closed the concert with "With a Little Help From My Friends." Starr did not perform "Octopus's Garden" nor "Don't Pass Me By" which he stated he would perform in announcing the Tour. This was a disappointment. There were no "surprises". Starr did the same songs he did on all the earlier Tours. He did his solo songs, "The No No Song", "You're Sixteen", and a song "written by a dear friend of mine, God bless his soul", "I'm the Greatest", written by John Lennon for the 1973 RINGO album. In short, he repeated almost verbatim the performance at the Rama complex north of Toronto on July 26.
Ringo Starr never sounded better on drums.His drumming was excellent, powerful, and innovative. Starr came at you with both barrels flashing. It was remarkable to see and hear. This was the highlight of the concert, the rejuvenated power of Ringo Starr's drumming.
Sheila E. was a great addition to the line-up. She got the audience into the songs and added a Latin flavor to the sound. Her percussion and drumming was unbelievable. At one point, Ringo Starr stated, flabergasted and exasperated, "Now follow that, Mr. Starr!" Her singing was also good. Sheila E. and Howard Jones added a more contemporary feel to the concert, both achieving their success in the 1980s.
This was an enjoyable concert. Both the band and the audience were having fun and enjoyed the performances. The audience did not want to leave at the end. But no encores were performed.
To all those who wondered whether this eclectic group of musicians would gel and be able to coalesce into a viable musical ensemble, the answer is a resounding, "Yes!" This ensemble was a total success. Sheila E. brought a different dimension to the group. Ringo Starr has done it again. The musical result is very enjoyable and a success.Bravo!