Photo by Pattie O'Neal

RINGO STARR & HIS ALL-STARR BAND
07 SEPTEMBER 2003
SAN DIEGO CA
HUMPHREY'S BY THE BAY
SOLD OUT/CAPACITY 1200

As always, it was a delight to see RINGO once again. The performance here in San Diego was no different then the other stops on this tour. Same set list with no changes.

Ringo has brought his band to Humphrey's many times, and it really is a comfortable venue) Not a bad seat in the house really. It's right on the water, an outdoor venue, in an area known as Shelter Island (it's not really an island, but is, I believe, a man-made peninsula) full of hotels, restaurants and many tourists).

What was unusual at this show, and caught us all by surprise is that suddenly at 7:30P, being still quite light outside), there was an announcement: "With great pleasure please join us in welcoming RINGO STARR & HIS ALL STARR BAND"! Slowly out came the band, but I think the crowd seemed a bit disoriented, as not expecting them to come out so soon or early. Everyone kind of got up to give a half hearted cheer, and then sat down in confusion. The band didn't seem to know what to think, and made gestures and noises to get everyone back up.

A moment or so later, out came RINGO! Wearing green pants that had some sort of red design on the back pockets/area that you couldn't quite see, which left many of us up front curious. Ringo wore a t-shirt under a long sleeved shirt, which was black & white with a bit of an illusion look to it. (He is wearing the same shirt on one of his website updates).

Over all, I thought the band sounded quite good. I think Colin Hay finally learned all those guitar parts. Ringo was, well RINGO! And did his usual antics that has entertained all along the tour. He made sure the kids got their drumsticks, but unfortunately there were parents who made wrong choices of sending their kids up for autographs. Ringo told them twice that he wasn't going to sign from the stage.

I've always loved the voices of John Waite (gosh you guys are right, he is SKINNY!)and Paul Carrack, and I was VERY pleased that they performed TEMPTED (I'm a big Squeeze fan) and ISN'T IT TIME by the Baby's has been a long time favorite of mine as well. Now Colin I could have lived without, but the crowd loved him. He threw in a little Day Tripper riff during "Who Can It Be Now". Shee-ler E., what more can I say? She's amazing all around. And thanks to Mark Rivera to bring the best out of everyone. As previously reported, all looked to be having great fun. The HERE COMES THE SUN performance was absolutely beautiful.

The only thing that put a damper on the show for us were the lazy bums behind us. They refused to get up off their seats and have a rockin' good time, which meant we were stuck sitting down most of the show for their benefit. I DON'T GET IT. Hey we're all getting "older", but how can anyone sit still as though their watching TV while Ringo, at 63, is rocking his arse off!

Like the last tour stop in San Diego, Sheila E.'s local relatives joined the band on stage for With A Little Help, along with what appeared to be a couple of tour crew members. Security was pretty relaxed making it easy for people to approach the stage to give Ringo various things. (Roses, a t-shirt, sparkly thingies ("oh what I always wanted!") through out the show. Ringo joked about the people on boats watching the show, he yelled: "If you can afford to have a boat, you can afford to buy a bloody ticket!". Ringo was his usual very witty self all evening.

Loved hearing the newly added tunes, DONT' PASS ME BY was very fun! Memphis On My Mind came across great live I thought, as did NEVER WITHOUT YOU. Ringo sounded great! Was also good to hear DON'T GO WHERE THE ROAD DON'T GO.

With the early 7:30PM start, that meant for an early evening, the show was a done deal by 9:30PM! I think that's is the earliest I've been home from a concert in my life!

It was a great evening....and I'm looking forward to the next time, just wish we didn't have to wait another two years! But meanwhile we can always ponder...Who can it be now, on the next tour?

And from Rick Noreiga:

After seeing RINGO AND HIS ALL-STARS at Universal, I jetted down in my CHRYSLER CROSSFIRE ( breakin' her in ) to SHELTER ISLAND and my room at HUMPHREY's for a weekend of fun, sun, drinkin', and partying. Humphrey's set-up was excellent. Outdoors on the grass, chairs set-up, it is the most intimate set-ups I have been to. Sort of like a wedding reception!!

But I digress. Ringo was on at 7:30PM and the show took off from there.

Song set wise, everything was the same as Universal. Energy wise, it seemed the band gelled better at Humphrey's than Universal. ( My opinion ). Colin Hays' received standing ovations and hefty acknowledgements on his 3 tunes. The crowd loved and appreciated Colin immensely.

Not that Waite, Carrack, and Sheila E. weren't appreciated, it just seemed Hays was well received, especially compared to Universal. (Again my opinion). AS for Ringo, he was much more relaxed at Humphrey's.

The venue borders the marina at Humps, and all these yachters were able to see the show from their boats gratis. Ritchie was hilarious ragging on 'em that they could afford nice yachts, but couldn't afford to buy a ticket. Everyone in the place roared with laughter!! Including the boaters!!!

And there were so many children up front from guest who bought tix for the show, plus dinner at Humphrey's fine restaurant, for their families. Kids kept coming up to Ritchie and askin' for drum sticks; Ritchie complied.

Finally he told them to relax. One kid in particular Ritchie told to relax. You can see the kid was a little hurt. But at the end of the show, Ritchie called him up, and gave the kid a pair of drum sticks, ala mean Joe Greene Pepsi commercial. Again, the crowd roared in approval.

I have seen all Ringo's All Stars tours. Although this band was not his strongest lineup ( growing up in the 60's, I liked the band that reflected that era), I had the most "fun" at this show, because, Ringo and his All Stars were the most relaxed of all the bands I have seen, and I've seen them all!!!! Ringo Rocks!!!!!!!