Steve Winwood is a legend. His stints as a 16-year-old kid in the Spencer Davis Group, the lead singer in Blind Faith and Traffic and then his 1980's hit machine put him in rare company. Both an FM and AM superstar is hard to do. But he did it and I had the honor of seeing him open (open?) for The Doobie Brothers last night in Omaha. The voice is still there, the setlist is wonderful and full of Top 40 hits AND the FM staples you heard in the 60's and 70's as you contemplated how many fingers you had after indulging in banned substances.
Winwood started off with Traffic and Glad. They got right into it. Then came Can't Find My Way Home, the Blind Faith staple (oh that album cover!). The Spencer Davis Group's I'm a Man, written by the 16-year-old Stevie. The 80's hits came in with Roll With It (which I for years thought was To Hell With It baby), Back in the High Life Again and Higher Love. Ending the show was Dear Mr. Fantasy and Gimme Some Lovin. God he was good. I wish I could have heard The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys and Valerie but I am ecstatic at what I DID hear. The crowd loved it. This was a solid A performance.
The Doobies have finally been let into the Rock Hall of Fame, which should have been done years ago, and they are still out there busting ass. Patrick Simmons, Tom Johnston, John McFee and of course, the man who ruined the Doobie Brothers, Michael McDonald. I kid, though that belief sustained me in the late 70's. I've come to accept the McDonald stuff and even enjoy in in my later years.
Starting with Take Me in Your Arms and Rocking Down the Highway, the Doobs got right into it, and the crowd went wild. Then, to me, it lulled. I'm not sure what happened after those opening hits, but the next 45 minutes quite frankly bored me. They did a song about motorcycles, a song with Lilly Winwood, Steves' 28-year-old daughter and some other new stuff. Then Eyes of Silver brought it back on track and the remaining 30 minutes was joyous again. Ending with Jesus is Just All Right With Me, What a Fool Believes, Long Train Runnin and China Grove all the while with a video board showing old video of the 70's band in concert. It was a solid B.
Johnston's' voice is still there, Simmons voice is still there, and McDonald's baritone is still solid. But that middle part of the show baffled me.
Now for the personal. We had tickets in the upper bowl of the CHI Center (it's an arena not a hospital) and they had closed it off because it was not well attended. Ok, so where shall we sit. We, and a few others in a similar situation, went to the end of the arena to the side of the stage on the lower level. We enjoyed Winwood and the first couple of Doobie Bros songs when a jack-booted fascist usher came over and informed us in a rather surly manner, YOU CAN'T SIT HERE. What? We've been here for 2 hours, dude. We aint bothering anyone. You shut off our peasant seats and we had no idea where to go. So, we left under threat of security and stood in the back watching the show. It made me surly.
Because I hate with a passion the Doobie hit, Black Water, we left as that song began during the encore to beat the Boomers and their canes to the parking lot. Yeah, I'm a boomer and someday soon may need a cane or worse, but I don't now so there. I have noticed more and more how people of a certain age (me) have become more and more decrepit. It bugs me because it's close to home. I'm in decent shape so far but some of these younger than me boomers are not. It hits close to home.
In conclusion if you get a chance, Steve Winwood is worth the time and money to see. The Doobies are too. Just make sure you have the right seat.
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