Last Show Attended?

[mattstick]

Stevie Wonder was awsome last night. 

If he's coming near you, don't miss it.

Some highlights were Too High > Master Blaster Jammin', Do I Do, Overjoyed, Sir Duke > I Wish.  A few sappy ballads but that's par for the course.  Tight band, fun show, super funky.

11.14.07
Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Sun Arena
Uncasville
CT
   
11.16.07
Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino - Sun Arena
Uncasville
CT

11.17.07      
Madison Square Garden      
New York      
NY
   
11.17.07      
WaMu Theater at Madison Square Garden      
New York      
NY
   
11.28.07      
Charlotte Bobcats Arena      
Charlotte      
NC
   
11.29.07      
RBC Center      
Raleigh      
NC
   
12.01.07      
Sommet Center      
Nashville      
TN
   
12.02.07      
FedExForum      
Memphis      
TN
   
12.04.07      
Toyota Center      
Houston
TX
   
12.05.07      
Nokia Theatre at Grand Prairie      
Grand Prairie      
TX
   
12.09.07      
Jobing.com Arena      
Glendale      
AZ

[mattstick]

TORONTO - Think of all the people last night at the Air Canada Centre. And now think that some of them were created while parents listened to romantic Stevie Wonder hits.

The living legend, now in his fifth decade of music but still only 57 years old, performed for more than two hours last night as part of his current A Wonder Autumn Night North American tour. Yet despite the fact he took to the stage approximately 30 minutes later than was scheduled, Wonder seemed to make up for the lost time with a collection of his many hits.

Dressed in brown and escorted out by his two supporting vocalists, Wonder opened the show not by singing but by giving fans a backgrounder behind the reason for the tour, primarily the death of his mother last year. After mentioning that his daughter was unable to be a backing vocalist this evening due to a chest infection, Wonder and his large 10-piece supporting cast opened with Love's in Need of Love Today from his 1976 masterpiece Songs in the Key of Life.

Wonder, who released his last studio album in 2005, has a catalogue of songs that few can dream of.

Whether it was the funky groove of Too High that got some of the generation-spanning crowd off their feet or the slow, romantic, dim-the-lights mood of Visions, Wonder was quite adept at changing gears basically on a dime.

However it was also this same shifty nature that resulted in some moments going on too long or sagging. Following the strong one-two punch of Living For the City and the reggae-rooted Master Blaster (Jammin'), Wonder took a rather elongated route towards Higher Ground. While the song definitely made fans forget the Red Hot Chili Peppers had covered the track, a medley which included We Are Family as well as Marvin Gaye's I Heard it Through the Grapevine seemed a bit much.
   

This was also the case later on near the homestretch when after the nugget Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours, Wonder opted to remake the song in a country, honky tonk fashion. He also managed to squeeze in a snippet of Charlie Rich's Behind Closed Doors for good measure.

Other times Wonder told of stories about his early musical career, including meeting a mother and daughter which would later become the inspiration behind My Cherie Amour.

Thankfully though, when not fully fleshing out songs, Wonder ensured that fans were left with the romantic numbers in spades, including My Cherie Amour, Overjoyed and Ribbon in the Sky. During Ribbon in the Sky, Wonder again went off on a tangent, getting the men to do one vocal part while the women did another, finally resulting in all singing along much to Wonder's delight.

Yet for all of the great material presented, there were a few numbers near the end which were strong medleys but still medleys. This included portions of Sir Duke and You Are the Sunshine of My Life, the latter from 1972's Talking Book album.

However, Wonder made sure to give another signature Superstition all of the time that it justly deserved, including bringing out Canadian singer Glenn Lewis to help out on portions.

[antelope19]

Nice Review Matt!

[mattstick]

Totally!

Wish I wrote it

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/W/Wonder_Stevie/ConcertReviews/2007/11/13/4651405-sun.html

[antelope19]

Totally!

Wish I wrote it

http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Artists/W/Wonder_Stevie/ConcertReviews/2007/11/13/4651405-sun.html

:-D  You had me very impressed.  It seemed very professional.  A little too professional. :wink:

[Caravan2001]

Hit the Ween show with Hicks last night.  It was really good.  The crowd was super amped, people were going pretty nuts.  Mostly old songs with a few from the new one thrown in. Thanks to Hicks for saving me a sweet seat in the balcony, and hooking me with a ticket .  People outside were jonesing for tickets hard.  I would recommend grabbing this one when/if it hits etree....

[Wolfmansbabymama]

saw Zappa Plays Zappa last Weds in DC. Sit down, grey-haired type show that melted my face.

Highlights were:

Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy
Pigmy Twylyte
Willie the Pimp
Muffin Man
San Berdino

the classical compositions(dog meat/tornado) blew me away. had my doubts about the some of the musicians till this segment. (ok, not doubts, just always wanted to see Vai, Bozzio, etc.

I wouldn't miss them if they are playing anywhere near you. (Texas)

[Hicks]

Hit the Ween show with Hicks last night.  It was really good.  The crowd was super amped, people were going pretty nuts.  Mostly old songs with a few from the new one thrown in. Thanks to Hicks for saving me a sweet seat in the balcony, and hooking me with a ticket .  People outside were jonesing for tickets hard.  I would recommend grabbing this one when/if it hits etree....

Yeah dude, they came out with their guns blazin' playing Exactly Where I'm At, Pork Roll Egg and Cheese, Spinal Meningitis, Bananas and Blow and Voodoo Lady all in the first half hour.  They seemed to focus especially on Chocolate and Cheese and White Pepper last night, which was great because they are two of my favorites.  It's good to know that even if the new album blows they can still rock it live.  Scored a crazy-ass poster too, big ups to Caravan for storing it for me during the show.

[Caravan2001]

saw Zappa Plays Zappa last Weds in DC. Sit down, grey-haired type show that melted my face.

Highlights were:

Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy
Pigmy Twylyte
Willie the Pimp
Muffin Man
San Berdino

the classical compositions(dog meat/tornado) blew me away. had my doubts about the some of the musicians till this segment. (ok, not doubts, just always wanted to see Vai, Bozzio, etc.

I wouldn't miss them if they are playing anywhere near you. (Texas)

nice....seeing them in a few weeks

[rowjimmy]

saw Zappa Plays Zappa last Weds in DC. Sit down, grey-haired type show that melted my face.

Highlights were:

Carolina Hardcore Ecstasy
Pigmy Twylyte
Willie the Pimp
Muffin Man
San Berdino

the classical compositions(dog meat/tornado) blew me away. had my doubts about the some of the musicians till this segment. (ok, not doubts, just always wanted to see Vai, Bozzio, etc.

I wouldn't miss them if they are playing anywhere near you. (Texas)

I was talking to a buddy of mine last night who went to the richmond show. He was quite impressed but he said the part with the Zappa video on the screen was a bit creepy.

[Casey Lenahan]

I was talking to a buddy of mine last night who went to the richmond show. He was quite impressed but he said the part with the Zappa video on the screen was a bit creepy.

Ha, a buddy of mine said the same thing

[Wolfmansbabymama]

yes i concede. Dweezil, should have left the stage. He just stood there looking at the audience while Frank shredded in the backdrop. The Baby Snakes Muffin footage gave me chills even though i've seen it 20 times.

[redrum]

Dark Star Orchestra

Show: 1477 • 11/16/2007 Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, MA

Original Setlist

Set 1: Box of Rain, Mississippi Halfstep, Women are Smarter, Built to Last, Looks Like Rain, Sitting On Top, Passenger, Bird Song, Alligator
Set 2: Shakedown Street, Unbroken Chain (pt 1)> Dark Star > Sugar Magnolia> Liberty> Drums> Space> Cosmic Charlie> Comes a Time> King Solomon's Marbles> Unbroken Chain (pt 2)> Sunshine Daydream
Encore: Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds


we were 2nd row from the stage on the floor.
nice venue.
1st set was a bit slow.
2nd set was money. gorgeous seagues.
i called the Shakedown 2nd set opener.  8-)
bold songs were highlights for me.

[Wolfmansbabymama]

did DSO stop playing an actual GD show/date? that always impressed me but i think original setlists is a good direction at this point.

[rowjimmy]

They've been mixing in the occasional 'original setlist' for years afaik.