RINGO AND HIS ALL STARR BAND: MEMORABLE EVENING IN CALGARY

A memorable evening with Ringo Starr and his all starr band last night in Calgary.

 

Kicking off with Carl Perkins´Matchbox, Ringo handled lead vocals just as he did for The Beatles in 1964. The crowd seemed in awe of the legend before them, but Starr himself was relaxed, comfortable and at ease.

“Good evening, Calgary!” the living legend bellowed from a modest stage production which featured a backdrop of stars and a half moon, bathed in lights of blue and white. “I’m Ringo and this is the All Starr Band … are you ready to have some fun?”

 
Ringo’s most famous post-Beatles song, It Don’t Come Easy, followed, before the group switched it up and segued quickly into the reggae vibe of Island In The Sun from Postcards From Paradise, an album released earlier this year.

Tod Rundgren took a pair of turns in the spotlight with I Saw The Light and, later, Bang The Drum All Day, while Lukather shone during the sweet spot of the Toto catalogue with Rosanna, Africa and Hold The Line, also two biggest singles from Mr. Mister with Richard Page: Kyrie and Broken Wings live at a Ringo Starr concert, the Santana pairing of Evil Ways and, later, Black Magic Woman were both as impeccably executed as you would expect from a band of this stature. Rolie would shine again during the Tito Puente gem, Oye Como Va.

 

The assembled throng smiled and swayed in their seats, enjoying every moment of was basically the best casino cover band you could ever hope to see. 

Of course, the crowd would be at its liveliest and loudest during Beatles and Beatles-related numbers. Yellow Submarine (“If you don’t know this song, you’re in the wrong venue,” Starr quipped) I Wanna Be Your Man, With A Little Help From My Friends and Give Peace a Chance received rousing ovations. It’s a message that never gets old, but, of course, it carries extra weight when delivered by … a Beatle.