RINGO & ALL STARR BAND IN SARASOTA - PHOTOS

When he smiles everyone smiles, or so it seemed Tuesday. A popular culture icon known by pretty much every person on the planet, Ringo could have just occupied center stage for an hour, crooned a bit, performed his adorable little swaying dance moves and responded to ecstatic shout-outs from the audience –and everyone would have gone home happy. Instead, Ringo assembled a group of talented musicians with varying levels of distinction to bring a most healthy dose of happiness to Sarasota’s waterfront theater, which was in a festive mood hours before being joined by the most famous drummer in rock ’n’ roll history.

Ringo embarked on a solo career within months of our purple palace opening, lending a touch of serendipity to the Beatle making his premiere here during the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall’s 45th anniversary celebration. The youthful sounding and looking 74-year-old drummer, singer and songwriter entertained with relaxed charm in front of a packed house with solo hits and songs he originally sang with The Beatles. Ringo also shared the spotlight.

Continuing a tradition dating back to 1989, his All Starr Band members performed their greatest hits with backing on drums by the Beatle. Accompanying him since 2012, the current All Starr lineup includes Todd Rundgren, Steve Lukather (Toto), Richard Page (Mr. Mister) and Gregg Rolie, most famous as the lead singer of the classic era of Santana. The stars were augmented by ace work from veteran session drummer Gregg Bissonette and gifted multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham.

The performance that lasted about 100 minutes started with Starr at center stage doing a Carl Perkins songs he originally sang with The Beatles in their early days ("Matchbox"), a self-penned solo hit ("It Don't Come Easy") and "Wings," a Ringo co-write from the late 1970s revived and given a reggae makeover for his recent album "Ringo 2012."

Ringo then sat down at his Ludwig drum kit for five hits by his band mates including the hilariously hammy Rundgren's perfectly appropriate "Bang the Drum All Day." Starr remained at the drum kit to sing "Boys" just like he did with The Beatles followed by his self-penned Fab Four number "Don't Pass Me By" and his "Revolver" lead vocal "Yellow Submarine," which was the blissful sing along you would expect, and hope for, at a Starr show. Starr left the stage while Rollie, at keyboards all night, sang "Black Magic Woman" while Lukather jammed some hot licks on lead guitar.

Ringo returned for another rollicking Perkins number he sang with The Beatles ("Honey Don't") and then another 2012 song, the peace, love and happiness "Anthem," which would sound silly sung by anyone else on other than Ringo Starr. 

He sang his Beatles rocker "I Wanna be Your Man" while drumming before returning center stage for the closing blast from the past of "Photograph," "Act Naturally" and "With a Little Help from My Friends." Starr returned for a mini-encore of John Lennon's solo anthem "Give Peace a Chance."

This latest incarnation of Starr's traveling show has been together now going on three years and watching them interact as an actual band, rather than a supergroup taking turns out front, is almost as fun, almost, as watching and screaming “I love you” at the front man who will forever be part of the biggest rock 'n' roll band of all time.

Setlist

1. "Matchbox"
2. "It Don't Come Easy"
3. "Wings"
4. "I Saw the Light"

5. "Evil Ways"
6. "Rosanna"
7. "Kyrie"
8. "Bang the Drum All Day"
9. "Boys"
10. "Don't Pass Me By"
11. "Yellow Submarine"
12. "Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen"
13. "Honey Don't"
14. "Anthem"
15. "You Are Mine"
16. "Africa"
17. Oye Como Va

18. "Love Is the Answer"
19. "I Wanna Be Your Man"
20. "Broken Wings"
21. "Hold the Line"
22. "Photograph"
23. "Act Naturally"
24. "With a Little Help from My Friends"
25. "Give Peace a Chance"

Ringo presented with Key to the City prior to Sarasota performance to celebrate the Van Wezel's 45th Anniversary

Tuesday, February 24, moments before taking the stage to perform to a sold out house for the Van Wezel 45th Anniversary Celebration, Ringo was presented the Key to the City by Commissioner Susan Atwell.Ringo graciously accepted, proclaiming “Peace!” and then posing for a photo. The concert was packed with energy, while Ringor and his All Starr Band pumped out classic hits from The Beatles, Santana, Toto, Mr. Mister and many more.