CHARLESTON, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Members of the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center audience were treated to a high-profile performance on Monday as the legendary Ringo Starr led an unforgettable performance with members of his distinguished All Starr Band.
Far from your typical group of backing musicians, the former Beatle’s All Starr Band has made a habit of picking up some of the most sought after players in the industry throughout the decades. Notable past members of the lineup include Joe Walsh of the Eagles, Levon Helm and Rick Danko of The Band, Peter Frampton, and many more.
More recently, the iconic drummer has enlisted the likes of guitar master Steve Lukather of Toto, keyboard wizard Edgar Winter, Average White Band Bassist Hamish Stuart, guitarist Colin Hay of Men at Work, multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham – known for his work with Kansas and Toto – and drummer Gregg Bissonette, who has been a mainstay of the group for a decade and a half.
Those coming into this show expecting a solo performance from Ringo backed by a faceless group of supporting players may be caught off guard. While Mr. Starr certainly does his share of the heavy lifting as ringleader, this is most certainly an ensemble act.
In this sense, the All Starr Band serves as a vehicle through which fans can witness timeless classics performed by at least one original member of the original groups flanked by members of multiple other legendary groups. Given that many classic rock acts today have been left with a handful or fewer original members, the bank for one’s buck here is impressive to say the least.
Monday was no exception, as fans were treated to crackling versions of Men at Work’s “Down Under,” Toto’s “Hold the Line” and “Africa,” and Edgar Winter’s “Frankenstein,” just to name a few. On the subject of Edgar Winter, one might be disappointed to see the wildman keyboardist relegated to sideman status had he not been given such sufficient space to demonstrate his abilities as part of Ringo’s ensemble.
Winter was a presence on all sides of the stage, taking solo spots on an array of instruments including keyboard and organ, keytar, percussion, saxophone, and vocals.
Starr himself spent a portion of the show behind the drum kit playing alongside Bissonette. He also sauntered to the front of the stage many times to sing, dance, and engage with the audience with his distinctive brand of dry humor.
Those in attendance were treated to renditions of a number of Starr’s own solo hits, including “Photograph,” “Back Off Boogaloo,” and “I’m the Greatest” – the latter of which was written for Starr by his Beatles bandmate John Lennon, who would have celebrated his 83rd birthday on the day of the show.
Fans got to experience a number of Beatles tunes as well, including the group’s early cover of “Boys” featuring Starr on lead vocals, “With a Little Help From My Friends,” “Octopus’s Garden,” and the sing-along Lennon/McCartney classic, “Yellow Submarine.”
Between songs and bits of banter, audience members were thrown curveballs in the form of occasionally teased songs including Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love,” The Beatles’ “Day Tripper,” “Come Together,” and “The End” – the latter two in the form of nods to Starr’s distinctive original parts interpolated during a drum solo section from “Bissonette.
The band closed with a singalong rendition of the iconic John Lennon tune, “Give Peace a Chance,” echoing the key sentiments of any event involving Ringo Starr, that of course being those of peace and love.