HIGHLAND PARK, IL - The summer concert season is going strong and about 68 miles up I-94 that's evidenced by the turnout at Ravinia Festival in Highland Park, IL.
Counting Crows at Ravinia on June 29th had people on their feet at various points though the 18-song setlist, that included two encores.
Singer/piano player Adam Duritz sounded very much like the way he did in the 90s and his T-shirt that that he was wearing that said "This is as social as I get," was particularly funny.
Songs the band performed included the opening song, "Hard Candy" and the more well-known songs toward the bottom of the list, "Round Here," "Mrs. Jones" and "A Long December." Going into those songs, Duritz relayed a conversation he had with his girlfriend in which she asked him why he hadn't been doing certain older songs in concert. He said his response to her was, "laziness."
It was a show, definitely worth attending. The audience were on their feet much of the time dancing though out the concert.
Sunday, August 5th was Ringo Starr and the All Star Band with The Beach Boys, who opened the show on-time, taking the stage at 7 p.m. with their hits including, "Surfin' Safari", "Catch a Wave," "Surfin USA," "Surfer Girl" and "Don't Worry Baby." Then they announced they were going into their hot rod songs playing "409," "Little Duce Coup," "Get Around." Then they went into, "The Warmth of the Sun", "Sloop John B." and "Wouldn't it be Nice." They engaged the audience to help them sing "Help me Rhonda," which they did.
John Stamos also played drums and guitar with the band. Early on in the show Stamos he bowed down to Brian Wilson. Wilson just waved him off jokingly.
The atmosphere of the place was like a summer beach party with many people dressed in festive Hawaiian shirts, and dancing like it was the 1960's all over. There were also several community beach balls being hit around the lawn.
Toward the end of their set, the Beach Boys played "Barbara Ann," "Kokomo" and "Fun, Fun, Fun."
At around 9 o'clock, Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band took the stage. Ringo introduced the band and explained, as he does in all the All Starr Band show's that I've seen, that every member of the band is a star in their own right. "Isn't that the truth!"
This is reportedly the 14th variation of the All Starr Band and it includes Toto's Steve Lukather, Santana's Gregg Rolie, Men at Work's Colin Hay, Hamish Stuart of the Average White Band, multi-instrumentalist Warren Ham and drummer Gregg Bissonette.
The 79-year-old former Beatle was in excellent shape to the point where you'd be amazed that his age is what it is. When he introduced some of his songs he referred to "that other band that I was in." Beatles songs Ringo performed included, "Don't Pass Me By," "Yellow Submarine," "I Wanna Be Your Man," and "With A Little Help From My Friends."
Ringo sang his own songs, "It Don't Come Easy," "Photograph" and "Anthem."
Steve Lukather of Toto led his band's hits, "Rosanna" and "Hold The Line." Greg Rolie of Santana led the All Starr Band in "Evil Ways," "Black Magic Woman/Gypsy Queen" and "Oye Como Va."
Hamish Stuart played Average White Band's "Pick Up the Pieces" and Colin Hay of Men at Work fronted his band's hits, "Down Under" and "Who Can It Be Now?"
Acts still coming to Ravinia include Sting, Chicago, Nickelback, Pentatonix, The Mighty O.A.R. with American Authors, Queen Latifah and Common, Steely Dan, Kesha, Sarah McLachlan and Mary J. Blige and a whole host of classical music concerts.
