Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Concert Night 1

The first of two Rock & Roll Hall of Fame concerts lived up to most of my expectations last night. The evening started off promptly at 7:30 with a video montage & Tom Hanks blathering on about the power of Rock & Roll...typical boomer bullshit (and I am 47). This was followed by Jerry Lee Lewis doing "Whole Lotta Shakin" solo at the piano.

Crosby, Stills & Nash were not great in my opinion. Stephen Stills is a little rough vocally now and they just weren't great. Of the guests I will say that Bonnie Raiit sounded as good as always as did Jackson Browne who played one of my favorites (The Pretender).

Woodstock
Marakesh Express
Almost Cut My Hair
Love Has No Pride (Bonnie Raitt)
Midnight Rider (with Bonnie Raitt)
The Pretender (Jackson Browne)
Mexico (James Taylor)
Love The One You're With (with James Taylor)
Rock & Roll Woman
Teach Your Children (with all 3 guests)

I have been waiting to see Simon & Garfunkel for most of my life and I want to say right off that I didn't need anything else for this poriton of the show. That said I really do enjoy Paul Simon's solo work so that was a treat. Dion and Little Anthony and the Imperials were fine. When Art finally joined him on stage it was highlight time. If hearing them, even after all of these years, singing the Boxer and Bridge Over Troubled Waters doesn't give you a little goosebumps there must be something seriously wrong with you. Tremendous.

Paul Simon:
Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes
Me & Julio Down By the School Yard
You Can Call Me Al
The Wanderer (Dion)
Late in the Evening
Two People in the World (Little Anthony & the Imperials)

Enter Art Garfunkel:
Sounds of Silence
Mrs. Robinson > Not Fade Away > Mrs. Robinson
The Boxer
Bridge Over Troubled Waters
Cecilia

I felt awful for Stevie Wonder...tons of sound issues for his set. Having never seen him before all I can say is WOW. What a fantastic talent, you knew that on record but live...just amazing. Lots of guests and a killer set.

Uptight(Everything's Alright)
I Was Made To Love You
For Once In My Life
Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours
Boogie On Reggae Woman
Tracks of My Tears (Smokey Robinson)
Mercy Mercy Me (John Legend)
The Way You Make Me Feel (with John Legend)
The Thrill is Gone (B.B. King)
Living for the City
Higher Ground > Roxanne > Higher Ground (with Sting)
Superstition (with Jeff Beck)

The highlight of the evening was Bruce's set. The E. Street Band probably could have been the house band all night. They were TIGHT. Sam Moore was just fantastic as was Darlene Love. John Fogerty was really good (although a little predictable). Tom Joad was incendiary with Tom Morello and the evening ended with a surprise guest...Billy Joel. What a great, loooooong night (6 hours). Can't wait for tonight.

Tenth Avenue Freeze Out
Hold On, I'm Comin' (Sam Moore)
Soul Man (Sam Moore)
The Ghost of Tom Joad (Tom Morello)
Fortunate Son (John Fogerty)
Proud Mary (John Fogerty)
Oh, Pretty Woman (with John Fogerty)
Jungleland
A Fine Fine Boy (Darlene Love)
De Doo Ron Ron (Darlenes Love)
London Calling (With Tom Morello)
Badlands (with Tom Morello)
You May Be Right (Billy Joel)
Only The Good Die Young (with Billy Joel)
New York State of Mind (with Billy Joel)
Born To Run (with Billy Joel)
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me)Higher & Higher (all Bruce guests + Peter Wolf & Jackson Browne)

The show was really long. I had to jump at the end of Born to Run to make sure I didn't miss the train (after 1:30 the next was at 3:10) but all in all a great night of music. First half was a little heavy on the Adult Contemporary side but the second half was rockin'. Tonight should even more. I am really looking forward to what U2 will be doing and with whom.