Bruce Miller's Review of SITP
REVIEW: Neville Brothers an inspired move
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer
Say what you will about recycling headliners, but getting back the Neville Brothers as headliners of Saturday in the Park was an inspired move.
Hot again (thanks to the work they've done with the New Orleans relief effort), they had the charisma -- and a deep catalog of hits -- to appeal to a wide variety of music lovers. While their set started slowly, it picked up steam with "Fever" and never cooled off.
Surprisingly, Chuck Berry didn't phone it in, either.
The 79-year-old rock legend rolled through some 18 songs during his 45-plus minutes and managed to include a little duck walkin', too.
Unlike the Nevilles, Berry didn't take any chances at the start. He opened with "Roll Over Beethoven," slid into "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" and offered up enough hits to please even the most hardcore fan. "While I'm still kickin', I'm going to still be pickin'," he sang. "I don't hope it will end too soon."
The fans obviously don't either. They encouraged him throughout the early evening and roared when he got to Johnny B. Goode. True to rock form, Berry managed to include "Sioux City" and "Iowa" (pronounced "ah-oooooo-waaaaah") into at least two songs. When he got to "My Ding-a-ling," the faithful were practically giddy. The song didn't quite have the Berry snap (some of the lyrics were a little rocky) but the chorus came through loud and clear. Dressed in a red sequined shirt, he was like a beacon on the stage, flashing a ray of light just about everywhere he went.
For his last number, Berry got a group of girls to join him on stage and dance. Twelve or so made it, answering Berry's question, "Is everybody happy?" with more than a few choice moves.
The Nevilles, meanwhile, started slowly, offering up an extended instrumental introduction before getting down to business. While Aaron handled the power ballads (and astounding covers), Cyril took hold on the blues numbers. Both facets gave their stage time the range Saturday in the Park needs.
Aaron offered up "Don't Know Much" early on (surprising, considering it's one of those songs most bands save for an encore) and followed it with "Everybody Plays the Fool."
For good measure, he threw in a medley of "Stand By Me," "There Goes My Baby" and "Cupid."
Brother Art made like a church organist with his keyboard work; Brother Charles wailed on the sax.
Whenever Aaron (the tambourine player, in case you're keeping score) took a rest, Cyril took over and bridged the gaps. While he didn't have his brother's heart-breaking falsetto (could he be related to the Marleys, instead?), he did have the soul to make songs about New Orleans resonate. Singing about the blues and the city he loves, Cyril brought home the heartache he and other Louisiana residents have felt.
Following it up? Aaron with "Ain't No Sunshine," yet another song with new meaning.
It was like that all night -- songs we've grown to love under different circumstances took on a different hue at this year's event.
While weather threatened to curtail the fun, the heat broke and the rain stopped before the headliners. The night was comfy; the music, comforting.
What more could Saturday in the Park lovers want?
By Bruce R. Miller Journal staff writer
Say what you will about recycling headliners, but getting back the Neville Brothers as headliners of Saturday in the Park was an inspired move.
Hot again (thanks to the work they've done with the New Orleans relief effort), they had the charisma -- and a deep catalog of hits -- to appeal to a wide variety of music lovers. While their set started slowly, it picked up steam with "Fever" and never cooled off.
Surprisingly, Chuck Berry didn't phone it in, either.
The 79-year-old rock legend rolled through some 18 songs during his 45-plus minutes and managed to include a little duck walkin', too.
Unlike the Nevilles, Berry didn't take any chances at the start. He opened with "Roll Over Beethoven," slid into "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll" and offered up enough hits to please even the most hardcore fan. "While I'm still kickin', I'm going to still be pickin'," he sang. "I don't hope it will end too soon."
The fans obviously don't either. They encouraged him throughout the early evening and roared when he got to Johnny B. Goode. True to rock form, Berry managed to include "Sioux City" and "Iowa" (pronounced "ah-oooooo-waaaaah") into at least two songs. When he got to "My Ding-a-ling," the faithful were practically giddy. The song didn't quite have the Berry snap (some of the lyrics were a little rocky) but the chorus came through loud and clear. Dressed in a red sequined shirt, he was like a beacon on the stage, flashing a ray of light just about everywhere he went.
For his last number, Berry got a group of girls to join him on stage and dance. Twelve or so made it, answering Berry's question, "Is everybody happy?" with more than a few choice moves.
The Nevilles, meanwhile, started slowly, offering up an extended instrumental introduction before getting down to business. While Aaron handled the power ballads (and astounding covers), Cyril took hold on the blues numbers. Both facets gave their stage time the range Saturday in the Park needs.
Aaron offered up "Don't Know Much" early on (surprising, considering it's one of those songs most bands save for an encore) and followed it with "Everybody Plays the Fool."
For good measure, he threw in a medley of "Stand By Me," "There Goes My Baby" and "Cupid."
Brother Art made like a church organist with his keyboard work; Brother Charles wailed on the sax.
Whenever Aaron (the tambourine player, in case you're keeping score) took a rest, Cyril took over and bridged the gaps. While he didn't have his brother's heart-breaking falsetto (could he be related to the Marleys, instead?), he did have the soul to make songs about New Orleans resonate. Singing about the blues and the city he loves, Cyril brought home the heartache he and other Louisiana residents have felt.
Following it up? Aaron with "Ain't No Sunshine," yet another song with new meaning.
It was like that all night -- songs we've grown to love under different circumstances took on a different hue at this year's event.
While weather threatened to curtail the fun, the heat broke and the rain stopped before the headliners. The night was comfy; the music, comforting.
What more could Saturday in the Park lovers want?
posted by Dave at 3:38 PM
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