Rochester, MIMeadowbrook Music Festival
August 10, 2007
Review by Michelle Porchia
Photo by Jen Haskin
Detroit was stop number 3 for this weekend's round of shows. We were wondering if "The third time is the charm." I'm certain the crowed left charmed. :-)
Rick opened the show with Who Killed Rock N' Roll, after sauntering out on the stage with the perfection only he has mastered. He was wearing the blue jeans, black boots and white sleeveless shirt with the flower (hibiscus?). No opening video montage (yet) again....maybe someday I'll get to see that. (I keep hoping it'll show up on You Tube or something, I'm getting that desperate.) The Detroit crowds are typically known for liking the harder-edged tunes, and it appeared from the audience reaction that they were eating this tune up...from his hand to our mouths. The roar that was emitted at the part in the song where you only hear crickets was quite impressive. Da Man himself even flashed us his killer grin at that point.
On to Will I, Affair of the Heart and Alyson. Some little guitar riff action at the beginning of Alyson. The men in the crowd were hooting their approval. Then came IDEFY, with lots of crowd pointing...both us at him and Rick at the whole audience. At one point in the song he came down the stairs in the middle and did a Jesus Saves move, extending his hands out to the crowd emphasizing the "For You". Rock of Life was up next, followed by Red House. He started out Red House sitting on the steps, and gave us that RS trademarked soulful guitar jam at the beginning. DTTS was up next. This turned into "little kid idol" (Rick's words). There were lots of youngin's present at this show. After Rick pestered Amber, an usher for the venue who at first hesitated singing ...he told her, "Singing is a freeing experience. That's why I became a singer, so I could get laid."...he made his way over to 3 year old Alexis. Alexis was just adorable, and after Rick got Mom's permission to hold her the cuteness factor went up about 200 degrees. He struggled with holding her up and keeping her dress down over her panties and commented, "I only have boys, I don't know how to hold little girls with their dresses and all." He then reminded the crowd (as if it was really needed) what to sing, and then held the mike out for Alexis. She uttered the cutest little "Don't Talk to Strangers" ever, I think. He kissed her on the forehead and handed her back to Mom. He then said to Amber..."Dude....3 years old...didn't even hesitate. How about that?"
He made his way back to the stage, and then it was on to The Medley. He said, "Here's some bits of some you might remember." (or something to that effect) From (guitar tech) George's sudden appearance behind Rick next to the drums with the headset in hand, we knew the audience walkabout was about to begin. Rick made his "time for a brokeback moment" comment, and then he was strapped in. Love Somebody started up with Rick's usual mention of how it was titled "Hard to Swallow". He started making his way through the crowd. Someone gave him a pair of shades, which he wore briefly. There were some areas of this crowd that did a poor job of holding Rick up, there were several heart-stopping instances where Rick went down briefly but yet he never yelled out for reinforcement. After LS, My Generation and then Human Touch. Back to the stage for Jessie's Girl. At the point in JG where Rick takes the *breather break*, Matt & George started scooting up behind Rick until they were right next to him, he didn't see them until they both started humping his legs. He started laughing hysterically. When he regained his composure somewhat, he said into the mike: "I'm too sexy for my band!" They finished up Jessie's Girl, and exited the stage to the beginning of the heavy-breathing sounds. This was my first experience with being rightnextto the speakers (so much so that I could feel every drum beat in my chest) and let me tell you... never have I enjoyed that little interlude as much as last night. :-)
Back out for the encore...with Rick wearing a "new" (to us) yellow t-shirt. All I could make out was the word "Aussie" in red across the front, I can't wait to see pictures to read what the small print said. After the shock of seeing something new on him wore off, I realized the band was playing a little bit of The Beatles "Birthday". Rick mentioned his birthday was coming up soon and asked if we wanted to sing to him. However, the band abruptly switched into the beginning notes of Wasted. Rick said he didn't get Wasted on his birthday. (there may have been an *anymore* added on...not sure) They then went right into Love is Alright Tonite, with Rick commenting "We can't end the evening on a downer." Right in the middle of LIAT, a little girl climbed up on the stage and walked over to Rick and hugged him. He stopped playing for a minute and gave her a quick hug.
The show then ended, with Rick giving the crowd his hug after a few guitar tosses. The lights came up as he turned and walked side-stage.
Rick opened the show with Who Killed Rock N' Roll, after sauntering out on the stage with the perfection only he has mastered. He was wearing the blue jeans, black boots and white sleeveless shirt with the flower (hibiscus?). No opening video montage (yet) again....maybe someday I'll get to see that. (I keep hoping it'll show up on You Tube or something, I'm getting that desperate.) The Detroit crowds are typically known for liking the harder-edged tunes, and it appeared from the audience reaction that they were eating this tune up...from his hand to our mouths. The roar that was emitted at the part in the song where you only hear crickets was quite impressive. Da Man himself even flashed us his killer grin at that point.
On to Will I, Affair of the Heart and Alyson. Some little guitar riff action at the beginning of Alyson. The men in the crowd were hooting their approval. Then came IDEFY, with lots of crowd pointing...both us at him and Rick at the whole audience. At one point in the song he came down the stairs in the middle and did a Jesus Saves move, extending his hands out to the crowd emphasizing the "For You". Rock of Life was up next, followed by Red House. He started out Red House sitting on the steps, and gave us that RS trademarked soulful guitar jam at the beginning. DTTS was up next. This turned into "little kid idol" (Rick's words). There were lots of youngin's present at this show. After Rick pestered Amber, an usher for the venue who at first hesitated singing ...he told her, "Singing is a freeing experience. That's why I became a singer, so I could get laid."...he made his way over to 3 year old Alexis. Alexis was just adorable, and after Rick got Mom's permission to hold her the cuteness factor went up about 200 degrees. He struggled with holding her up and keeping her dress down over her panties and commented, "I only have boys, I don't know how to hold little girls with their dresses and all." He then reminded the crowd (as if it was really needed) what to sing, and then held the mike out for Alexis. She uttered the cutest little "Don't Talk to Strangers" ever, I think. He kissed her on the forehead and handed her back to Mom. He then said to Amber..."Dude....3 years old...didn't even hesitate. How about that?"
He made his way back to the stage, and then it was on to The Medley. He said, "Here's some bits of some you might remember." (or something to that effect) From (guitar tech) George's sudden appearance behind Rick next to the drums with the headset in hand, we knew the audience walkabout was about to begin. Rick made his "time for a brokeback moment" comment, and then he was strapped in. Love Somebody started up with Rick's usual mention of how it was titled "Hard to Swallow". He started making his way through the crowd. Someone gave him a pair of shades, which he wore briefly. There were some areas of this crowd that did a poor job of holding Rick up, there were several heart-stopping instances where Rick went down briefly but yet he never yelled out for reinforcement. After LS, My Generation and then Human Touch. Back to the stage for Jessie's Girl. At the point in JG where Rick takes the *breather break*, Matt & George started scooting up behind Rick until they were right next to him, he didn't see them until they both started humping his legs. He started laughing hysterically. When he regained his composure somewhat, he said into the mike: "I'm too sexy for my band!" They finished up Jessie's Girl, and exited the stage to the beginning of the heavy-breathing sounds. This was my first experience with being rightnextto the speakers (so much so that I could feel every drum beat in my chest) and let me tell you... never have I enjoyed that little interlude as much as last night. :-)
Back out for the encore...with Rick wearing a "new" (to us) yellow t-shirt. All I could make out was the word "Aussie" in red across the front, I can't wait to see pictures to read what the small print said. After the shock of seeing something new on him wore off, I realized the band was playing a little bit of The Beatles "Birthday". Rick mentioned his birthday was coming up soon and asked if we wanted to sing to him. However, the band abruptly switched into the beginning notes of Wasted. Rick said he didn't get Wasted on his birthday. (there may have been an *anymore* added on...not sure) They then went right into Love is Alright Tonite, with Rick commenting "We can't end the evening on a downer." Right in the middle of LIAT, a little girl climbed up on the stage and walked over to Rick and hugged him. He stopped playing for a minute and gave her a quick hug.
The show then ended, with Rick giving the crowd his hug after a few guitar tosses. The lights came up as he turned and walked side-stage.
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