Ringo Starr 2018 All Starr Band U.S Tour Proves You're Never Too Old To Rock & Roll

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Submitted by Jeff Ritter on Fri, 09/14/2018 - 22:17

Ringo Starr and His All Starr Band 2018 U.S. Tour - Photo Credit: Scott Robert Ritchie

Calling the Beatles "influential" to rock and roll is an understatement. They were as essential to music as oxygen is to life. I was seven years old when John Lennon was taken from the world, forever ending any chance of a Fab Four reunion. As time marched on, seeing at least one Beatle perform live had become a "bucket list" item. Thanks to Ringo Starr, that box is finally checked.

At 78 years of age, you might think Ringo Starr and His All-Starr Band would be a show that relies on nostalgia over musicianship. Rest assured, Ringo, aka Sir Richard Starkey, is still the infectiously charming performer he's been since the Beatles early days. As a drummer he's been immensely influential and inconceivably still underrated by "experts" in such matters. All of Ringo's many talents were on display as the thirteenth iteration of the All-Starr Band played a lively show at the Fox Theatre in St. Louis.

With a band like this, who needs an opening act? This is the very definition of the term "supergroup": Colin Hay (Men at Work), Gregg Rolle (Santana Journey), Steve Lukather (Toto), Graham Gouldman (10CC), Gregg Bissonette (David Lee Roth) and Warren Ham (Kansas) jammed for two solid hours, with each member getting three songs from their respective bands as well as Ringo's solo hits and Ringo-centric Beatles selections.

Santana's sound is complex but Gregg Rolle, Steve Lukather and Warren Ham recreated that sound perfectly on such hits as "Evil Ways" and "Oye Como Va." Graham Gouldman crooned 10CC's biggest hits including "I'm Not In Love" and a fun raggae-influenced song I had somehow managed to miss for all thus years in "Dreadlock Holiday." Lukather led the St. Louis audience through "Africa" and other Toto favorites, showing off his virtuoso guitar talents. The surprise of the night was Colin Hay, who sounds absolutely no different than he did in the early 1980s when Men at Work was topping the charts with "Downunder" and "Overkill."

Of course, the biggest star of the night was Mr. Starr himself. Leading off with a cover of Carl Perkins' "Matchbook," followed by "It Don't Come Easy" and "What Goes On" instantly had the audience fully involved. "Yellow Submarine" was a treat that had everyone singing along and bouncing in place, and he closed out the show in grand style with a little help from the band on "With A Little Help From My Friends" which evolved into a coda of "Give Peace A Chance." Between songs Ringo would interject a quip or a joke, often at his own expense.

You couldn't ask for a more fabulous time at the Fabulous Fox than having one of Fab Four entertain for two hours of fun, peace and love!

Set List:

Matchbox

It Don't Come Easy

What Goes On

Dreadlock Holiday

Evil Ways

Rosanna

Down Under

Boys

Don't Pass Me By

Yellow Submarine