Caesars Maximus Theatre

Atlantic City, NJ • Saturday, June 21st 2014

 

Wow! It was my first trip of the concert season back to Atlantic City and my first time ever seeing Ringo Starr! There’s not a better place to see him and his All Starr Band than the very small 1100-seat intimate Caesars Maximus Theatre. This show was completely sold out and judging by the people I saw outside the venue, he could probably have sold out another. So with no opening act and at 9 pm sharp, Ringo Starr's All Starr Band walked out on a stage that had two drum kits and one keyboard set up on risers and a few three dimensional stars hanging along the back of the stage that was draped in a huge curtain that also would project spirals, peace signs, and what else but stars were shown throughout the night. This latest all-star band who came out on the stage first was indeed an all-star lineup: former Santana keyboardist Gregg Rolie, guitarist Todd Rundgren, Toto guitarist Steve Lukather, Mr. Mister bassist Richard Page, David Lee Roth drummer Gregg Bissonette, and saxophonist/percussionist Warren Ham. Lukather introduced the Star of the night, Ringo Starr, who took front center stage and opened with a Carl Perkins’ cover of  "Matchbox" and two of his solo songs, "It Don't Come Easy" and "Wings" before heading up to his drum kit.

As in all of his All Starr shows, each band member gets to shine in the spotlight by playing a few songs from each of their illustrious careers. Starr then introduced Rundgren as he says, “you all smell like cheese-steaks out there,” before going into "I Saw the Light." Later during that set, a roadie brought out a little two-piece drum kit and Rundgren says, “it’s two woks - is anyone hungry? And he broke into "Bang the Drum All Day." He also played a cover of Utopia's "Love Is The Answer." Next it was Rolie's time to shine. The band played "Evil Ways," with Starr and Bissonette in a drum duel at the end of the song, with "Black Magic Woman" and "Oye como va" being played later. Lukather used his time to jam on Toto's "Rosanna" plus "Africa" and "Hold the Line" later. Page played one of my favorite Mr. Mister  songs, "Kyrie," then "Broken Wings" and a new solo song, "You Are Mine." He performed this one on an acoustic guitar and said to Ringo that he was so grateful for the opportunity to do the song with Ringo, giving him an appreciative bow.

Now Starr, the heart and soul of the show presented a mix of covers, solos and Beatles songs. After his two early solo songs, it wasn't until quite later in the show that he played three in a row with a Shirelles’ cover of "Boys," that he said the Beatles covered early in their career. “Now I’m going to play a couple from that other band I used to be in,” he said; then broke into the Beatles’ "Don't Pass Me By" and "Yellow Submarine." That one actually got the older folks in the audience on their feet. Then he sang another Carl Perkins’ tune, "Honey Don't" and a Ringo solo, "Anthem." Next came the Beatles’ "I Wanna Be Your Man." At the end of the song someone yelled out, “you’re the man!” and Ringo replied, “no, you’re the man; I'm the best,” which drew a rousing applause. After another solo, "Photograph," and then a Buck Owen's cover, "Act Naturally," the band ended their two-hour-straight set with "With a Little Help from My Friends." Always the peace and love guy, Ringo gave us the peace sign all night long and did again as he said goodnight and thanked the crowd. He left the stage then, while the band ended with The Plastic Ono Band’s "Give Peace a Chance," a full-out sing-a-long from the band and the audience. Ringo dashed out after the song to give his final goodbyes with the band at the front of the stage.

– Gary Crouthamel, Concert Photojournalist