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| re: Meat Loaf Concert Review | |
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rockfenris2005 05:40 am UTC 10/21/15 |
| In reply to: | re: Meat Loaf Concert Review - Vin 05:35 pm UTC 10/20/15 |
And "Break It" again... How cool if he all of a sudden played "Only When I Feel"? > Its weird. I've bemoaned for years that Meat's set list > is almost always the same, and almost always drawn > exclusively from the two Bats. > > And yet, when he does offer up some "deep cuts," his > choices are mystifying. "Runnin' or the Red Light" is > pretty terrible, IMHO. And its the SHOW OPENER??? > > "Los Angeloser" and "Giving Tree" ? Really??? Does he > really think he has even a 10th of his crowd that wants to > hear these over something off of Dead Ringer, or maybe > dust off Bad Attitude? (For that matter, does a 10th of > his crowd even know these tunes? You figure half of them > only own the Bat records.) > > I understand the short answer: these are songs he likes > and wants to perform. So, okay, I guess that trumps my > griping. But jeez..... > > > Meat Loaf in concert, October 18, 2015, Phoenix, AZ > > > > Rating: > > Star4 **** > > > > Meat Loaf the artist is similar to meatloaf the meal in > > that you either love it or hate it. There is no riding the > > fence on Meat Loaf. You either love his over the top, > > bombastic interpretations of the over the top, bombastic > > songs of Jim Steinman or you shake your head and wonder, > > what’s the big deal. For Meat Loaf the artist, there was > > plenty of love from those gathered at the Arizona > > Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fair in > > Phoenix on Sunday night, October 18, 2015. > > > > It had been five years since Meat Loaf last performed in > > Phoenix and this fall’s tour is Meat Loaf’s first tour in > > three years, after spending 2013 and 2014 in residence at > > the Planet Hollywood Casino in Las Vegas for the RockTellz > > & CockTellz series. Returning with Meat Loaf on this tour > > in the Neverland Express (the name given to Meat Loaf’s > > touring band), are guitarists Paul Crook and Randy > > Flowers, drummer John Meceli, Justin Avery on keyboards, > > keyboard and saxophone player David Luther, bassist Danny > > Miranda and Meat Loaf’s latest chanteuse, Cian Coey. > > > > With the release of Meat Loaf’s new album of Jim > > Steinman’s material, “Braver Than We Are,” pushed back > > until next year, the night’s song list was a sampling of > > Meat Loaf’s past discography, with seven of his twelve > > studio albums represented in his ninety minute set. But > > despite performing some deep cuts, Meat Loaf gave the > > audience what they wanted most, a presentation of five out > > of the seven songs found on 1977’s breakout album, “Bat > > Out Of Hell.” > > > > Even in his best days, Meat Loaf’s vocals could become > > somewhat strained when singing live, no doubt due in part > > to the demands that singing a Steinman penned tune can > > place on a voice. Sunday night’s show will not go down as > > one of Meat Loaf’s better vocal nights. But it didn’t > > matter. The majority of those in the audience came to see > > the performer Meat Loaf, not necessarily the vocalist Meat > > Loaf. And, along with his stellar band, he can still > > perform. > > > > Give credit to the intensity Meat Loaf brings to the > > stage. As the band played the opening notes to “Runnin’ > > for the Red Light (I Gotta Life),” out came Meat Loaf, > > with a look in his eyes and a swagger that reminded you of > > a football coach ready to deliver one of the greatest half > > time speeches ever. Never mind that his voice may crack or > > he can’t hit all the notes. The fire in his eyes said “I’m > > Meat Loaf damn it and I’m in it ‘til it’s over and I just > > can’t stop.” The audience ate it up. > > > > Although many in the crowd stood from the onset, it took > > the fourth number, the familiar “You Took the Words Right > > Out of My Mouth,” to bring those seated up to clap and > > sing along. Their reward? A smoking rendition of “Dead > > Ringer for Love” that followed which featured Meat Loaf’s > > duet with Cian Coey. Coey does not yet have the longevity > > to be fairly compared to long time Meat Loaf female foil, > > Patti Russo, but Coey’s vocals and playfulness were a > > highlight throughout the night. > > > > The crowd settled back for the lessor known “Los > > Angeloser” and “The Giving Tree.” The latter song featured > > a lengthy instrumental section, showcasing the talents of > > guitarists Crook and Flowers. > > > > It’s difficult to stay subdued at a Meat Loaf concert and > > if “Out of the Frying Pan (and into the Fire) didn’t get > > an audience member up, “All Dressed Up With No Place to > > Go” certainly did. Luther blasted an audience appreciated > > saxophone solo. The stage had been set for what the > > audience really wanted to hear. > > > > Meat Loaf disappeared to the side of the stage then > > returned to stage center in his letterman’s jacket, > > looking a tad nerdy and claiming he was a little nervous > > before launching into “Paradise by the Dashboard Light.” > > When cheerleader Coey bounded out onto stage, it was no > > longer cold and lonely in the deep dark night. It was > > smoldering. It wasn’t just Meat Loaf that was ready to > > love her until the end of time. Coey time and again > > brought the heat. > > > > Avery’s keyboards introduced “Bat Out of Hell,” earning > > yet another loud ovation. You weren’t going to hear the > > Meat Loaf vocals found on the original recording, but > > hearing Crook’s guitar wail, it was easy to be transported > > back to the first time your needle hit the vinyl on that > > recording and you realized you were listening to something > > you had never heard before. > > > > Those that were hoping to hear their favorite Meat Loaf > > power ballads were finally appeased with the encore’s > > first two songs, “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” and “I’d Do > > Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do That).” Fans loudly sang > > the opening number. Coey breathed new life into the second > > song. Her interpretation entranced the audience. > > > > The night ended as Avery came down from his keyboard perch > > and out Meat Loafed, Meat Loaf on the opening stanzas to > > “Boneyard.” The country rock song allowed Meat Loaf to > > have a little fun on rhythm guitar along with the leads of > > Crook and Flowers. Suddenly the trio was riffing the end > > to “Free Bird” before finishing up with a reprise of “All > > Revved Up With No Place To Go.” Meat Loaf looked as > > energized as he had been all evening. > > > > > > It was clear from Sunday night’s performance that people > > still love Meat Loaf. This being a State Fair performance, > > admission was free, yet almost all of the reserved seats > > (those that cost money) were sold out. Few people walked > > out during the performance (which is somewhat common at an > > Arizona State Fair show). Admittedly, Meat Loaf’s vocals > > were disappointing. But his band, Coey, the music and the > > legend himself, earned a long standing ovation and cries > > for more at night’s end. > > > > Set List: Runnin’ For The Red Light (I Gotta Life) | Life > > Is A Lemon And I Want My Money Back | If It Ain’t Broke, > > Break It | You Took The Words Right Out Of My Mouth (Hot > > Summer Night) | Dead Ringer For Love | Los Angeloser | The > > Giving Tree | Out Of The Frying Pan (And Into The Fire) | > > All Revved Up With No Place To Go | Paradise By The > > Dashboard Light | Bat Out Of Hell | Encore: Two Out Of > > Three Ain’t Bad | I’d Do Anything For Love (But I Won’t Do > > That) | Boneyard/Freebird/All Revved Up With No Place To > > Go > > | |
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