| re: Meat Loaf Concert Review | |
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Jsteinfan 07:16 pm UTC 10/23/15 |
| In reply to: | Meat Loaf Concert Review - Jacqueline 03:39 pm UTC 10/20/15 |
| So pretty much he can't walk well, can't sing, but still gets a positive review...... hmmm I'll let you know When I see him on Long Island in a few weeks. > 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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