Daryl Hall and Glen Tillbrook
Summer school is in full bloom, but it keeps on a shortened four-day week, so I still have time to fit in some concert travel. Back I go to Foxwoods to see two performers I have not yet seen live. Strangely, Daryl Hall is someone I am very familiar with, but I have had more contact with his venue 'Daryl's House' and the performers who appear there than with him as a performer. It is ironic that I travel to see him on tour at a different venue. Yes, I have seen his show, but that is still not the same as a live performance. The opener for his tour is Glen Tillbrook, whose name is not familiar to me at all.
From Wikipedia I learned:
Tilbrook formed Squeeze with fellow guitarist and vocalist Chris Difford in the mid-1970s. Difford had placed an advertisement at a local shop looking for a guitarist and Tilbrook was the only person to respond. Tilbrook also recruited school friend Jools Holland to join the band in its early stages.
Tilbrook and Difford would ultimately form a songwriting partnership that is responsible for writing most Squeeze songs, with Tilbrook writing music and Difford writing lyrics. Tilbrook also serves as lead guitarist and performs guitar solos on the band's music.
On his guitar style, Tilbrook commented:
“I'm very conscious of my guitar playing, particularly early on, and I wouldn’t trust myself to improvise. It's a sort of an insecurity on my part. [One person] who really influenced me is the guy who played the solo on the Carpenters' "Goodbye to Love" [Tony Peluso.] That solo really stuck with me. And it's interesting, because ... it starts with the tune and then it branches off into this wonderful thing. You know, it's like in a musical. A song should carry the plot forward. I think the guitar solo should carry the music forward and not just hang around.
As I said, Daryl Hall I know! First Hall and Oates and now Daryl Hall and John Oates divided. I have seen the show Daryl's House but even better, I have been there to watch concerts. However, this is the first time I have seen Daryl, himself, in concert and I am eager to watch this.
Listening to his conversation with the audience, Daryl frequents Foxwoods. He has a strong fan base. They are supportive and not afraid to ask for what they want to hear. The Premier Theatre is large, but no matter to his fans. They make themselves known. "OH, is that what you want to hear? I am always happy to oblige." I do not believe they swayed the entire set list their way, but it did seem as though some change occurred once or twice. At one point Daryl said, "Well, thank you, but I'm going to sing a new one now."
Both Glen and Daryl received huge applause throughout. The stage was set up as Daryl's House, with a color changing neon sign and a shadowy scrim with the imprint of the Daryl's House interior upon it. Keeping to the 'House' format, first Glen performed, then Daryl, then they combined their shows and ultimately Daryl ends the show. Very effective and the music was fantastic. With a back-up band that plays for both of them: Klyde Jones on bass, Shane Theriot on guitar, Eliot Lewis on keyboards, Brian Dunne on drums, Porter Carroll Jr on percussion and Charlie DeChant (with Daryl since 1976) on sax, flute and keyboards.
This was the first concert of their tour and, as such, I am reading changes in format and song in reviews of their following shows. In all shows, Daryl is starting out on keyboards or guitar and then switches to grand piano where he remains for the duration. This piano set-up puts him in tight range of his audience, so he is able to flirt and communicate eye-to-eye with them.
These are about half of the songs Daryl did tonight:
The Whole World's Better
Your Kiss is on My List
Rich Girl
Walking In Between Raindrops
I'm in a Philly Mood
Too Much Information
Every Time You Go Away - Paul Young recorded this and made a lot of money for Daryl, who wrote the song.
Summer School, technical difficulties, and a couple other unforeseen circumstances have delayed this review, but it does not lessen the concert's quality.
Shelley J Sweet-Tufano
NE Correspondent
Forgotten Hits
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I wanted to tell you I made it to see BTO last night at the Elk Grove Village show that you told me about!! There were so many people crunched together in their chairs that I wasn't able to see if you were there!!!
What a Show ... Still Groovy after all those years!!! 81 year old Randy Bachman!!!
The band played great and Randy was in excellent form singing and playing his guitar. He sadly announced that BTO members Tim and Robbie Bachman, his brothers, and Fred Turner, his partner, have all passed away.
He kept the family going though, with his son Tal playing guitar and keyboards and his daughter-in-law played the drums (and what a job she did!!!) He had two other guys with guitars but I forgot their names. One of them helped Randy with the vocals.
They did most of all the BTO hits with some of their album tunes, and before he sang his Guess Who hits, he announced all the members of the group and thanked them. He closed the show with “Takin’ Care of Business” and I would say that song and “American Woman” got the largest audience response, but Kent, he sounded like he did on his records and much earlier concerts ... he has quite a touring schedule this year. They played a solid 90 minutes.
I can't thank you enough, Kent, for letting me know about the BTO Concert. I wanted to see them one more time because you never know when they won't be around. Seeing Randy singing his heart out and being the master of the guitar 'WAS A GREAT THRILL FOR ME' ...
Thank you again and keep "Rockin" .......
Your Fan,
Carolyn
I can’t believe we missed this show! Would have loved to have been there. But honestly, between the sardine-packed audience and the incredibly excessive heat, we were probably better off sitting at home! (lol) Still, it sounds like this would have been a great one to see. Glad you enjoyed it … and thanks for the report!!! (kk)
60 YEARS AGO TODAY:
7/30/65 - President Lyndon Baines Johnson signs the Medicare
Bill
