Sidetracked

(AP photo)

A full moon, warm temperatures and one of the pioneers of soul helped make for a — ahem – wonderful night at the Santa Barbara Bowl last night.

Sorry, I couldn’t resist; I’m addicted to pun.

But as I noted in a previous blog entry, I’ve long wanted to see Stevie Wonder in concert but have never had the opportunity — partly because he hasn’t toured in more than a decade and partly because when I was younger, I was always broke.

Heck, I’m not exactly loaded now. But at least I don’t have to beg my mom for Pepsi money any more.

Last night, however, I finally ended my live Stevie drought by attending a 2-plus-hour show that reaffirmed what I’ve long believed to be true:

Stevie rules.

I mean, forget for a moment that Stevie Wonder has given us countless hits, that he’s a musical genius and that he helped change the cookie cutter sound of soul.

Well, actually, don’t forget that stuff. That’s why he rules. But he’s also a great live act.

Rather than start the show with a song, Stevie walked onstage with his daughter, Aisha Morris (who is the baby heard on his “Isn’t She Lovely” record from 1976) and told the audience about his inspiration for the tour. After his mother died a year ago, he said, he was inspired to make others happy through song.

That actually made my wife cry. But then Stevie made up for it by making her happy through song.

The Bowl was, of course, packed. (Stevie’s show in San Diego sold out in five minutes; it took slightly longer — 15 minutes — to sell out in Concord.) But while Lionel Richie’s show at the Chumash a while back featured mostly gray tops, I was pleased to see that Stevie also drew many younger fans.

Stevie played a long set list, packed with early hits — including many deeper cuts. (His 1973 album “Innervisions” got special attention.) Stevie is best known for his innovative synthesizer playing, which he demonstrated on “Superstition.” But I was happy to hear him play a grand piano on many tunes, including the infectious, grooving “Don’t You Worry ‘Bout a Thing” and his more reserved opener, the poignant “Love’s In Need of Love Today.”

Stevie’s energy requires a high-intensity band. So he assembled 12 musicians (including his daughter singing backup), which included two other keyboard players and three percussionists. Through the night, they jammed to “Sir Duke,” “Living For the City,” “I Wish,” “Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I’m Yours” and a slew of others.

There were a few of the usual concert annoyances, like the woman beside us who got sloppy drunk and nearly wound up in a fight. And I’m not exactly a huge fan of crowd sing-a-longs. But I figure since Stevie can’t ever see the audience, he ought to be able to hear them appreciate him.

So now I can breathe a sigh of relief. After many years I can finally cross Stevie Wonder off my list of haven’t-seen performers.

While this stoke will last quite a while, I just learned that another idol of mine that I haven’t seen live has just announced a new tour, which includes a stop in L.A. this October.

If I could see Stevie Wonder and Bruce Springsteen the same year, I could die happy.

OK, forget I said that. I don’t want to die any time soon — I just want to see the Boss.

So, mom – can I borrow some Pepsi money? I’ll need a couple hundred bucks.

— Pat P.

Posted on August 29th, 2007 by Pat
Filed under: Music