Concert Review
BB King, NY
July 19, 2012
Fans started lining up in the early hours July 19, 2012 for general admission seating to David's concert at BB King's in New York and by 6PM the queue ran all the way down the block of busy Times Square, garnering curious looks from the thousands of passerbys. We were let into the venue shorty after 6PM and quickly ushered to our cramped Vegas style seating close to the stage area. Dark lighting made it difficult to recognize faces in the audience but I could see that there were a lot of first time attendees making their way around with old lps/photos, etc hoping for that elusive autograph.
BB King's is an unique club right in the heart of the Broadway Theatre District in downtown Manhattan close to train, rail, bus stations and accessible to anyone wanting to spend an interesting time in the city. The seating affords an excellent, close view of the stage from all angles while the sound is clean and spectacular. I've been in more comfortable theatres but rarely, if ever in one that I enjoy more than this one.
David bolted on stage shortly after 8PM looking tanned and fit as always and urging the audience to join him in singing along to a funky, modernized 'C'mon Get Happy'. A mixed bag of new and old songs followed traversing David's personal and professional life experiences including 'Crossroads/Hush' (songs from his youth), 'Alburquerque/I Woke up In Love' (Partridge Family hits), and a cool tribute to Davy Jones (I'm A Believer/Daydream Believer).
David was in powerful voice and cheerful spirits as he joked with the crowd about the long hair he 'used' to have in the old days and the silliness of the spoken part in 'Doesn't Somebody Want To Be Wanted'. He told us of the importance of the fans as he sang 'In My Life' and related the story of his first meeting with BB King back in the 1960s when he had the opportunity to talk to and carry the famous 'Lucille' guitar.
Highlights included a full verse of 'Thrill Is Gone' and complete well sung 'On Broadway' as well as a lovely 1972 style 'Cherish' (without the dance beats) that elicited cheers from the capacity crowd.
As always, bright flashes and loud screams brought the club to life as did the excellent band which never seems to miss a 'Heartbeat' (pun intended). Too soon it was time for the 'I Woke Up/I Think I Love You' hit medley that signified the end of a wonderful night of music. The people next to us seeing David live for the first time were impressed by the power of his voice and stage presence. There were smiles all around as we exited the venue.
New York city for a peaceful guy like me is an aggravating, exhausting, stressful, expensive town that I hate to be in but David and BB King's are an unbeatable team that I will never miss as long as I'm able to be there.
Lucio
