Concert Review
Rams Head On Stage. Annapolis MD
January 30, 2016
What’s more expressive than lightning and louder than thunder?
Answer- A David Cassidy fan of course.
Oh dear, if only I had remembered to bring along my ear plugs, not because of the resounding music but because this room full of admirers had the venue rattling when they roared their approval as he took the stage Saturday night.
If there was any nervousness to be seen the previous evening after a long layoff, it was replaced with calm confidence tonight. He looked relaxed, handsome as ever and much younger than his 65 years here on earth. A 30 year old fan yelled out “I told my boyfriend that you’re still way cuter than him” to which he replied with a wry grin, “I’ve been working at being cute all my life!”
“Let’s do this thing!” he announced before belting out ‘C’mon Get Happy’ while encouraging us all to sing along. ‘I’ll Meet You Halfway’ and ‘Albuquerque’ invoked memories of lost innocence while a robust ‘I Woke Up in Love This Morning’ had us shaking in our seats. Blistering guitar and piano solos enhanced sturdy renditions of ‘Sweet Little Angel’ and ‘Hush’, two songs that shaped his youth in the transition from mail room worker to tv star.
“My very first recording in my life at 19 years old…the first track on the first Partridge Family album, one of the best” he said as the music pumped in the background. “I can feel your heartbeat, even though you didn’t say a word…” It was a classic then and has stood the test of time. Since the beginning he has sung this song with conviction and tonight was no exception. Contrast this with ‘Doesn’t Somebody Want to be Wanted’, another major hit that almost made him give up his career over the silly lyrics. Sung tongue in cheek, it was nice to see him accept his past with good humour.
The stage at Rams head was unusually shaped whereby 30% of the people had a good front perspective of the performer while the rest had to accept a side, back or obstructed view. Fortunately he saw this and made sure to turn left and right for all to enjoy. Singing ‘Cherish’ and ‘Daydream Believer’ he moved around the stage to make contact with fans as the walls started shaking again with a reverberation of screams. The former was a favourite as it represented his first solo hit and recognition as a star away from the confines of the Partridge Family. The latter was a tribute to fellow hit-maker Davy Jones, a friend lost far too early to our world.
“My father taught me this song. I think it’s one of the greatest songs ever written…and it’s very personal to me”. ‘Night and Day’ was created in 1932 but tonight he sang it with a freshness and appreciation for each and every word of its complex 48 bar chorus. He learned it at the tender age of three in happier times when his parents were still together as a family unit, and for a minute I could see tears well up in his eyes.
“Look at me now, see where I’ve been...” he sang, suitably describing his and our lives over the last 45 years. Youth and Maturity, Rebellion and Redemption…we’ve all experienced it though his is so much more public. This day, however, we celebrated the return to form of a man we’ve loved for oh so long. There was power in the voice, humour in the talk and close interaction with fans in a venue suited to intimacy.
It was a joyful 65 minutes of focused concentration, dynamic vocals, serious and not so serious banter. Expert drumming, solid guitar work, driving bass and wild runs up and down the keyboard aptly describe his excellent band this and every night of the tours. Kudos to Dave (guitar), Felipe (drums), Frank (bass) and Craig (keyboard) for deftly accompanying a very unique entertainer.
Did we want more? Of course we did. He is a craving that cannot be satiated but for a while it was sheer bliss and, thankfully there will be another time, another place.
We all know what a David Cassidy fan is but ‘who’ is David Cassidy? If you listen closely to the words and then the song, you will hear a man baring his soul to everyone each night on stage. No longer artificial due to Teen Magazines and TV Executives, he is now real for all of us to witness. Attend a concert, watch some videos, pay attention and you will get a glimpse of his greatness.
Lucio
Who: David Cassidy
Where: Rams Head on Stage,
Annapolis, Maryland
When: January 30, 2016.
Thank you Lucio for sharing your review and photos. More of Lucio's photos from Jan 30, 2016 here.
