David Cassidy on the Web
We were there: David Cassidy and Davy Jones at Nokia
Sunday, February 7, 2010
By Joy Tipping
Staff Writer
http://musicblog.dallasnews.com
PHOTO of David Cassidy: Bobby Bank/WireImage
I did not c'mon, get happy, at Nokia Theatre on Saturday night. Nor did I wake up in love this evening. If you're a Partridge Family fan who attended the David Cassidy concert, I suspect you feel the same; Cassidy did plenty from the PF catalog, but at least half the songs were with new arrangements that did nothing for them. Do I really want to hear a disco-ized version of "I'll Meet You Halfway" or a jazzy "C'mon Get Happy"? I do not. All was almost -- but not completely -- forgiven at the end, with a mostly traditional "I Woke Up in Love This Morning."
Honestly, I understand Cassidy and other pop stars wanting to move beyond the 60s or 70s or whenever their heydey was ... but I also think you should respect the audience that's paying $50 or $70 to see you. During Saturday's concert, Cassidy kept telling the crowd how much he loves and adores them and how we got him there, etc., but he also kept going on about how he doesn't rehearse. No kidding. I would think that if everyone in the audience knows the lyrics to "Point Me in the Direction of Albuquerque," the guy who made it a hit could be bothered to remember them. And it's really, really bad form to proclaim that seeing the Beatles on Ed Sullivan changed your life, and how John Lennon has made "more of a difference than any other human being in the world" (really?) and then not be able to get through "In My Life" without flubs. Cassidy had a number of sound problems, including a dead electric guitar, but we could have forgiven that. It happens. It was his willful, downright boastful lack of personal preparation that grated.
On the up side, Cassidy's voice was in fine form, and he's still got the sexy moves. Ditto Davy Jones of the Monkees, who seemed more genuine in his appreciation of the fans, and never once forgot his lyrics. Nor did he mess with the arrangements of treasured Monkees classics like "I'm a Believer" and "Daydream Believer." Jones was billed as an opening act, but he sang just as long as Cassidy did, and delivered more of what the audience craved.
