Concert #735 - Midge Ure at McCabe's Guitar Shop (January 11, 2015)

As I was watching Midge Ure's performance Sunday night at McCabe's, a name kept popping up in my head: Iain Matthews. Not that there were stylistic similarities between the two, but I could definitely detect some commonalities in terms of their stage presence and artistry. Both have a witty sense of humor. Both are exceptionally eloquent. Both are perfectly capable of holding an audience captive with nothing but their music and personalities. Both are outstanding songwriters and soulful singers with superior phrasing. Both deliver their music with passion and conviction and their delightful accents don't hurt them either.

I caught the early show, the one that sold out. The late show was just a bit short of a sell-out. I liked the crowd - loud and loving between songs, but totally attentive while Midge was singing.

Midge Ure at McCabe's

Midge completed his entire show without any other musician stepping in. He talked between songs, but not excessively. I loved his song selection - he played a good mix of Ultravox and solo material, and there were no bad songs there, not a single one, and the ones from "Fragile", his new album, sounded great, too. Among all those self-penned tunes, we got to hear a cover song as well, namely David Bowie's "Lady Stardust".

The numbers I enjoyed the most were "Dear God", "Fade To Grey", "Cold, Cold Heart" and "If I Was". 

The set list

Midge Ure at McCabe's

Midge Ure at McCabe's

Concert #734 - Barry McGuire & P.F. Sloan at the Coffee Gallery Backstage (January 8, 2015)

The above photo is dated 1965. It shows Barry McGuire and P.F. Sloan riding a motorbike. At that time, their careers were closely intertwined, but that closeness ended soon thereafter, when their career paths took them in totally different directions. I don't think the two have seen each other for fifty years or so, but I know for a fact that they have not performed together since 1965.

Thursday night's concert at the intimate Coffee Gallery in Altadena marked Barry and Phil's first time together on a stage in fifty years and I'm super-happy to say that I was there. Being part of such a historic event gave me a thrill that I will not forget anytime soon. Their joint effort consisted of lots of songs and stories, with lead vocals duties going back and forth between the two.

Barry McGuire (left) and P.F. Sloan at the Coffee Gallery (2015)

The concert kicked off with "Green, Green", "The Times They Are A-Changin'" and "Blowin' In The Wind", performed by Barry with competent support provided by John York. At that point, Barry introduced P.F. Sloan, who took the stage to a loud welcome. The Dylan-theme continued for one more song with the singing of "Mr. Tambourine Man", which then turned seamlessly into "Turn, Turn, Turn". Next came the immortal "Eve of Destruction", the song written by a teenage Phil and recorded by Barry in 1965.

The other four songs we heard before the intermission were "What's Exactly The Matter With Me", "California Dreamin'", "Where Were You When I Needed You" and "Secret Agent Man".

P.F. Sloan at the Coffee Gallery (2015)

Barry McGuire at the Coffee Gallery (2015)

The second set kicked off with CCR's "Proud Mary" and ended with Barry's barely whispered rendition of "Try To Remember". In addition to the songs listed in the photo below, we also got to hear "Blue Suede Shoes", which Phil dedicated to birthday-boy Elvis Presley.

The set list (second set)

The evening's one-song encore, Little Eva's "Locomotion" was, in my opinion, the best moment of the show, with Barry's strong voice and contagious joie-de-vivre taking over the concert room. In his eightieth year of existence, Barry continues to impress me with his seemingly unchanged voice, not to mention his boundless energy and charisma. His exuberance worked very well with Phil's more restrained stage presence.

Barry McGuire, John York & P.F. Sloan at the Coffee Gallery (2015)

 

 

The stage

Concert poster