Concert notes: Las Vegas, March 28, 2013

[harrymcc]

This isn't a review: when it comes to Burt Bacharach, I'm not capable of being critical. (Usually.) Suffice it to say that I had a very good time, in a beautiful concert hall -- the one-year-old Smith Center -- which was full of other people who seemed to be having a very good time.

Back in the middle of the last decade, I saw Burt about five time over just three years or so, mostly in the Bay Area. These days, he performs far less often in the U.S., let alone in California. So I figured it was worth making the trek to Vegas, and managed to convince my wife (who was not my wife the last time I saw Bacharach) to accompany me.

The Smith Center is the nicest venue I've seen Bacharach perform in -- certainly an upgrade from folding chairs in a bingo parlor-like room in a casino in Sparks, Nevada -- but much was familiar from the concerts I saw a few years ago. The talented trio -- Donna Taylor, Josie James, John Pagano -- was there, as was violinist Eliza James. A new twist: keyboardist Bill Cantos sang a couple of songs, including a fine rendition of My Little Red Book.

When Burt came out, he looked, momentarily, older than he did when I'd seen him before. (He's entitled: he'll be 85 in May.) But he played with the same passion, made between-song small talk with the same good cheer, and, I'm happy to report, sang a lot: The Look of Love, Wives and Lovers, Alfie, A House is Not a Home and more.

Until very near the end, the entire show consisted of the famous stuff, some compressed into medleys, some more or less complete in stand-alone form. Then Burt said he figured he'd "fulfilled that obligation" and told a story about going to see the Rolling Stones and noticing everyone going to the bathroom when the Stones performed new material. Then he performed two numbers from his recent musical Some Lovers; it was the first time I'd heard any of it, and now I'd like to hear more.

Most of the folks in the audience were a decade or two older than me and my wife, and I suspect they approved of the basic modus operandi of the concert: play as many famous Burt Bacharach songs as possible. I loved them too, of course. But I especially relished the ones which strayed at least a little form the obvious, such as the aforementioned Little Red Book, Waiting for Charlie and John Paganos powerful Any Day Now. I'd happy go to a Bacharach concert consisting entirely of songs which aren't on the tip of the world's tongue even today.

I'm not complaining, though -- I'm glad to have made the trip to Vegas (we got here this afternoon and fly home tomorrow morning) and grateful to have had the opportunity to see Burt Bacharach at least once more in my lifetime.

[JR]

Thanks for your take on the concert. By the way, according to Amazon the book will be released May 7. Their description reads "offers a frank and riveting account of his unparalleled life ... candid and emotional".

[nowmedical]

Interesting stuff, thank you Harry. I too have seen BB many times and I love the less-well-known tunes when he does them - for example "Are You There With Another Girl" which he sneaked in to his concert in Lucca Italy in 2011, and the long and deep instrumental "For The Children" (I think) at London in 2007, when indeed a few (but not many) at the standing-only venue headed to the bar. Can't wait to see what we get in London in June.

[GehVorbei]

Very nice review of the Burt's concert at Tuacahan Amphitheatre in Ivins on 29 March 2013 with loads of photos, too:

“When (Bacharach) came out he was this feeble 84-year-old man, but as the night went on he got younger.”


http://blogs.thespectrum.com/getlost/20 ... more-burt/

[Djalma Junior]

The more the years go Master Burt gets even more fantastic.
Genius!

[vincent.cole]

Bonjour Harrymcc;

Thanks for sharing your joy from the concert!

How much longer Burt will be doing concerts, we don't know! But let us continue to enjoy them!!!

As they say, "Waiting For Charlie" song by Donna Taylor was worth the price of admission!!!

Take care;

Vincent

[BachtoBacharach]

What an awesome venue for the concert! I can understand why Burt was blown away by the surroundings in Ivins. It's a beautiful spot. I wish I could have been there!