Ugh. Wore up this morning with a killer sore throat in Karilee and Andre’s living room. Brutal sore throat. The onset of strep throat? I had strep throat five years ago and I’m always worried about getting it again.
I made my way home after a killer breakfast (thanks guys!) and spent the rest of the day recuperating (read: working around the house) before we headed downtown for another night of Bluesfest.
First up was Grammy Award winning Peter Frampton who we all mocked for having the title ‘Grammy award-winning’ in front of his name all the time! Now, to set the record straight, I don’t know much Peter Frampton. I only know a few hits from the radio. I also know that he is touring the 35th anniversary of his killer live album ‘Frampton Comes Alive’ (which is a great live album title by the way). He was recreating the setlist of that fabled night on the current tour.
With sore throat in tow, Vero, Vero, Martin, Trish and I headed towards the main stage to catch Frampton at his best. Mike and Jean-Luc met up with us later. I had this amazing Philly Chesesteak in hand (from Fitz Catering where they actually know Vero and said hello) which difficult to navigate the crowd with, but turned out to be so tasty!
What can I say about Peter Frampton? He put on a killer show…I never knew he could rock so hard. They were jamming away, soloing here and there, having some great singalongs…it was a highlight of Bluesfest. My favourite moment occurred when he took the talk box and started talking to a guy selling popcorn.
“Hey mister, please give me some popcorn” the robotic voice said.
You can see the man with the popcorn on a giant stick walk away but after the finale of ‘While my Guitar Gently Weeps’, the guy comes back and throws a bag of popcorn on stage for him! Classic! It was a good laugh and the band seemed really into the crowd as well.
Two thumbs up for Peter Frampton. I must seek out his live album.
Next up was Huey Lewis and the News…a band I only know from Back to the Future and American Psycho…which has a hilarious scene where the killer in the film talks about Huey Lewis and the News’ ‘consummate professionalism’. Andre and Karilee met up with us and we had some good laughs and commenting about their professionalism throughout the set. I got to hear “Power of Love’ track that I wanted to, and they had an amazing a Capella moment with a hilarious song called “Sixty Minute Man”. Quite impressive! I even found a bootleg of that concert and it sounds fantastic.
I headed straight over to the main stage to see A Perfect Circle. I’m a big fan and haven’t seen them in a few years since they took a hiatus so I was curious to see what they would pull off…especially since they were touring a lot of their Emotive album (which is essentially (minus one track) a covers album).
The stage was shrouded in shadows and at one point I believe someone even said “There’s a singer up there?!” Maynard James Keenan definitely shies away from the spotlight…he doesn’t take stage center and he is in a back corner with no lights on him for the most part. James Iha was up on a small pedestal and Billy was down on the main stage walking around with incredible guitar solos.
I especially liked hearing Counting Bodies like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War drums (not a song for everyone!) as well as The Noose. I was surprised to not hear Judith at all which is a big hit. Let us not forget the excellent covers…Trish was impressed solely from their Depeche Mode cover of People are People and they also had a John Lennon and Memphis Minnie cover (When the Levee Breaks which was made popular by Zep.)
There was this crazy, crazy dancer in front of us at one point that just prompted us to laugh. He was really into the show, thrashing around and having the time of his life. I LOVE it when I see someone let loose like that. I find I’m more content with standing still nowadays…must be my body wearing down or the fact that I had what seemed like strep throat!
The show ended around 10:45 which was 15 minutes earlier than curfew…I thought they were going to come back out, but I guess not! I was impressed nonetheless. Trish was impressed by the fact that they covered Depeche Mode. Hey, if that’s what gets you liking a band, so be it! 🙂
That being said, I felt like crap so it was time to go home.
Setlists:
Frampton:
Something’s Happening
Doobie Wah
Lines on my Face
Show Me The way
It’s a Plain Shame
Wind of Change
All I Wanna Be (is by your side)
Baby, I love your way
I Wanna Go to the Sun
(I’ll Give You) Money
Do You Feel Like We Do
Encore:
Shine On (Humble Pie)
Jumping Jack Flash (Rolling Stones)
While My Guitar Gently Weeps (Beatles)
Huey:
The Heart of Rock & Roll
Don’t Fight It
Respect Yourself
I Want a New Drug
Small World
If This is It
Power of Love
Jacob’s Ladder
Sixty Minute Man
(Unknown)
Heart and Soul
But It’s Alright
We’re Not here for a Long Time
Encore: Workin’ For a Livin’
APC:
Annihilation (Crucifix)
Weak and Powerless
The Hollow
3 Libra (All Main Courses Mix)
People are People (Depeche Mode)
Counting Bodies like Sheep to the Rhythm of the War Drums
Blue
By and Down
The Package
The Noose
Magdelena
The Outsider – Oh man, how can I forget this song? This was epic.
Imagine (John Lennon)
When the Levee Breaks (Memphis Minnie/Led Zeppelin)
Passive