For a performance by a British singer and a Canadian rock band, there was a lot of patriotism to be found Tuesday night at Seagate Center.
Guess Who vocalist/keyboardist Burton Cummings made more than a few pro-American remarks during the band’s set. He pointed out that he was staring straight at the American flag. While introducing some of the band’s hit songs, which included “These Eyes” and “American Woman”, Cummings said that people around the world knew them; even those who attacked New York. (Cummings of course used more colorful language.)
Another interesting feature of the band’s set was the fact that they played songs from Randy Bachman’s post Guess Who venture, Bachman Turner Overdrive.
The band may have gotten older, but for the most part they sounded no different than what they did back during their hay-days. The band played all of their major hits. The house literally exploded when Bachman began to play the guitar riff from “American Woman.”
The last time Joe Cocker played Toledo it was a few years back at the Toledo Zoo. Cocker never made the stage because of a rainstorm. “At last Toledo, an evening,” he said.
While Cocker’s stage motions have slowed over time, his voice is still the same as before. And while Cocker may have aged over the years, he still had plenty of energy left to jump in the air in excitement. Like the Guess Who, Cocker played a strong collection of his hit songs. Cocker also goes down as the only artist who covered a Beatles song (“With a Little Help From My Friends”) and made it better than the original. “Friends” made for an impressive closing song.
Cocker was also able to do something rare, the opening act came back for an encore. The crowd was more than happy with his return.
For the most part it was a good night for classic rock and roll. The audience contained a good mix of people. The Guess Who and Cocker played to a full house of fans both young and old. Most importantly, neither act has lost anything over the passing years.
If you missed the “American Woman” tour’s stop in Toledo, The Guess Who will be making two more appearances in Ohio. On October 5 the tour will be at the Schottenstein Center in Columbus and at the Gund Arena in Cleveland on October 6.
