Red Rocks Amphitheatre, Denver, Colorado, USA31st July 2008
Joe Cocker
It was totally appropriate for someone as legendary as Joe Cocker to be onstage at the equally legendary Red Rocks Amphitheatre in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. As I stated online before this show, it could be expected to be a show nothing short of spectacular with the combination of music and natural elements that would be capturing the audience on a gorgeous, star filled night. It was definitely beyond spectacular and words cannot describe what an enchanting and incredibly memorable time I had. http://www.cocker.com/ / www.myspace.com/joecocker
In my opinion, Mr. Cocker has never sounded better. Backed by an over the top with talent, seven piece band that included two drummers, Norberto Fimple (doubling on sax) and Jack Bruno; two keyboard players, Nick Milo on piano and the phenomenal Mike Finnegan from the Phantom Blues Band on Hammond organ and backup vocals; two backup vocalists, Nicky Tilton and Vivian Sasson; guitarist, Gene Black; and, bass player Oneida James, the show was solid, non-stop energy from beginning to end. The packed house was on their feet dancing the entire time with show leader, Joe Cocker, at the top of the dancing heap easily controlling every single one of us with his stylish boundlessness that included lots of the leprechaun like jumps in the air and fits of spastic-like moves.
That only he can call his own. No one but Joe Cocker can pull off such manoeuvres in front of an audience of nearly 10,000 and still be called a “brilliant and intriguing” performer. He performs with such finesse, grace and perfection, it makes you want to go back and see him time after time just to make sure the show you saw was not just a one time thing, that it really is what makes him “The Legendary Joe Cocker”. For that reason alone, this show is in my top five of best shows I’ve seen all year - probably one of the best I’ve seen in many years.The songs covered in this 90 minute set were all hits that you can never, ever really get enough of. Even the ones that have been overplayed over the last 35 to 40 years, ones you think you really have heard enough of, were fantastic in this live setting. As he ended a couple of songs I swear I’ve heard a zillion times over, I thought, “Wow, what an excellent song that I never really appreciated until now”.
Starting out the set with ‘Chain of Fools’ and ‘Feeling Alright’, Cocker’s list of crowd favourites was very well balanced and never dragged. Playing a constant string of hits that included, ‘Cry Me a River’, ‘You Are So Beautiful’, ‘Maybe I’m Amazed’, ‘You Can Leave Your Hat On’, ‘Unchain My Heart’, ‘The Letter’, and ‘With A Little Help From My Friends’. The show ended with the mesmerizing encore originally written by John Lennon and Paul McCartney, ‘She Came in through the Bathroom Window’. Great show and excellent band… the crowd loved it!
As a special note, I do have to add this almost unbelievable end to this special, special night… The headliner for this show was Steve Miller, but sadly I wasn’t able to neither shoot photos nor stay for his show due to a previous commitment. However, Mr. Miller was a few of his incredible hit songs into his set when I began my journey back to the parking lot (it’s quite a long, steep hike into Red Rocks amphitheatre). Making my way in the dark and trying to remember where exactly I had parked in between shrubbery and boulders I could hear Steve Miller’s band playing and him singing, ‘Abracadabra’ throughout the night air. As I was walking along the edge of the parking lot enjoying the music and singing along to myself, the most beautiful thing happened which added to the rest of the memories to make this night such an unforgettable one… I could “feel” something or someone rustling around in the bushes, so I slowed my steps. The rustling slowed down too, so I stopped. The rustling stopped as well. Cautiously looking toward the trees and shrubs on my right, and not more than 20 feet away from me, was a gorgeous doe and her two babies “escorting” me to my car - breathtaking! “Abra – abra - cadabra, I wanna reach out and grab ya. Abra – abra – cadabra, A B R A C A D A B R A”!
Rating
Music: 9
Performance: 9
Sound: 9
Light: 9
Total: 9
All pictures by Susan Thorsen
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