Date: July 15, 2010 Venue: Piazza Grande – Moon And Stars Town: Locarno (Switzerland)

[voto: 4.5]

Moon And Stars is an event that is held since 2004 in the picturesque Piazza Grande in Locarno, a few dozen meters from Lake Maggiore. Each year, many artists of international status come here and for two weeks Locarno becomes a city of music (and not a single inhabitant of the town collect signatures against these concerts) and this year, the evening with Toto and Earth Wind & Fire co-headlining is undoubtedly the most meaty to me.

"Boogie Wonderland" opens literally the dance with the twelve Earth, Wind & Fire musicians playing wild and ready to rock the crowd. Funky and 70s disco hits follow one another almost without a pause, the set is composed by a compilation of their most famous songs: "September", "Fantasy", "After The Love Has Gone" and "Sing A Song" among others.
One hour and twenty-five minutes of great fun offered by an ensemble of unexceptionable and vocally resounding musicians. Thinking that some of them are now in their sixties is truly incredible.

After a twenty minute break, it comes the moment I eagerly awaited for. I have attended several Toto concerts but I never had the chance to see Joseph Williams with them, the singer of "The Seventh One" (and "Fahrenheit"), the record that made me discover them when I was a boy and that is within my ten desert island cds.
The circumstances, unfortunately, are not happy, since this temporary reunion and the short European tour are organized to honor the historic bass player Mike Porcaro who contracted Lou Gehrig's disease, also known as ALS.
Legendary bassist Nathan East, known for having played with Phil Collins and Eric Clapton among others, has been called to stand in for Mike in this tour.

The band strikes up with the epic and pompous instrumental "Child's Anthem" and we are soon able to catch the excellent shape of the musicians and their desire to become a single entity with the crowd, with Steve Lukather who demands and urge the audience's chorus. After the instrumental introduction, here comes Joseph Williams on stage and since the first vocalizations of "Till The End" the impression is that this will be a great night indeed, his throat is in good shape. The harmony between the various members of the band is palpable and seeing for the first time on stage Steve Porcaro and Joseph Williams was really exciting for me.
Luke is histrionic as always, David Paich is a scene stealer when he does not "hide" behind the keys and a true maestro when he plays, the groove imposed from East and veteran Simon Phillips is pure passion and I should also mention the great voices of the two back-up vocalists Jory Steinberg and Mabvuto Carpenter.
The long instrumental parts performed during the last tours are not played except for a short keyboards solo; maybe because of the short setlist but this time the songs are at the core of the show: "Pamela", "Home Of The Brave", "Georgy Porgy" (with the intro "stolen" from EWF's "Can't Hide Love" and to them dedicated by Luke), "Stop Loving You".
The setlist covers only the first ten years of Toto career, with songs pulled out from the 1978 debut album to the 1988 "The Seventh One"; if I have to complain about something, I have to say that I would have liked a few more songs from Williams' two records even if some classic should have been dropped. "Only The Children", "Straight For The Heart" or "Could This Be Love" would have been perfect for me.

In the next months a DVD should be released with the whole concert held in Copenhagen a few days later, I recommend the purchase to all the fans who could not reach Locarno.

A last thought goes to the great Mike Porcaro, a player who gave Toto so much both on stage and live.

Band:

Joseph Williams - lead vocals
Steve Lukather - guitars, lead vocals
David Paich - keyboards, lead vocals
Steve Porcaro - keyboards
Nathan East - bass, backing vocals
Simon Phillips - drums
Jory Steinberg - lead & backing vocals
Mabvuto Carpenter - lead & backing vocals

Setlist:

01. Child's Anthem
02. Till The End
03. Afraid Of Love
04. Lovers In The Night
05. Pamela
06. Georgy Porgy
07. Somewhere Tonight
08. Keyboards solo
09. Stop Loving You
10. Africa
11. Rosanna
ENCORE
12. Home Of The Brave
13. Hold The Line

Date: July 15, 2010 Venue: Piazza Grande – Moon And Stars Town: Locarno (Switzerland)

[voto: 4.5][EN]

Moon And Stars è una manifestazione che da sei anni si tiene nella caratteristica e centralissima Piazza Grande di Locarno a poche decine di metri dal Lago Maggiore. Ogni anno passano di qui artisti di caratura internazionale e per due settimane Locarno diventa città della musica (senza che nessun abitante della cittadina raccolga firme anti-concerti e proteste varie) e quest'anno, la serata da co-headliner di Toto ed Earth, Wind & Fire è senza dubbio la più succosa, per me.

Le note di "Boogie Wonderland" aprono letteralmente le danze con i dodici musicisti degli Earth, Wind & Fire scatenati e pronti a loro volta a far scatenare la folla. Hit funky e disco anni '70 si susseguono praticamente senza sosta, una compilation delle loro canzoni più famose ha composto il set: "September", "Fantasy", "After The Love Has Gone" e "Sing A Song" tra le altre.
Un'ora e venticinque minuti di grande divertimento prodotto da un ensemble di musicisti ineccepibili e vocalmente strepitosi. Pensare che alcuni di loro sono ormai sulla sessantina è davvero incredibile.

Dopo una ventina di minuti di pausa arriva il momento da me tanto atteso. Ho assistito a diversi concerti dei Toto ma non avevo mai avuto l'occasione di vederli con Joseph Williams al microfono, il cantante di "The Seventh One" (e di "Fahrenheit"), il disco che me li ha fatti scoprire da ragazzino e che rientra nei miei dieci dischi da portare sull'isola deserta.
L'occasione, purtroppo, non è delle più felici, infatti questa temporanea reunion con relativo mini tour europeo sono stati organizzati in onore dello storico bassista Mike Porcaro il quale ha contratto il morbo di Lou Gehrig, tristemente noto anche come SLA.
Al posto di Mike è stato chiamato un altro leggendario bassista, Nathan East, noto per avere suonato con Phil Collins ed Eric Clapton tra gli altri.

La band attacca con lo strumentale epico e pomposo di "Child's Anthem" e già traspare l'ottima forma dei musicisti e la loro voglia di diventare un'unica entità con il pubblico, con il leader Steve Lukather che chiama a gran voce il coro del pubblico. Finita l'introduzione strumentale, ecco salire sul palco Joseph Williams e fin dai primi vocalizzi di "Till The End" l'impressione è che questa sarà veramente una grande serata, la sua ugola pare in ottima forma. La sintonia tra i vari membri della band è palpabile e, per me, vedere per la prima volta sul palco Steve Porcaro e Joseph Williams è emozionante.
Luke è il solito istrione, David Paich mattatore quando esce dal "nascondiglio" delle tastiere ma maestro assoluto quando si cimenta allo strumento, il groove imposto da East e dal veterano Simon Phillips è passione allo stato puro e menzione va pure alle grandi voci dei due coristi Jory Steinberg e Mabvuto Carpenter.
I lunghi momenti strumentali a cui ci avevano abituato nelle ultime tournée non vengono eseguiti a parte un breve solo di tastiere; saranno i tempi "ristretti" ma, questa volta, sono le canzoni ad essere al centro dello show: "Pamela", "Home Of The Brave", "Georgy Porgy" (con tanto di citazione di "Can't Hide Love" degli EWF e loro dedicata da Luke), "Stop Loving You".
La scaletta copre solo i primi dieci anni di carriera dei Toto, con brani che vanno dall'omonimo disco d'esordio del 1978 fino a "The Seventh One" del 1988; se proprio devo lamentarmi di qualcosa, devo dire che avrei preferito qualche canzone in più dai due dischi di Williams anche a discapito, eventualmente, di qualche classico. "Only The Children", "Straight For The Heart" o "Could This Be Love" ci sarebbero state proprio bene.

Nei prossimi mesi dovrebbe uscire il DVD del concerto tenuto a Copenhagen qualche giorno dopo, consiglio l'acquisto a tutti i fan che non hanno potuto raggiungere Locarno.

Un ultimo pensiero va sicuramente a un grande come Mike Porcaro che tanto ha dato sul palco e in studio a una band storica come quella dei Toto.

Band:

Joseph Williams - lead vocals
Steve Lukather - guitars, lead vocals
David Paich - keyboards, lead vocals
Steve Porcaro - keyboards
Nathan East - bass, backing vocals
Simon Phillips - drums
Jory Steinberg - lead & backing vocals
Mabvuto Carpenter - lead & backing vocals

Setlist:

01. Child's Anthem
02. Till The End
03. Afraid Of Love
04. Lovers In The Night
05. Pamela
06. Georgy Porgy
07. Somewhere Tonight
08. Keyboards solo
09. Stop Loving You
10. Africa
11. Rosanna
ENCORE
12. Home Of The Brave
13. Hold The Line

• Release Date: April 6, 2010
• Label: Razor & Tie
• Producer: Ed Cash
• Engineered by: Paul Moak
• Mixed by: Tom Laune
• Mastered by: Bob Ludwig

• Style: Adult Contemporary, Acoustic Pop, Soul, Fusion, Westcoast
• Related bands: Hall & Oates, Eric Clapton, Jonny Lang, Train, Chicago, Toto, Steely Dan

[voto: 4.5]

Intro
Dave Barnes is a 34 year-old singer-songwriter (and stand-up comedian) based in Nasvhille, he is one of those artists that make me wonder why radio stations must broadcast always the same four songs.
This is his second major album and the fourth counting his first two self-produced albums.

Best tracks
Little Lies, What I Need, What We Want What We Get, Chameleon, Someone's Somebody

Notes
The album, even if influenced by different genres, has continuity. This variety was desired by the same Dave, who declares his intention to focus on individual songs instead of thinking on the whole CD.
In that way, the light-hearted acoustic pop tracks like "Look So Easy" and, especially, the opener "Little Lies" (impossible to avoid sing along since the first time you listen to it) alternate with the adult contemporary rock songs "God Gave Me You", released as the first single, and "My Love, My Enemy".
The central part of WWW,WWG is dedicated to more refined sounds that embrace several styles, ranging from soul to fusion, and these are the songs where one may hear a major work of arrangement and production. The title track is a slow sexual song ala Hall&Oates, in which Dave's warm and charming voice is the absolute protagonist. "Chameleon", instead, is the song that Donald Fagen would have written if he had collaborated with Chicago, while "Someone's Somebody" sounds like his personal version of "Georgy Porgy" by Toto, a favorite of Dave.
Long time friend Jonny Lang, renowned guitarist and singer with growing fame in Europe, borrows his voice to the precious "What I Need", the meeting point between 80s Eric Clapton and H&O.
The only undertone song is "Amen", it is the closure song, reserved only for the heartfelt interpretation of Dave Barnes, a singer who deserves more airplay here in Italy.

Band

• Dave Barnes – vocals, acoustic guitar
• Drew Ramsey – electric guitar, background vocals
• Akil Thompson – electric guitar
• Ben Shive – keyboards
• David Labruyere – bass
• Paul Mabury – drums
• background vocals: Ed Cash, Annie Barnes, Matt Wertz, Scott Cash, Jason Eskridge, Shannon Sanders
• bdditional guitars: Paul Moak, Dan Dugmore, David Johnson
• horns: Max Abrams, Steve Patrick, Roy Agee

Tracklist

• 01. Little Lies   (D. Barnes) 2:47
• 02. God Gave Me You   (D. Barnes) 3:49
• 03. What I Need (ft. Jonny Lang)   (D. Barnes, G. Dixon) 4:02
• 04. What We Want, What We Get   (D. Barnes) 3:40
• 05. Chameleon   (D. Barnes) 3:42
• 06. Someone’s Somebody   (D. Barnes) 4:19
• 07. Look So Easy   (D. Barnes, T. Dabbs) 3:43
• 08. You Do The Same For Me   (D. Barnes) 5:21
• 09. My Love, My Enemy   (D. Barnes) 4:01
• 10. Amen   (D. Barnes) 4:17

Discography

• Three, Then Four EP (2002 self produced)
• Brother, Bring The Sun (2004 Aware)
• Chasing Mississippi (2006 Aware)
• Me And You And The World (2008 Razor & Tie)
• You, The Night, & Candlelight EP (2009 Razor & Tie)
• What We Want, What We Get (2010 Razor & Tie)

Suggested links

• Dave Barnes on myspace
• Dave Barnes Official Site

• Release Date: April 6, 2010
• Label: Razor & Tie
• Producer: Ed Cash
• Engineered by: Paul Moak
• Mixed by: Tom Laune
• Mastered by: Bob Ludwig

• Style: Adult Contemporary, Acoustic Pop, Soul, Fusion, Westcoast
• Related bands: Hall & Oates, Eric Clapton, Jonny Lang, Train, Chicago, Toto, Steely Dan

[voto: 4.5][EN]
Intro
Dave Barnes è un cantautore (e comico) trentaquattrenne con base a Nashville, uno di quegli artisti che mi fan chiedere perché alla radio devono trasmettere sempre e solo le stesse quattro canzoni. Questo è il suo secondo album per una major e il quarto contando i primi due autoprodotti.

Best tracks
Little Lies, What I Need, What We Want What We Get, Chameleon, Someone’s Somebody

Notes
L’album, pur essendo influenzato da diversi stili, ha continuità d’ascolto. Questa varietà è voluta dallo stesso Dave che dichiara di volersi concentrare sulle singole canzoni piuttosto che pensare all’insieme del cd.
Così brani di acoustic pop scanzonato come “Look So Easy” e, soprattutto, l’opener “Little Lies” (impossibile evitare di canticchiarla fin dal primo ascolto) si alternano alle adult contemporary rock “God Gave Me You”, primo singolo, e “My Love, My Enemy”.
La parte centrale di WWW, WWG è dedicata a sonorità raffinate che abbracciano più generi, dal soul alla fusion ed è in questi brani che il lavoro di arrangiamento e produzione risalta maggiormente. La title track è uno slow sensuale alla Hall & Oates in cui la voce calda e avvolgente di Dave è protagonista assoluta. “Chameleon” è invece la canzone che avrebbe scritto Donald Fagen se avesse collaborato con i Chicago, mentre “Someone’s Somebody” sembra la sua personalissima versione di “Georgy Porgy” dei Toto, tra i preferiti di Dave.
L’amico di lunga data Jonny Lang, chitarrista e cantante di fama crescente anche in Europa, presta la voce nel gioiello “What I Need”, un incrocio tra l’Eric Clapton degli 80s e ancora H&O.
L’unica canzone sottotono è “Amen”, posta in chiusura e salvata solo dall’interpretazione sentita di Barnes, un cantante che meriterebbe air play anche in Italia.

Band

• Dave Barnes – vocals, acoustic guitar
• Drew Ramsey – electric guitar, background vocals
• Akil Thompson – electric guitar
• Ben Shive – keyboards
• David Labruyere – bass
• Paul Mabury – drums
• background vocals: Ed Cash, Annie Barnes, Matt Wertz, Scott Cash, Jason Eskridge, Shannon Sanders
• bdditional guitars: Paul Moak, Dan Dugmore, David Johnson
• horns: Max Abrams, Steve Patrick, Roy Agee

Tracklist

• 01. Little Lies   (D. Barnes) 2:47
• 02. God Gave Me You   (D. Barnes) 3:49
• 03. What I Need (ft. Jonny Lang)   (D. Barnes, G. Dixon) 4:02
• 04. What We Want, What We Get   (D. Barnes) 3:40
• 05. Chameleon   (D. Barnes) 3:42
• 06. Someone’s Somebody   (D. Barnes) 4:19
• 07. Look So Easy   (D. Barnes, T. Dabbs) 3:43
• 08. You Do The Same For Me   (D. Barnes) 5:21
• 09. My Love, My Enemy   (D. Barnes) 4:01
• 10. Amen   (D. Barnes) 4:17

Discography

• Three, Then Four EP (2002 self produced)
• Brother, Bring The Sun (2004 Aware)
• Chasing Mississippi (2006 Aware)
• Me And You And The World (2008 Razor & Tie)
• You, The Night, & Candlelight EP (2009 Razor & Tie)
• What We Want, What We Get (2010 Razor & Tie)

Suggested links

• Dave Barnes on myspace
• Dave Barnes Official Site