Felix Cavaliere
04 September 2009
Events Center, Pueblo, CO
I've seen the lead singer and founding member of the Rascals a couple times before, as part of concerts under different bills, including and Oldies show as well as Ringo's All-Starr Band. Tonight was the first time I was able to see a full set of Felix Cavaliere.
Cavaliere falls into a category of musicians that I appreciate for evoking imagery with sound. Felix is one of about a half dozen Hammond B3 organ players that I hold in very high regard, along with Mike Finnigan, Gregg Allman, & Steve Winwood.
"I've Been Lonely Too Long" served as an appropriate opener, as well as a medley segueway into "Ain't Too Proud To Beg" as well as "In The Midnight Hour".
Though occasionally dubbing his act as "Felix Cavaliere & The New Rascals", in truth this show/tour/act is all Felix Cavaliere in the spotlight, but with very competent accompanying musicians on bass, guitar, & vocals.
Felix, while not anchored to his keyboards, clapped his hands and danced across the stage in a pair of middle-aged slacks and a Hawaiian shirt, leaving no hit in the vaults, pleasing the 1/4th capacity hockey arena at the Colorado State Fair with my personal favorites, "Beautiful Morning" & "Groovin'".
"Love Is A Beautiful Thing" progressed at slower-than-studio-recording pace, and in my opinion short of the song's potential for energy, especially given Cavaliere's B3 track on the original version.
Other hits featured in his 1.5-hour set were "I Ain't Gonna Eat My Heart Out Anymore", "A Girl Like You", "How Can I Be Sure", "Ray Of Hope", and the anthemic "People Got To Be Free".
Like many classic rockers, Cavaliere has added a medley-of-oldies-by-other-artists to his standard setlist, featuring snippets of "Papa Was A Rolling Stone", as well as Beach Boys tracks.
"Mustang Sally" & "Good Lovin'" got the audience dancing in finale fashion.
I wish I had grown up in the 1960s--I truly wish I had experienced the time that accompanied this kind of timeless music.
[***1/2] - Steven T.