Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band at Ryman Auditorium Nashville.
“When I was living in Liverpool, England,” began Starr, who performed Wednesday night at the hallowed Nashville venue, “and listening to Ernest Tubb and Willie Nelson — when he wore a suit … the idea I’m on this stage is mind blowing.”It’s just far out,” he continued. “I’m really blessed. Thank you.”
Ringo,two-time Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee returned this week to the Mother Church of Country Music as part of his All-Starr Band’s 30th anniversary tour.
The 2019 All-Starr band features a collection of classic pop rock hitmakers: Steve Lukather (Toto), Colin Hay (Men At Work), Gregg Rolie (Santana) and Hamish Stuart (Average White Band).A two-plus hour show of nostalgic radio bangers.
The sold out night kicked off Starr’s third stop at the Ryman this decade, following appearances in 2012 and 2016 — the former resulting in his 2013 live release “Ringo at the Ryman.”
Opening the show with “Matchbox,” he sauntered to each side of the stage, flashing a smile and the occasional peace sign. He’d tease playfully between songs, taking advantage of the zealous audience — especially when Lukather kicked into the “Day Tripper” opening riff, only to have Ringo cut him off. “Oh,” Starr joked, flashing a bit of his time-tested charm. “We’re not doing that one.”
A Beatles song that actually made the cut? Country-tinged “Don’t Pass Me By,” which Ringo introduced by sharing “when I joined the Beatles, I’d written a lot of songs. None of them were recorded until we got to this one.”
Ringo traveled as far back as his pre-Beatles tenure with “Boys,” a 1960 rock ‘n’ roll number he covered before (and during) his time with the Fab Four.”It’s that time where I’m gonna do a number with a band I used to be in,” Ringo said, earning a rousing cheer. “Yeah, Rory Storm and the Hurricanes”.Before his first take on Santana canon, “Evil Ways,” Rolie reminded onlookers that he played the cut 50 years ago this month, at Woodstock. “(This was) the first hit from Santana,” Rolie said. “I was just a child … 50 years ago. My God.”
Band members toss the spotlight to one another at any moment,from Lukather ripping an extended solo during “Black Magic Woman”to Hay taking lead on the “Africa”chorus.Ringo said:”Ready to listen to some good music?I can promise everyone in the audience tonight that they will know at least one song.That’s a promise.”
Setlist:
Matchbox
It Don’t Come Easy
What Goes On
Evil Ways
Rosanna
Pick Up the Pieces
Down Under
Boys
Don’t Pass Me By
Yellow Submarine
Cut the Cake
Black Magic Woman / Gypsy Queen
You’re Sixteen
Anthem
Overkill
Africa
Work to Do
Oye como va
I Wanna Be Your Man
Who Can It Be Now?
Hold the Line
Photograph
Act Naturally
With a Little Help From My Friends