Bob Seger... tour kick off experience

Island_Dog · Post by **Island_Dog** » November 9, 2006 8:42 am

OK, i don't know how "related" of an artist he is, but I'm sure someone figure out a six degrees of Jimmy Buffett as it relates to Bob. Anyway, at the least, I'm sure that there are many duo fans of Buffett and Seger out there. I was fortunate enough to score suprise tix for my girlfriend and I to attend last nights tour opener for Seger's likely last go 'round at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Here's my take on the experience for what it's worth ....

1. He sounds the same live as he does on his albums. Very "real", not all smoothed over in post production. That I like.

2. The man can't dance, but he still has the fist pump to go along with the base and the thrusted hand/finger into the air at the end of each song.

3. He gives an incrdible amount of credit to his band. He introduces them throughout the show rather than waiting until the end. He steps out of the spotlight and lets them have their solos to themselves. Very cool

4. He played straight through .... no intermission. Impressive for a 61 year old rocker I think. He only walked off stage once during an instrumental that lasted about three minutes. Of course, he and the band did walk off for about five minutes between encores of which they did two. He played for about two hours and twenty minutes total.

5. He's rusty voicewise after a 10 year hiatus, but you can tell he was enjoying himself and was giving it his all. Few times he got winded or couldn't hold a note, but again, not bad for a 61 year old dude who has been off the stage for 10 years.

6. Lastly, the biggest thing that i told my gf after the show was that, while an impressive musician, artist, etc .... I just didn't feel like he commanded the crowd or had the stage presence that many artists do. For a guy that hasn't been on stage in 10 years and last night being the first, I thought that the arena would be going nuts when he came out on stage, but they really weren't. The loudest point in the whole show was for his first encore. I thought the roof would blow off of the place when he first came out on stage at the start of his show, but it didn't. Sure, there was plenty of noise, but nothing like when someone like Bubba hits the stage. I feel as though I went and saw a good band last night and definatley enjoyed it, but it sure wasn't the "experience" I thought it would be. Of course, let's face it, Seger is old school and into the music more than "the show". Seger's audience was primarily 35 - 65 age range, very similar to Jimmy's, but damn, it's a different crowd of this age range. At Buffett shows, Jimmy fans of all ages are into the party. Most of the fans last night were content to sit in their chairs and watch.

I look forward to hearing others comments when they see Seger's show in the near future.

Dr.Corona · Post by **Dr.Corona** » November 9, 2006 9:10 am

Haven't purchased any tixs to this tour. Have seen Seger MANY times (1st concert ever in '75)! Here is my take Brian......

1) The people seeing Seger have probably seen him at least a half dozen times and Bob and the Band don't really have much new to offer. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy his songs greatly (including the new album), but it's blue collar straight ahead rock without glitz or that much showmanship. My opinion is I've been going to concerts for 30+ years so I don't need to get up and yell & scream to enjoy the show. Been there, done that! I can sit back and just enjoy the tunes.

2) In comparison to a JB show, face it, the crowd going to see Buffett is getting fueled up for most of the day so they're apt to be a tad more "pysched" for the show. Hell, by the time they're tuned up the crowd is "pysched" for just about anything, + there's a lot more peripheral attachments to the show, (costumes, themes, booze prominance, etc.)!

3) Here in Michigan, Seger is the local musician hero made good. I believe the fans in Michigan go see B.S. on multiple dates out of loyalty to him (as with Kid Rock). I don't think it's necessarily the fans having a major thirst for more Seger in concert. It's kinda like, if you've lived in Michigan since the early '70's and gone to concerts and you haven't seen Seger, Nugent or Grand Funk or you're part of the younger generation and haven't seen Kid Rock or Eminem then you're not really a Michigander. Again, I believe it's a loyalty issue as much as anything.

Just my 2 cents.

Island_Dog · Post by **Island_Dog** » November 9, 2006 10:36 am

All points well taken Doc.

Bob & Jimmy have VERY different styles, but both successful in their own way. Bob is an old school rocker with a different demographic than Buffett. They both would be just as content walking out on stage with their guitar and playing alone as they are comfortable in a big band experience. They are musicians first. Difference is, Buffett has added the "party atmosphere" to his shows for a long time now and Seger is content just rocking along and letting he music BE the show. I appreciate both styles.

I agree that not nearly as many people have a thirst for Seger as they do an obligation to support him in this likely last run of his career and I respect that. Hell, that's what I did for the most part.

No matter what, Seger is still one of the greats. Everyone starts somewhere before they are famous.

-B

FIRE UP CHIPS!!!
CMU vs. WMU
http://tinyurl.com/yfvuob

MonumentBeach · Post by **MonumentBeach** » November 9, 2006 6:30 pm

I just found this review of the tour's opening night....

http://www.mlive.com/search/index.ssf?/ ... NMU&coll=6

Looking forward to catching this show when he comes to Boston in January!

Here's the set list from opening night...

1. “Roll Me Away”
2. “Tryin’ to Live My Life Without You”
3. “Wreck This Heart”
4. “Mainstreet”
5. “Old Time Rock and Roll”
6. “Wait For Me”
7. “Face the Promise”
8. “No Matter Who You Are”
9. “Simplicity”
10. “Betty Lou’s Going Out Tonight”
11. “We’ve Got Tonight”
12. “Turn the Page”
13. “Travelin’ Man”/”Beautiful Loser”
14. “Between”
15. “You Never Can Tell”
16. “The Answer’s in the Question”
17. “Sightseeing”
18. “Sunspot Baby”
19. “Horizontal Bop”
20. “Katmandu”

First encore
21. “Night Moves”
22. “Hollywood Nights”

Second encore
23. “Against the Wind”
24. “Rock and Roll Never Forgets”

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » November 9, 2006 10:04 pm

Wooo Hooo! I'm going to see him tomorrow night at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw

Looks like a good set list!

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » November 10, 2006 12:52 am

Island Dog - Have you ever seen Bubba in Miami? The time I saw him there the fans DON'T dance, sing or even STAND when seated on the floor. People complain very loudly and with a degree of anger to those acting "normal" at a Buffett show.

I always thought it was because it was a "local" crowd.

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » November 10, 2006 6:26 am

ph4ever wrote:Island Dog - Have you ever seen Bubba in Miami? The time I saw him there the fans DON'T dance, sing or even STAND when seated on the floor. People complain very loudly and with a degree of anger to those acting "normal" at a Buffett show.

I always thought it was because it was a "local" crowd.

or because they got comped seats from the promoter and don't "get it"

ph4ever · Post by **ph4ever** » November 10, 2006 10:58 am

RinglingRingling wrote:
ph4ever wrote:Island Dog - Have you ever seen Bubba in Miami? The time I saw him there the fans DON'T dance, sing or even STAND when seated on the floor. People complain very loudly and with a degree of anger to those acting "normal" at a Buffett show.

I always thought it was because it was a "local" crowd.
or because they got comped seats from the promoter and don't "get it"

well then 2/3 of the freaking AAA or AAC or whatever AA it's called in Miami got comped seats

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » November 10, 2006 11:00 am

ph4ever wrote:
RinglingRingling wrote:
ph4ever wrote:Island Dog - Have you ever seen Bubba in Miami? The time I saw him there the fans DON'T dance, sing or even STAND when seated on the floor. People complain very loudly and with a degree of anger to those acting "normal" at a Buffett show.

I always thought it was because it was a "local" crowd.
or because they got comped seats from the promoter and don't "get it"
well then 2/3 of the freaking AAA or AAC or whatever AA it's called in Miami got comped seats

ok... MIA really isn't FL.. it's a whole different world south of Okachobee?

Dezdmona · Post by **Dezdmona** » November 10, 2006 1:04 pm

nutmeg wrote:Wooo Hooo! I'm going to see him tomorrow night at the Dow Event Center in Saginaw

Looks like a good set list!

What is your review?
Tickets go on sale for Dallas tomorrow...

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » November 11, 2006 12:48 am

Loved it!

The crowd in Saginaw must have been much more into it than the one in Grand Rapids. No one sat down during the entire show. Well except for the drunk lady behind me who keep falling into her chair and not being able to get up....

The crowd was pretty much on the older side.....I heard on guy at the drinks counter reply when the lady working asked if he had a wrist band that he could show her his AARP card.

The sax player was incredible.

Dr.Corona · Post by **Dr.Corona** » November 11, 2006 9:22 am

nutmeg wrote: Loved it!

The crowd in Saginaw must have been much more into it than the one in Grand Rapids. No one sat down during the entire show. Well except for the drunk lady behind me who keep falling into her chair and not being able to get up....

The crowd was pretty much on the older side.....I heard on guy at the drinks counter reply when the lady working asked if he had a wrist band that he could show her his AARP card.

The sax player was incredible.

WOW...talk about a rapid review! And I'm assuming the highlighted sentence had NOTHING to do with the beverage of choice of the evening!

And you just can't beat incredible SAX!!

nutmeg · Post by **nutmeg** » November 12, 2006 10:19 pm

Set list for Saginaw show..

Roll Me Away
Tryin' to Live My Life Without You
Wreck This Heart
Mainstreet
Old Time Rock & Roll
Wait for Me
Face the Promise
No More
Simplicity
Betty Lou's Getting Out Tonight
We've Got Tonight
Turn the page
Travelin' Man
Beautiful Loser

break

Rambilin' Gamblin' Man
C'est La Vie
Answer's In the Question
Sightseeing
Sunspot Baby
Horizontal Bop
Katmandu
Encore #1
Night Moves
Hollywood Nights
Encore #2
Against the Wind
Rock and Roll Never Forgets

Ramblin Gamblin man was a change from Grand Rapids. He said it was the first time he'd done it live in 20 some years....

Pencil Thin (inactive) · November 16, 2006 10:02 am

hope he adds something in or near Denver

RinglingRingling · Post by **RinglingRingling** » November 16, 2006 10:11 am

thinking next Sat. in Cinci..

frognot · Post by **frognot** » November 18, 2006 2:57 am

Got some good tix for the Dallas show Feb. 8th. Going with an old roommate from college (Live Bullet time period)

Hoosier PH · Post by **Hoosier PH** » November 19, 2006 3:55 pm

Went to the show last night and all I can say was it was awesome. The crowd was really into it and Bob seemed very happy to be on stage again. He was moving all around the stage and doing his best dance moves. Set list was pretty much the same as what was posted above but with a couple different new songs thrown in. Thinking about catching another show during this leg of the tour, possibly Cincy.

ragtopW · Post by **ragtopW** » November 19, 2006 5:28 pm

Pencil Thin wrote:hope he adds something in or near Denver

or Boise..

Hoosier PH · Post by **Hoosier PH** » November 24, 2006 2:13 pm

Found this on the internet. Some short video clips of Bob at the Indy show.

http://s61.photobucket.com/albums/h77/b ... in%20Indy/

PIA · Post by **PIA** » December 15, 2006 11:57 am

to say the least...the show was rediculously good last night....sunspot baby and ramblin' gamblin' man.....what more could you possibly ask for....and i was with my baby