I caught the Steve Miller/Joe Cocker show last night. I don't even know how many times I have seen Steve. I was a fan before The Joker, Fly Like and Eagle, and Book of Dreams.
I don't go to the show to see the hits performed like the radio. If I did I would just put on the album. Or tune to our local classic rock station.
I go to see the reworked versions of the older stuff and the biggest reason is his blues set. Over the years that has constantly changed and evolved but was alway new to that tour and Steve grew up on the blues. He is another of the many classic artists that stays in touch with the blues.
Last night was my first dissapointment. Steve added a new band member for this tour. I forgot his name but he was introduced as the newest member of the band. He dethroned his keyboard player of that distinction after 15 years with the band as the newest member.
The guy sang backing vocals through the hits. Then came the blues set. He sang the entire blues set. The guy can sing. My problem is it wasn't Steve singing.
Most of the audience suffers through the obligatory blues set begrudgeingly anyway. They are there for the hits. I can see them not liking the blues portion anymore with somebody else singing. They tolerate it because of Steve. Just wondering what was Steve thinking. Didn't get a chance to ask him.
This was the second time to see Cocker. I thought he was great. Great band great set. I would see him again in a heatbeat.
Steve comes through again. I might not make it this time and that is dissapointing.