Review by Shawn Perry
Sitting in the center of Pacific Amphitheater, with a clear and pleasant view of the stage, I thought about the number of times I had seen singer Paul Rodgers in concert, and they’ve mostly been here. There was 1985 with Jimmy Page and the Firm; and then there was 2007, when Rodgers headlined a show with Riders On The Storm and Pat Travers. I never saw him with Queen, and though, from what I had heard and seen on video, it sounded promising, it wasn’t exactly the ideal setting. Tonight, however, was the ideal setting because it was all about Bad Company — the band that defined who and what Paul Rodgers is.
Out of all the classic rock bands making the rounds these days, Bad Company was one of the few acts I missed seeing in the 70s. To see today’s version, three-quarters reunited (original bassist Boz Burrell passed away in 2006), was more than I could ask for, knowing Rodgers, guitarist Mick Ralphs and drummer Simon Kirke can still lay down a decent groove. With Lynn Sorensen on bass and, added as second guitarist, Howard Leese, Bad Company sounded full and fiery coming out of the gate with “Can’t Get Enough” just a little after 8:00 on a Saturday night.
Looking every bit the consummate rock star with a black vest over a bright, lime-green shirt and matching tee, Rodgers was sporting whiskers and a semblance of what could become a shaggy mop — a throwback to his days as the frontman of Free. Most importantly, of course, is the vocal power still resonates with a bluesy, fluent tone untainted by age or time. To hear him sing these songs is what makes this version of Bad Company, as opposed to a couple of others, the only one that matters. With no disrespect to Brian Howe and Robert Hart, Paul Rodgers is THE indisputable voice of Bad Company.
Ralphs and Leese took center-stage to replicate the double, harmonic lead of “Can’t Get Enough,” and the two-guitar approach really hit home. Leese, who spent over 20 years with Heart and has anchored Rodgers’ solo band since 2003, has the chops to succinctly compliment Ralphs’ steadfast, in-the-clutch style. When the two drew back and the chorus opened up, it was like the whole audience had become one with the band.
“Honey Child” lightened the pace, but “Running With The Pack” (with Rodgers on piano) and “Burnin’ Sky” seared the airwaves, lollygagging in the interplay and pulling the crowd along for a ride back to behind the high school gym for three-finger lids and wavering strains of patchouli. The slackers in Dazed and Confused only got it half-right.
The all-encompassing “Youngblood” brought little to the presentation, aside from dusting off the rust. Rodgers and Ralphs grabbed a couple of acoustics, under a clear, summer night sky with a half-moon rising in the distance, and proceeded to play “Seagull.” A lone candle dwindled on the LED behind the drum kit before “Gone, Gone, Gone,” a Boz Burrell composition, burst through and we were all reminded of the late bassist.
The shimmering disco ball on the LED recalled a different era as Rodgers intoned the verses of “Electric Land,” from 1982’s Rough Diamonds, the last studio album with Rodgers. The audience, who had been standing throughout the show, finally took a load off and the band tightened its collective grip around the twirling arrangement. Leese took the acoustic for another spin on the eloquent “Simple Man.” Ralphs, Kirke and Sorensen held steady as Leese and Rodgers maneuvered through the chord structure and cast a magic spell over the amphitheatre.
Leese then took up the mandolin, Rodgers pulled out a harmonica, and “Feel Like Makin’ Love” kept the spirit alive. The disco ball rolled back into view once “Shooting Star” was trotted out, but it made little difference. Everyone joined in and told the story of Johnny, the lost rock and roll hero of the song.
Somehow, “Rock And Roll Fantasy’ seemed apropos, based on the feedback and the frenzy. Opening day of the Orange County Fair would never be the same. Most of the fantasy came true: Bad Company delivered on all fronts, and they came back for two encores. “Ready For Love” and “Bad Company” highlighted Rodgers, the vocalist and musician in his element. For round two, “Deal With The Preacher” underscored the band’s premium power as a hard-thrust rock and roll unit. They may not be getting any younger, but the music is just as vital as ever. Maybe if Rodgers and Ralphs can stick it out, other things like new music could be in the mix.
At the end of the night, seeing the mostly original Bad Company play a set like this was the fulfillment of a lost opportunity. Too bad Jimmy Page and Robert Plant couldn’t have shown up (like they did at the Forum in the mid 70s) to make it a party.
