Review by Shawn Perry
Concert Photos by Alex Kluft
The old boy may be barely breathing, but the heart of rock and roll is alive and well and still beating deep inside Huey Lewis & The News. Just ask the 5,000 or so fans packed inside the Pacific Amphitheatre for a performance from one of the most successful hit machines of the 80s. The last time I saw them was in 1984, and frankly I hadn’t given much thought to the idea of seeing them again. Thirty-one years later, my appreciation for the band’s musicianship, as well as the swell of incredible songs, has been renewed.
The venue quickly filled up on this balmy Sunday night. Without an opening band, the electricity in the air bristled with anticipation. At precisely 8:24, the lights came down, the eight members of The News took their places, and the music began. Lewis made a rather nonchalant entrance, and popped in on harmonica for a blasting stab at “The Heart Of Rock & Roll.” At one point, the singer yelled out: “Costa Mesa!” and the crowd was in his grasp for the rest of the night.
As I suspected, the hits just kept coming. The enigmatic “If This Is It” certainly brought back memories of the music video, and so did “I Want A New Drug.” Even though, back in the day, Huey Lewis & The News were a fairly normal looking bunch who played straight-ahead and soulful rock, they dominated MTV and sold millions of records. They also had chops, which goes a long way when it comes to playing live.
Fortunately, they didn’t have the music videos of their songs playing along on the big screens. There was little indulgence in 80s rehash. It was more about presenting the songs in their most accessible form, letting the players solo at the breaks, laying down timeless grooves, and reminding everyone, as Lewis would do all night, that the band has been around for 37 years and pretty much knows their place in the hierarchy of legends. After they played “Hip To Be Square,” it all made a little more sense.
Making light of how most fans of classic rock bands hit the bar or the bathroom whenever a “new” song is rolled out, Lewis promised the audience they’d get lots of hits. Still, he and the band didn’t mind swerving off course here and there, whether it was trying out new songs like “Her Love Is Killing Me and “While We’re Young,” going deep with a stirring “Jacob’s Ladder,” or paying tribute to their roots with covers of Bobby Day’s “Little Bitty Pretty One” and J.J. Jackson’s “But It’s Alright.“
The chemistry that kept the band ahead of many of the marginal players of the early 80s still persists today, likely due to a low turn-over in membership. Original News members — keyboardist Sean Hopper, drummer Bill Gibson, and saxophonist Johnny Colla — are joined by longtime guitarist Stef Burns and bassist John Pierce. The Sports Section horn section features Marvin McFadden on trumpet, Rob Sudduth on tenor saxophone, and Johnnie Bamont on baritone saxophone. Together, the interplay was tight with segues into pure spontaneity. Right after encoring with a climatic “The Power of Love,” they worked up a slower, smoother version of “Do You Believe In Love.” Lewis mentioned something about how the venue’s curfew was sneaking up, but the band wanted to jam.
So each player stepped up during “Bad Is Bad” and then, with just moments left, it was time for the evening’s finale, “Workin’ For A Livin’,” as if to let everyone know there were still hits to be played. Tonight wasn’t so much a throwback as it was a confirmation. There were tons of one-hit, fly-by-night acts on MTV without any lasting quality whatsoever. By contrast, the music of Huey Lewis & The News has aged like a fine vintage wine. Perfect for a summer night at the fair and anywhere else where music, melody, good times and everlasting memories come together.
