Steve Winwood
October 5, 2003
The State Theatre
Ann Arbor, MI
Sunday night was an interesting night for me. While I attended the Steve Winwood concert at the intimate Michigan Theatre in downtown Ann Arbor, the Chicago Cubs were fighting for their post-season life in the playoffs down in Atlanta. I had purchased the Winwood tickets back in August never seriously contemplating that I would be having to make this hard choice between evening activities on a chilly October Sunday night. On Saturday night the Cubs defeat at Wrigley was doubly depressing since it meant that the Cubs would have to travel back to Atlanta to play game 5 and that I would have this conflict.
I decided to go to the Winwood show and keep in touch by cellphone so I could keep up with the game. Things ended up working perfectly for me as Steve Winwood put on a great show and the Cubs managed to topple the Braves 5-1.
Winwood is out touring supporting his new album, which is a return to his Hammond B-3 organ roots that he first honed during his tenure with the Spencer Davis Group. He is playing with a crack band that includes a drummer, a percussionist, a guitar player and a sax/flute player. The ensemble took the stage with little fanfare and quickly launched into "Pearly Queen" which is a cool old Traffic hit. Winwood mostly drew from two pools in his selection of material. First was the new record from which he played songs like "Cigano" and "Different Light". Second was his Traffic repertoire represented this night by "40,000 Headmen", "Empty Pages", "Glad/Freedom Rider" and others. He did make several sidetrips as well. In the second set he appeased the crowd with excellent versions of his 80's solo hits, "Higher Love" and "Back in the Highlife". "Back in the Highlife" was a particular stand out with Winwood leaving the organ and playing excellent mandolin, which he picked on the extended jam at the end of the song. Winwood also took a welcome detour in his setlist when he picked up an acoustic guitar and started playing the intro to "Can't Find My Way Home" from the one and only "Blind Faith" album. The crowd exploded at the recognition of the song and did so again at its finish.
Winwood was in good voice and his organ playing was virtuoso-like the whole night. This band was operating without a traditional bass player and Winwood himself was tapping out the basslines on the bass pedals of his organ. This looks extraordinarily difficult to me. To be essentially playing bass, organ and singing at the same time seems quite remarkable. Winwood also displayed his impressive electric guitar skills on a scorching version of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" which proves that Winwood is on equal footing musical footing when it comes to guitar as his old Blind Faith bandmate, Eric Clapton. The regular set closed out with an extended version of the radio classic, "The Lowspark of High-Heeled Boys". The whole band got a chance to shine during the various movements of the jam on this song and the crowd seemed totally sold.
I headed out to the lobby to check on the Cubs by phone with my wife and my Dad. After the first verse of the second encore, which was the Spencer Davis Group's "Gimme Some Loving" I headed straight for my car so I could tune in WGN on the radio and catch the bottom of the ninth inning. I got in the car a sped out of the parking garage. As I hit the street a crystal clear signal came in, beaming straight across Lake Michigan and I was able to catch the end of the game without missing much of the show.
I am glad I didn't miss the inspiring night of music. Winwood is out there playing small venues with no big sets or light shows. He just has a great band and an unparalleled repertoire of classic songs from 5 decades. I don't think Winwood is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for any of his bands yet and this seems a shame, because is as deserving as anybody.