Boston Legends Move the Providence Crowd

Boston Legends
with The Stompers and Ernie and The Automatics
April 14, 2011
Lupo’s
Providence, RI

While growing up, I still remember my Mom singing along to the tunes on the radio from the artists on the Boston Legends tour bill. Hell, many of the tunes are still played all over the radio today. This was going to be one show I’ll always remember.

The Stompers opened the show.  A band once on the cusp of of being huge, The Stompers proved to be a great opening act to get the crowd going.  Ernie and The Automatics took the stage next.  I’ve seen them perform before, but they really seemed to be on fire tonight.  They even played some classic rock songs like Boston’s “More Than A Feeling” and John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band’s “On the Dark Side.”

The Boston Legends tour touts a truly an incredible lineup of musicians including Jeff “Skunk” Baxter (Steely Dan, Doobie Brothers), Gary Hoey, Magic Dick, Danny Klein (J. Geils Band), Barry Goudreau (Boston), Elliot Easton (Cars), Greg Hawkes (Cars), Charlie Farren (Joe Perry Project), Jon Butcher (Jon Butcher Axis), Johnny A., James Montgomery (The James Montgomery Band), David Hull (Aerosmith, The Joe Perry Project), and Doug Bell (Bellevue Cadillac). The Boston Legends All Stars also features The Uptown  Horns, Sandy MacDonald (Commitments), and guitar prodigy Desiree Bassett.

The crowd was really into the show.  People were moving and dancing all over the venue.  The onstage energy was incredible.  The musicians really exuded a feeling that they’re connected to the crowd.  Seeing that mix of all talent all in one place gave the whole crowd an overwhelming sense of awe.  Everyone was blown away.

One of the great things about seeing a group of seasoned pros perform together is that music is paramount over ego.  No one tries to outshine the other.  They treated newcomer Desiree Bassett like she been at this just as long as they have.  This atmosphere still allowed individual performances to shine, like Charlie Farren whose positive onstage charisma proved to be one of the many highlights of the show, or Gary Hoey who never ceases to amaze.

This was one of those shows that if I wasn’t busy photographing, I would have been right in there just taking it all in.