Live review: Don McLean
Liverpool Philharmonic Hall
Thursday 23rd June, 2011
As I was jenning up on Don McLean before the gig I came across the biography written by Jason Ankeny for Spotify in which we’re walked through McLean’s commercial success, mostly in the 1970s. Ankeny finishes with the statement “McLean spent the remainder of his career primarily on the road…” Spent? Past tense? What? Has his career stopped just because he hasn’t had any recent pop hits? Given that he sells out theatres every time he tours, was Ankeny being a little harsh, or is McLean really just a faded star trading off the kudos of his biggest hit?
I knew American Pie (my Dad introduced me to it as a kid, and in my teens I could play and sing the whole song from memory) and I knew many of his other hits too from a ‘best of’ CD but was curious as to the type of show I was going to see. I took my dad for moral support.
McLean’s most recent album was the 2009 release Addicted to Black, so it seemed appropriate when he came striding onto the black backdropped stage wearing a black shirt, black shoes, and black trousers with red piping. He opened with a Buddy Holly medley of Well Alright, Peggy Sue Got Married, and Everyday, mentioning how much Holly had influenced The Beatles and so many others.
Holly was followed by McLean as he moved effortlessly from album to album, singing La La Love You, and Homeless Brother (from Homeless Brother 1974), Winterwood, and a great piano-only version of Crossroads (American Pie 1971), and Castles in the Air (Tapestry 1970). We were treated the beautiful And I Love You So, followed by the jaunty Shakespeare-inspired Lovers Love The Spring from Addicted to Black, complete with ‘Hey nonny nos’. Three songs later we were treated to my favourite hit, Vincent. I thought that was the perfect place to finish the first set, but instead he lumbered on through a slow, dire version of Love Letters, before belting out Crying, his hit cover of the Roy Orbison song. The audience loved it, although I was almost left crying by the poor mixing on the vocals that quite often sounded too distant, and were often swamped by the band when they were playing full whack. Thankfully they finished the set on a positive note with the happy country flavoured Love In My Heart.
McLean opened the second set by complimenting the amazing venue saying, “The Phil is a rare place”. Yes, Don, we know! The gospel blues number I’m Going To Live The Life I Sing About In My Song was followed by Magdalene Lane. Then McLean talked of his admiration for The Beatles, how they tapped into the music that had come before them, believed in themselves, and had the courage to know when to call it a day. He then sang In My Life, just him and his guitar, a fitting tribute to the Fab Four and to Liverpool.
Next up was the American protest folk song A Miner’s Life. We were encouraged to join in with the chorus “Union miners stand together…” and I had flashbacks to concerts past with the likes of The Spinners, and Jacqui and Bridie. I love The Phil!
Two more back catalogue songs lead to another hit, Jerusalem. Then we were into Country territory. McLean has been heavily influenced by Country music over the years, and his band members (lead guitar, bass, drums, and keys) are all from Nashville. A Cowboy’s Life was sorely missing a banjo, but was great fun nonetheless, as were I Ride An Old Paint and Billy the Kid.
Pausing only long enough to retune his guitar (thanks Don, that was starting to bug me) he changed tack again with The Mountains of Mourne before introducing onto the stage his 21 year old daughter Jackie Lee McLean. She sang You Belong To Me solo, followed by Are You Lonesome Tonight as a duet with dad. I’ve read some reviews about how good she is – “A chip off the McLean block” said one reviewer – and to be honest she was actually quite good. However, seeing her singing next to the man who wrote American Pie kinda put it into perspective for me.
Which leads us on to the finale, a rousing version of American Pie that had people on their feet, singing along and grinning from ear to ear (or was that just me?). It was the perfect way to end the show, and my dad and I, plus hundreds of others, went away happy.
With no support act, McLean and his band played for two and a half hours over two sets, with the audience certainly getting their money’s worth. We were treated to a real mix of music and styles and I certainly came away with the impression that McLean enjoys picking the songs he likes to play which, thankfully, include many of his best know hits. His band was good (the keyboard player fantastic!) but it was Don McLean that people had come to see. And it was Don McLean they got. His own guitar playing was excellent, and his characteristic voice and songwriting style were evident throughout. He charmed the audience with his poetic songs, old and new, and my only regret of the night was that Jason Ankeny wasn’t there to see it. If he had been, I think he’d be sitting at his computer right now re-writing his biography for Spotify.
© 2011 Graham Holland – contact@liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
Liverpool Acoustic – liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
Liverpool Acoustic – liverpoolacoustic.co.uk
Live review don mclean liverpool june 2011