Bob Gannon, who's sent us many pictures of Paul McCartney in concert, saw Ringo Starr at the State Theatre in New Brunswick, N.J. Monday night.
Here's his report with pictures:
I'm just getting back from the Ringo show and it was a lot better than I thought it would be. Had a nice flow to it. Although, personally, I'm not a big Mr. Mister fan and was not looking forward to those two songs.
Anyhow, the venue is the State Theater in New Brunswick, N.J. The theater was built in 1921 as a silent movie and vaudeville venue. This was my first time that I visited this venue and it is a good, seems much smaller but yet holds 1,800 people. The sound inside is awesome and a great place to see a concert with one very large exception. On all of the doors into the Theater there were neon signs stating "No Camcorders", "No Cell Phones" and "No Cameras" strictly enforced.
But since I was early, I figured that I'd walk in and see if I had a problem getting the cameras in which I didn't. Upon getting to my seat, I asked the security guard in front of me about taking pictures and he advised me that as long as I wasn't using a flash or filming the show that it was OK.
Well, as the show started, the ushers cracked down on anybody trying to take a picture. Everyone around me was told no pictures, no electronic devices period! People were threatened with camera confiscation and ejection if caught again. Of course, I was caught after my second picture and I put the camera away for awhile.
The security guard in front of me said it was alright as long as I could shield it from view so that the ushers did not see the camera from halfway back. So when I thought it was safe, I started taking what I could while being careful and got through the show without being caught. First, let's meet Ringo's 11th All Star Band:
Ringo Starr
Rick Derringer- solo and The McCoys
Edgar Winter
Wally Palmer- The Romantics
Gary Wright
Richard Page- Mr Mister
Greg Bissonette- extra drummer who does not do any songsIt seemed as Ringo was having fun during this, his birthday week with his next stop Radio City Music Hall for a show on his birthday, July 7th! Ringo was a lot more animated than usually and flashing a lot of Peace signs, pointing at audience members and exchanging banter with the audience. Was good to see him in a super mood. Here's the set list for the State Theater show:
01. It don't come easy
02. Honey Don't
03. Choose Love
04. Hang on Sloopy (Rick Derringer)
05. Free Ride (Edgar Winter)
06. Talking in your sleep (Wally Palmer)
07. I wanna be your man
08. Dream Weaver (Gary Wright)
09. Kyrie (Richard Page)
10. The Other Side of Liverpool
11. Yellow Submarine
12. Frankenstein (Edgar Winter)
13. Peace Dream
14. Back off Boogaloo
15. What I Like About You (Wally Palmer)
16. Rock & Roll Hoochie Koo (Rick Derringer)
17. Boys
18. Love is Alive (Gary Wright)
19. Broken Wings (Richard Page)
20. Photograph
21. Act Naturally
22. With a Little Help From My Friends/ Give Peace a Chance (reprise)(While finishing With a little Help, Ringo runs off stage as the show is over and the band continues playing and then cut into Give Peace a Chance when Ringo runs back out to the stage to sing as well. At the end, Ringo then exits the stage and the rest of the band play out and then take a group bow. All in all, it was a pretty good night out.)
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Comments
Security in Bethel Woods was haphazard. I was told to put my camera away at the beginning of the show while people around me snapped away merrily, some sitting in front of the same security guard that said no pictures! Later I took out my camera and took more. Mohegan Sun was totally different, no one cared at all. And Westbury, they would bother you only if it looked like you were taking video clips; one usher told a guy in front of me stills were OK, just no video. It just depends on the venue.
The ushers were relentless in my section for cracking down on cameras, etc. Bob must have been sitting just a few rows in front of me because this is about the angle of where I was sitting. But I had the usherettes standing next to my few rows the entire night. Thanks Bob for getting these pictures!
Was a great concert (and I LIKED the Mr. Mister songs!)
Rick Derringer was on fire in Rock and Roll Hoochie-Coo :)
Yes John, luckily I was in the pit and because of the angle could shield the camera against my chest. It was tough taking pictures as half the time you couldn't see the screen finder but I was happy the way they came out. I hope Radio City is not this ridiculous!
Great show! The enforcement must have been stricter in the "better" seats; we were in the balcony, and I didn't notice anyone being reprimanded. I was pleased it was an enthusiastic audience! The show was well-paced and tight, and the band did seem to be enjoying themselves. And how about Ringo doing jumping-jacks towards the end?! Great night out, for all ages! My first time seeing Ringo, but not the last: I'm on to Radio City!
I'm really sorry you saw it at a venue that was so strict about photos. I just saw Ringo at American Music Theater in Lancaster. There were no signs - they announced no video/audio or flash, but other than that pics were fine. Lots of people took them. I didn't see any ushers getting aggressive - though I did see one keep an eye on someone who set off their flash, but that was about it. I snapped a bunch of pics, but I wasn't close and I don't have a fabulous low-light camera. Really seems like it was the venue. Also the set list was the same. Really enjoyed the concert!
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