Review by Alex Leik
It's been a while since I've sent my post show thoughts to the great
Bill P. Tonight was special. Different from 2025. The guitar shake up had
me wondering what to expect, cautiously optimistic?! Had good feedback
from my brother after Philly last week, and from fellow Bobcat JP after
Richmond last night. But they saw 2 different guitar lineups. Philly got
Julian and Joel...but now we seem to be settled into "Joel & Jad." And
that could be a good future album name for our hero.
As has been mentioned, the sound of the instruments is very low in this
current arrangement, lower than either of the two opening acts. The goal
seems to be putting an emphasis on Bob's vocal, which is definitely a
highlight of the show. And I'm not taking anything away from the
musicians, especially the wonderful two guitar players that seemed to be
settled in. To have come in on such short notice and mastered this set
list the way they have speaks volumes. Bob seems very comfortable with
them, and Tony gives the glances and nods of a seasoned musical director
(none better).
Highlights... Long Black Coat ("bent over backwards in a hurricane
breeze" was a nice compliment to Lucinda's hurricane song); I Can Tell
is becoming the rocker of the set list, Bo D would be proud; Heaven... I
don't know that I've ever heard him sing the Sugartown line before.
Unfortunately Mary Jane's house in Baltimore did not get the raucous
applause I was hoping for lol; Red Sky may have been the best song of the
night. Have heard it many times over the years but it had a vibe tonight,
again driven by the subtle guitar duo. This current show has me thinking
"Shadow Kingdom, Part Deux"?
I'm very partial to EGOS and after seeing I Shall Be Released as the
closer the past few nights, I was hopeful we might get EGOS. But Released
was stunning, delivered to perfection by everyone on stage. And then
the harp, which I realized in hindsight we had not heard all night. It was
an emotional ending to a very uplifting evening. I'm not sure if I'll
make it to the SAT night show at Wolf Trap...but somewhere I hear London
Calling...?
Alex Leik
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