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charlene · 07-23-2006, 03:04 PM

June 24, 2006

Live Review: Bachman-Cummings in T.O.

By JANE STEVENSON - Toronto Sun

TORONTO - Classic Can-rock hits aplenty last night at the Molson Amphitheatre as Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings -- a.k.a Canada's most successful songwriting duo -- churned out chart-toppers for some 9,000 fans.

The Winnipeg-born rockers, now touring under their own names due to original Guess Who bassist Jim Kale owning the rights to the famed band's moniker, were joined by a five-man Toronto cover outfit called The Carpet Frogs and were no worse the wear because of it.

Opening the show with a slower, bluesier version of American Woman -- a shame really given Bachman's amazing guitar introduction in that song -- they then spent the next two hours alternating between Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Cummings' solo material.

"Straight ahead rock 'n' roll," said Cummings, 58. "No thinking. Just tapping of the feet, tapping of the toes and snapping of the fingers."

Along those lines then, it was the BTO hits that packed the biggest punch with Bachman taking over on lead vocals and delivering exceptional guitar workouts on such rock anthems as You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet, Let It Ride -- which was preceded by a hilarious trucker story -- Hey You, Lookin' Out For #1, and the perfect show-closer Takin' Care Of Business.

Cummings also had a good sense of humour about Bachman's post-Guess Who songwriting period, introducing the BTO hit Hey You thusly: "Here's a song that Randy wrote when he wasn't very fond of me."

Unfortunately, Cummings also had the truly irritating habit of counting off the start to songs with a kind of human beat box noise and his higher singing register had the tendency to sound nasally.

Still, worthy of a mention were such Guess Who standout numbers as Albert Flasher, No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, Undun -- featuring Cummings on flute solo -- No Time, Share The Land, and Cummings own' Break It To Them Gently, which found the duo nicely inserting snippets of hits from the '50s as the song wound down.

When Bachman and Cummings later returned for their second encore, they carried a large Canadian flag between them.

"This is the greatest country in the world," said Bachman, 62. "You've made two Winnipeg guys feel right at home. This is our second home."

Also spotted in the crowd last night was Gordon Lightfoot, who Cummings singled out as their major inspiration. That led to a standing ovation for the singer-songwriter, who couldn't have anticipated he'd be in the spotlight too as he left the house for the show.

07-23-2006, 03:04 PM	#1
charlene Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Posts: 16,001	June 24, 2006 Live Review: Bachman-Cummings in T.O. By JANE STEVENSON - Toronto Sun TORONTO - Classic Can-rock hits aplenty last night at the Molson Amphitheatre as Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings -- a.k.a Canada's most successful songwriting duo -- churned out chart-toppers for some 9,000 fans. The Winnipeg-born rockers, now touring under their own names due to original Guess Who bassist Jim Kale owning the rights to the famed band's moniker, were joined by a five-man Toronto cover outfit called The Carpet Frogs and were no worse the wear because of it. Opening the show with a slower, bluesier version of American Woman -- a shame really given Bachman's amazing guitar introduction in that song -- they then spent the next two hours alternating between Guess Who, Bachman Turner Overdrive and Cummings' solo material. "Straight ahead rock 'n' roll," said Cummings, 58. "No thinking. Just tapping of the feet, tapping of the toes and snapping of the fingers." Along those lines then, it was the BTO hits that packed the biggest punch with Bachman taking over on lead vocals and delivering exceptional guitar workouts on such rock anthems as You Ain't Seen Nothing Yet, Let It Ride -- which was preceded by a hilarious trucker story -- Hey You, Lookin' Out For #1, and the perfect show-closer Takin' Care Of Business. Cummings also had a good sense of humour about Bachman's post-Guess Who songwriting period, introducing the BTO hit Hey You thusly: "Here's a song that Randy wrote when he wasn't very fond of me." Unfortunately, Cummings also had the truly irritating habit of counting off the start to songs with a kind of human beat box noise and his higher singing register had the tendency to sound nasally. Still, worthy of a mention were such Guess Who standout numbers as Albert Flasher, No Sugar Tonight/New Mother Nature, Undun -- featuring Cummings on flute solo -- No Time, Share The Land, and Cummings own' Break It To Them Gently, which found the duo nicely inserting snippets of hits from the '50s as the song wound down. When Bachman and Cummings later returned for their second encore, they carried a large Canadian flag between them. "This is the greatest country in the world," said Bachman, 62. "You've made two Winnipeg guys feel right at home. This is our second home." Also spotted in the crowd last night was Gordon Lightfoot, who Cummings singled out as their major inspiration. That led to a standing ovation for the singer-songwriter, who couldn't have anticipated he'd be in the spotlight too as he left the house for the show.