WELCOME TO THE 2017 TOUR REVIEW THREAD!!
Welcome everyone to the 2017 Tour Review Thread! The upcoming year is going to be exciting with concerts scheduled already for 2017!! MB has some USA shows starting off the year in January and more shows through early April so far and I’m sure many more to come around the globe as the year unfolds! Also exciting for 2017 is the February 10th release of Songs of Cinema and I am betting a few more songs from the CD will make it in the tour setlist! Woo Hoo! This is the best time to be a fan with MB’s concerts and we may have a Michael Bolton Charities event later in the year, we never know. Michael has multiple projects in the works and he is good at keeping us guessing. I appreciate the opportunity to start a new thread once again for 2017 to give us all a place to share the best part of being a fan--- experiencing Michael in person doing what he does best-SING!!!!!!
I am looking forward to another fun year of posts and sharing great times by the best Michael Bolton fans in the world on this forum. I will post events to keep the thread moving along as the concerts come up as I have in the past.
Let the year long concert party begin and I wish concerts for all of you in 2017!! I know many fans are on other social media sites but I do hope we can continue with the exciting tour reviews here in 2017! You all make the thread fun.
Happy Concert Time again in 2017!!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by sylvie boisvert on
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Hi again Robin in Md, I'm glad to hear your surgery did some good. I know recuperating after surgery can be a long process. I guess you're starting slow with a 1.5 hour drive: you've had much longer drives to see MB in the past. :D Glad you're well on your way and good luck on strengthening it now. Take care. Hugs, sincerely, Sylvie Qc Canada :D
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Permalink Reply by sylvia doughty on
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Michael has posted pic of himself and Gladys Knight backstage at the Ravinia Festival, Highland Park last night to his FB page along with comment ......
"Amazing show last night and the wonderful Gladys Knight"
Sylvia Your wee Scottish friend
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Hi Sylvia, speaking of Gladys Knight, here's an article Katia picked up on Twitter and shared with me:
A Ravinia train ride with a glorious Gladys Knight, then Bolton favors remakes over originals - Chicago Concert Reviews
Posted on September 1, 2017 by Andy Argyrakis
Photos by Andy Argyrakis
They may have come from different eras with varying styles of delivery, but the curious pairing of Michael Bolton and Gladys Knight at the always alluring Ravinia was linked together by their mutual love of soul music. For Knight, that meant someone who was there from its formative days, whether it was at Motown with The Pips or going solo in her later years, while Bolton obviously worshipped the ground so many greats of yesteryear walked on, despite rising to fame in adult contemporary contexts, then reaching an entirely new generation alongside comedy trio The Lonely Island on “Saturday Night Live.”
However, it was Gladys Knight who ultimately emerged on top of the evening, though at least the fact that fans scored two major attractions for the price of one ultimately made up for those surprising missteps.
Ladies came first during this double bill that found “The Empress Of Soul,” her six-piece band and three backing vocalists spending most of their hour in the distant past, but occasionally tipping their hat to current trends that naturally linked back to what she started in the first place. “You’re The Best Thing That Ever Happened To Me” featured a smooth outro of Sam Smith’s “Stay With Me,” while Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man” ingeniously paved the way for “If I Were Your Woman.”
At 73, Knight was truly pristine as a singer, though her banter was long-winded and could’ve easily been condensed to fit in more performances. Even so, she effortlessly conquered every attempt, including Motown’s best-selling record of 1967 “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” (before Marvin Gaye got his hands on it), Barbra Streisand’s glorious “The Way We Were,” plus her iconic pair “Neither One Of Us (Wants To Be The First To Say Goodbye)” and “Midnight Train To Georgia.”
Bolton, his five musicians and two supporting singers had more time allotted but actually made less of the opportunity, personally performing just three original selections while turning primarily to remakes from the recent “Songs Of Cinema” album and other specialty projects. Nevertheless, the 64-year-old was also in flawless voice and could take lots of credit for riding The Bee Gees’ “To Love Somebody” and Otis Redding’s “(Sittin’ On) The Dock Of The Bay” back up the charts.
As for the soundtrack selections, Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” from “Risky Business” made the most effective leap off the silver screen, so much so that it didn’t even need Tom Cruise jumping on the couch. Unfortunately, that same charisma didn’t carry over into his conversations with the crowd, which were stiff, quiet and lacked the warmth of say a Rod Stewart or Barry Manilow.
A duets set with an unbelievably average background singer was also lacking (especially considering it came seconds after Bolton said he passed Knight backstage on a break), starting with his self-penned “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You,” which Laura Branigan famously covered but was never a collaboration in the first place. And notwithstanding the fact that his partner was a far cry from Celine Dion, performing “The Prayer” to pre-recorded backing track felt distant and lazy for an artist of this otherwise elite caliber.
Instead, Bolton fared much better on his own when he hopped upon a platform in one of the aisles to take complete ownership of Percy Sledge’s “When A Man Loves A Woman,” and later on the standard stage, Ray Charles’ “Georgia On My Mind.” Out of his own material, sure there was “Said I Love You…But I Lied” and “How Can We Be Lovers” in addition to the above mention, but “Go The Distance” merely served as an overture prior to his entrance, “Missing You Now” was barely a blip in one of two overly lengthy band solo segments, while “Steel Bars,” “Time, Love & Tenderness,” “Love Is A Wonderful Thing,” “Soul Provider” and a stable of ballads were nowhere to be found.
For a fella who sold 75 million albums primarily from those very selections, it was a perplexing decision, though those willing to embrace Bolton’s further infatuation with the oldies of varying stripes were probably satisfied, if only for the undeniable quality of his interpretations. However, it was Knight who ultimately emerged on top of the evening, though at least the fact that fans scored two major attractions for the price of one ultimately made up for those surprising missteps.
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For additional information on Michael Bolton and Gladys Knight, visit MichaelBolton.com and GladysKnight.com.
http://chicagoconcertreviews.com/reviews/2017-09-01-michael-bolton-...
That's it for now. Take care and hugs to all, sincerely, Sylvie Qc Canada :D
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Thanks share Sylvie and if being honest, didn't think much of review but, everybody entitled to an opinion !!!
Sylvia YWSF 27
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Permalink Reply by Ann Yale on
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Hi Sylvie
I love Gladys Knights music but have never seen her live in concert, quite correct about the two shows in one. I think it's fabulous when legends come together. Your review is your opinion which you're quite entitled too, I heard and read about fans who think the same as you that MB needs to step up the show a notch. I'd also love to hear live once again "Missing You" "Can I Touch You There" and "Love Is A Wonderful Thing, but MB has since brought in the guitar songs which seem to be where he is at right now...( Songs Of Cinema)!!!
Maybe Michael should be asking his fans which songs they most want to hear, and then adding them to the set list. ( Just an idea) Guess what your point really is, you feel he needs to work harder on stage and provide the fans with ALL his hits that we adore. Michael you need to do a greatest hits tour, we want the 90's back!! Does anyone agree??? A tour of just the hits!!!
Ann from Newcastle (U.K)
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Hi Ann, nice to read you on here. I just reported the article sweetie, I didn’t write it. I think it’s wonderful when legends come together too. 12 years ago, I attended a Hall & Oates concert and the Funk Brothers were opening for them: I couldn’t believe it! I’ve never attended a Gladys show either, but I have a nice one of hers on DVD with Ray Charles. I’ve also heard from disenchanted fans, either longing for the old songs or prefering there would be more Michael and less of his musicians on stage. Frankly, as far as I’m concerned, if Michael comes to my town, I’d listen to him telling softball stories all night, read the phone book or sing “Itsy-bitsy spiders” and laugh... :D Ann, just off the top of my head, here are links to threads of fans discussing exactly what you’re talking about:
- “5 songs live?”:
http://www.michaelbolton.com/forum/topics/5-songs-live
-“Songs you would like to hear at concerts”:
http://www.michaelbolton.com/forum/topics/songs-you-would-like-to-hear
-What is your dream setlist:
http://michaelbolton.com/forum/topics/what-is-you-re-dream-setlist
-Suggestions for songs to be included in Michael’s setlist for 2015
http://www.michaelbolton.com/forum/topics/suggestions-for-songs-to-...
The last one was Sylvia’s initiative to let Michael know what the fans wanted and you even took part in it, but frankly, I would say it didn’t quite have the desired impact. Oh what I’d do to hear WIBOMFA live... I do thinka “Greatest hits” tour would be fantastic, but it was done in ’95-96 and there are always many things to consider. Some of the old songs aren’t the easiest for conserving his voice at its best, Michael wants to show his wide range of genres and now, he has multi-generational fans who may like more lively songs. All I’m saying is: you can’t please everyone all the time. Thank you so much for posting Ann: I love to spread my forum librarian legs... ;D Take good care sweetie, God bless. Big hugs, sincerely, Sylvie Qc Canada :D
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Permalink Reply by Silvy on
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looking great (as usual) Michael in the photo with Gladys, very elegant and handsome!
Robin, thanks for the review & photos, the guitar pic is a wonderful memory, I hope one day to pick one to make a necklace, BTW how many shows till now? :-D joking!
Silvy from CH
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Permalink Reply by robin rehder on
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Oh! I like Gladys Knight.
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Permalink Reply by Robin on
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Hi Silvy, the one last week was #152 and counting! LOL
I have a friend that did that with a guitar pic she got from one of MB's shows years ago, she wore that necklace all the time for quite a few years to his shows.
Robin in MD :)
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Sharing beautiful pic of Michael with Holly and Stacey Nutini backstage at The Cannery, Las Vegas on Sunday. Pic is posted on here with kind permission of Holly. Stacey agreed to publication if Holly did. Pic shows the three of them, from left to right, Stacey, Michael and Holly, with arms round each other and all looking very happy indeed.
Sylvia Your wee Scottish friend
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Permalink Reply by Paula Hatch on
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Hello Everyone!
I guess it is time for my yearly post, since I only remember to do one after every concert I attend. I need to get with it & stay in touch with all of you wonderful ladies! One of these days, I'm going to meet up with you, as I feel like I know you already & definitely share a "kinship".
First of all, Sylvia, beautiful pic! I am so happy that Holly was able to join her dad in Las Vegas. (And I guess I'm out of the loop, because I have no idea who Stacey is. Sorry!)
Any way, WHAT A CONCERT in Las Vegas! Michael was SOOOOOOOOO INCREDIBLE!!!!!!! I could have listened to him all night! It's amazing to me that after each concert I attend, I'm always left wanting more. No matter how often I listen to his music (every day) or see him in concert (usually once a year--in Las Vegas- the easiest location for me to get to) I never tire of hearing it.
One of these days, I want to meet this brilliantly talented man & tell him in person how much I appreciate him & his beautiful music. What an inspiration he is!
Hope to do a better job of staying connected!!!
Your friend,
Paula Hatch
The Utah girl.
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Aw! Paula. Thanks for your review. I wish we could have met but, oh! well! I was there in Vegas. I know. I need to get my review together but I've been busy with real life. Still flying high on cloud 99. Oh! I mean 9. :)
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