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Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band 2012 - Ringo at the Ryman

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Ringo has taken to the road with various versions of his All Starr band over the past couple of decades and the format is a good way to keep fans coming back to see his shows time and time again. Otherwise, one time would probably be enough if you were seeing Starr perform his hits with a nameless back-up band. For the 2012 tour the All Starr Band featured Steve Lukather, Todd Rundgren, Richard Page, Gregg Rolie, additional drummer Greg Bissonette and sax man Mark Rivera, known for his work with Billy Joel. The way it works is Starr kicks off the show as the front man, here opening with the Carl Perkins chestnut "Matchbox" before moving into his own "It Don't Come Easy" and the relatively new cut "Wings." Then he climbs behind his drum set and lets the four band principles perform songs from the groups they were with; Lukather does Toto's "Rosanna," "Africa" and "Hold the Line," Rundgren covers biggies "I Saw the Light" and the appropriately percussion heavy "Bang the Drum All Day," Rolie takes the spotlight on Santana's "Evil Ways," "Everybody's Everything" and "Black Magic Woman" and Richard Page represents with Mr. Mister's "Kyrie Eleison" and "Broken Wings." Starr, who happened to be celebrating his birthday the evening of this Nashville show, beams all the way through and clearly has a ball belting out "Photograph," the cornball "Act Naturally" and leading a joyous sing-along to "Yellow Submarine." The musicianship is stellar throughout as you would expect with Rivera's sax work being especially vibrant. Former All Starr Joe Walsh appears to play "Rocky Mountain Way" and in honor of the show being at Nashville's vaunted Ryman Auditorium country stars Kix Brooks, Brad Paisley and Vince Gill make a brief appearance for the show closing "With a Little Help From My Friends"/"Give Peace a Chance."


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