Showing posts with label Cindy Wilson. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cindy Wilson. Show all posts

Sunday, February 15, 2015

The B-52’s live at Riverside Casino 2/14/15


Riverside, Iowa
By Phillip Smith; Feb 15, 2015

One of my all-time favorite bands, The B-52’s descended upon the Riverside Casino in Riverside, Iowa last night and gave a stellar Valentine’s Day performance in front of a packed house. It was a special night, as the evening marked the 38th anniversary of their first concert performing together.  Original founding members Fred Schneider, Kate Pierson, and Cindy Wilson were joined onstage by guitarist Greg Suran, bassist Tracy Wormworth, drummer/percussionist Sterling Campbell, and guitarist/keyboardist Paul Gordon.    

The band kicked things off with “Pump”, off their most recent studio album, Funplex.  This one got the crowd excited and the energy flowing.  The only other track from this album, was “Love in the Year 3000”, introduced by Kate who acknowledged Riverside, Iowa as being the future birthplace of Captain Kirk while pondering the details of how his parents hooked up.    

Deeper cuts played, included the songs, “Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland” from Bouncing Off the Satellites and “Is That You Mo-dean?” from Good Stuff. Cindy gave a touching introduction to “Girl…” reminding us it was off the last album her brother Rickie played on before he passed in 1985.  This one was Cindy’s song to sing.

For a short while, Kate and Cindy held down the fort with “Roam” and “Legal Tender”, which quickly filled the aisles with dancers and revelers.  As soon as those songs finished, Fred mysteriously returned to stage donning a red ‘Kate-like’ wig.  Stating it was party time, the band tore into “Party Out of Bounds”. Afterwards, Fred exclaimed “It’s fun being a red-head!”     

The set is ended with crowd-favorite “Love Shack”, which brings the entire audience to their feet.  As the B-52’s return for their encore, the familiar spacy beeps from “Planet Claire” fill the air.  It’s still amazing to hear Kate’s enchanting siren-like vocals on this one. I remember thinking; this must have been what the siren songs which called out to Odysseus sounded like.  It was so captivating.  To wrap things up, the audience was treated to an extended dance version of “Rock Lobster”, a true classic off their first album. With red lobster-color lights shining upon the stage, Kate danced her heart out, and never seemed to break a sweat. 

This was hands down, a fantastic show, and a fun concert.


* all photos by Phillip Smith


Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider


Cindy Wilson, Fred Schneider & Kate Pierson


Cindy Wilson


Kate Pierson


Greg Suran


Fred and Kate


Cindy, Fred & Kate


Kate Pierson


Fred Schneider


Cindy , Kate, & Fred


Cindy Wilson


Cindy, Fred, & Kate


Fred Schneider


Cindy Wilson


Fred & Tracy Wormworth


Fred Schneider


Kate Pierson


SetList

Pump
Mesopotamia
Private Idaho
Lava
Dance This Mess Around
Girl from Ipanema Goes to Greenland
Roam
Legal Tender
Party Out of Bounds
Love in the Year 3000
Is That You Mo-dean?
6060-842
Whammy
Love Shack

Encore

Planet Claire
Rock Lobster