| Here's one of the interesting things I discovered while pouring over the archives at my local library: a concert review of Don playing right here at the Town Hall in 1980 (I've mislaid the exact date)! It's interesting to see that even back then Don McLean was mentioning Marty Robbins at his concerts... so glad all that eventually lead to the MASTERPIECE which is "Don McLean SIngs Marty Robbins"! What an album! But I digress... "Don McLean live", The Press (Chch, NZ), mid-1980. Don McLean, at the Christchurch Town Hall auditorium last evening. Running time, 8:15 p.m. to 10:44 p.m. Reviewed by Nevin Topp. Perhaps the best clue to Don McLean's concert came from the singer-songwriter himself. Introducing a song as a Spanish one, written by an Irishman, and record [sic] in Texas, McLean, accompanied on stage by a bassist and another (electric and acoustic) guitarist, sang "South Of The Border." The concert was a melting pot of styles presented in a professional and entertaining manner. It was not his hits, "Vincent," or "American Pie," which will stay in the mind of the concert goers, rather it was his approach as an artist. He said that modern music had embarked on a present day course that stank. "I like rock 'n' roll but with more than one chord. I'm a two-chord man," he said. Later in the concert he proved his point by playing a number of rock 'n' roll hits. The show has an interesting structure. It moved from one of social concern in a folkish stance at the outset to a more mellow romantic line, before finally settling on rock 'n' roll. McLean made the romantic songs seem natural - there were five between "South Of The Border" to the Roy Orbsion hit "Crying." Some might have considered that McLean has played "American Pie" with almost indecent haste, but after 10 years who can blame him. But in the encore McLean sang two rock 'n' roll hits, Carl Perkins' "Blue Suede Shoes" and "Maybe Baby" by Buddy Holly. McLean also mentioned the likes of Nat King Cole and Marty Robbins during the show, and it all adds up to prove that popular music is not dead, but is a steadily growing tradition. Copyright © "The Press" 1980. |