Huey Lewis and The News Rock L.A. with a Magnitude Off the Richterscale!
By Frank "Sticks" Schnyder
HLN Today Reporter
HLN September 12, 1997 at the L.A. County Fair was another success in a long line for the greatest R&B/Rock band in the world!
Anticipation was high thanks to the FairPlex promoting the band to the hilt, playing "Power of Love" in radio spots and the band's picture in every newspaper ad for the Fair for weeks.
Even though the show was free with fair admission, the line for reserved seats at 10 dollars each was always full. This reporter would estimate the crowd size at 3,000 - 5,000.
They arrived about 10 minutes before they went on stage and left 10 minutes after the last song - no hangin' around. (Look at the tour schedule and you'll see why.) The guys pulled up in a white van with tinted windows that every one could see from the grandstand (the venue was a horse track), and everyone started cheering when they got out. Later, the van's engine was running before the last chorus of "Workin' for a Livin'."
They started strong with "100 Years From Now" and "So Little Kindness".
"I Ain't Perfect" was a surprise as the third song, but it rocked! This
song has yet to be on a HLN album. The acappella selections tonight were
'60 Minute Man" and "It's Alright".
The guys were giving a great performance when during "Power of Love" about eight policemen ran up one of the aisles with a whole bunch of fair workers and other security. As it turned out, someone had a heart attack. It happened so far in the back, it didn't seem the band had a clue about it happening at the time. "I Never Think About You" was the next song. It was hard to concentrate with everyone looking up to the back at what was happening. Later, it was absolutely surreal to hear the bouncy opening to "Surely I Love You" as the police were going down the steps with the man on the stretcher.
Huey said he needed to sit down (all getting into character) to do "I Never Think About You". Cool song. The lyrics are a little bitter for an HLN song (it's about a couple breaking up and the guy trying to fill up his time with anything but thinking about his ex-girlfriend), but the music was smooth - very typical of the high-class R&B sound the band has perfected. This new song was written by Chris Hayes, John Pierce, and Huey Lewis.
Other selections this night included "Heart and Soul", "The Heart of Rock and Roll", I Know What I Like", "If This Is It".
They ended the show with "I Want a New Drug" and came back for one 3-song encore: After "Couple Days Off" Huey dedicated "Stuck with You" to the Newsliners, pointing out Tracey (last name?) in the front row as an example.
It was basically in and out - not much talk in between the songs. In
Vegas, Huey went on a rant before "Surely" about where R&B came from
and how the best singers in the world are Americans, but he said nothing
before it this time.
Johnny fans would be excited to know that his vocals were really pumped in the mix. It was the clearest this reporter has ever heard him. Sean's/Jack's Hammond organ was really loud, too and made certain performances (such as "I Never Think Of You", "Couple Days Off" and "Stuck With You") OUTSTANDING!!
All in all, it was a strong performance. Chris' solos on "I Want a New Drug" and "Power Of Love" were particularly exceptional this time. Billy looked fine - you couldn't tell that he smashed his had a month earlier!
