Harry Who?
HLN Replaces Harry Belafante
By Catherine Carr
HLN Today Reporter
The sign greeting everyone who entered the park states: Huey Lewis and the News are tonight's performers replacing Harry Belafonte who cancelled in April. From the size of the crowd, they were ready for HLN. Blankets or lawn chairs and picnic baskets as far as the eyes could see. Everyone under the pavilion greeted Huey with a standing ovation. This was the band's third appearance at Ravinia.
"So Little Kindness" opened the show followed by "My Other Woman's Got Another Man". During "The Heart of Rock and Roll" as Huey was moving across the stage, he unexpectedly dropped his microphone which really seemed to pump up the crowd. So he goofed around with the horn section. Next was "Doing It All For My Baby". The audience really got into "Power Of Love". From that point on the repertoire changed. "Plan B" - which Huey says WILL BE on the album was followed by "If This Is It". The verse in "(Too) Hip To Be Square" accommodated Huey's choice of wardrobe - cool, brown business suit.
Throughout the show the band was introduced to the crowd. However, John Pierce was overlooked. The horn section was introduced during "Plan B". Sean, Johnny and Bill were introduced during the acappella set. Along with the newest member of the band to add to the California sound - Steph Burns. The acappella selection for the evening was "60 Minute Man" to the delight of the audience, especially the ladies and "Little Bit Of Soap".
"He Don't Know" highlighted Steph's talent on the guitar as the horn section, Johnny and Huey graciously faded from the stage.
On a night that was already warm for a Chicago September, Huey invited the crowd to get up and dance to "(But) It's Alright". They stayed on their feet the rest of the set - "I Want A New Drug" and "We're Not Here For A Long Time, But We're Here For A Good Time". The microphone gave Huey problems again during "Stuck With You". The end of the show came with "Working For A Living". "Do You Believe In Love" was dedicated to the hardcore fans. Challenged by curfew, requests from the audience influenced which selection to play. It seemed appropriate that the final song was "Back In Time". Which everyone in attendance will be thinking of after the Labor Day holiday weekend is over.
