Huey Lewis and the News light the Star Plaza marquee
By Catherine Carr
HLN Today reporter
Photo by Dana Krill
The big lighted marquee greeted the drivers on Interstate 65 "Tickets Available" "Huey Lewis and the News: Aug. 31 8PM", but it did not seem like it once inside the Star Plaza Theatre in Merrillville, IN. A comedian opened the show to warm up the crowd. Then the familiar chords began to play. Out strolled each member of the band, followed by Huey.
The set started with "We're Not Here For a Long Time,...." and "My Other Woman,..." followed by "Heart of Rock and Roll", "Doing It All For My Baby" and "Power of Love". Huey cued the audience to participate in the next song from their newly released CD - "Plan B." The band also played "Rhythm Ranch".
The enthusiasm was building with each song for both the crowd and the band. A female audience member came to the stage to give Huey a note, which he deposited it in his pocket. "If This Is It" was the next song in the set, along with "(Too) Hip To Be Square".
When it was time for the a cappella part of the show - Huey attempted to read the fan's note. Johnny even tried to help read it, but Huey gave in and borrowed an audience member's eyeglasses. He acknowledged the female's good taste, then proceeded to introduce his bandmates: "Funky" Sean Hopper, who he has worked with for 30 years. Multi-talented Johnny Colla, the man with the most happening since he changed his hair color to grey. "the Rock of Gibraltar" - the best swing of the group, Bill Gibson, then the "New Boy of The Band" & the "Pro" - Stef Burns. The evening's a capella selections were "Naturally" and "60 Minute Man" - an autobiographical song according to Huey, met with cheering approval from the audience.
Huey's harp did a lot of "talking" in the later part of the show. Just a few notes with "Let Her Go and Start Over" but more with it later.
During "Heart and Soul", Huey shared the stage with an older fan. The security employee didn't know how to carefully remove her from the stage and graciously assisted her back to her front row seat. Once security was out of the aisles near the stage, several audience members made their way towards the front to enjoy the rest of the show.
Everyone was on their feet for "(But) It's Alright" and "I Want a New Drug". The first encore consisted of a melody revision of "Do You Believe In Love" and a harmonica intro to "Working For A Living".
Even after 90 minutes of the band, no one wanted the guys to leave. So, Huey made a deal - if he could play a song he wanted, he would play a song the audience wanted. So the audience was treated to "I Ain't Perfect".
Before playing "Stuck With You", Huey got the story on the fan that somehow made it on stage. Her kids' pushed her up there because it was her birthday.
The last song of the night was "Back in Time" and he told the audience we might still make it home by 11pm! Not for all fans - their are 3 seasons in the midwest: Fall, Winter & Construction. Many were bound to hit construction season on the way home. But for Huey Lewis and The News....it's worth it.
