Post by janebse on Feb 2, 2007 15:19:16 GMT -5
cousin sent me this review from the Flint Journal to share with Tempt fans:
Flint--Like sunshine on a cloudy (and very chilly) day, the latest incarnation of the Temptations brought some much-needed warmth, a lot of energy and a surprise guest to Sunday's performance as The Whiting.
That guest was none other than Levi Stubbs, the 69-year old former Four Tops frontman, who was forced to retired in 2000 due to illness, having battled a heart attack, stroke, and prostate cancer. Now confined to a wheelchair, Stubbs doesn't perform any more and didn't Sunday night.
But his mere presence in the wings, which the group didn't arrounce until late in the 70-minute show, must have inspired the Motown legends to give it their all, or as member Ron Tyson said, "act like it's Saturday night."
They paid tribute to their stricken friend by wheeling him out onstage twice, once during an introduction. ("We miss you and we have eternal love for you," said Otis Willialms, the Tempts' lone original member), the other at the end of a thrilling gospel-style finale of "Can I get a Witness," resurrected for their recent Motown covers album, "Reflections."
Not that this classic act needs much inspiration. The Temptations have managed to stay in demand at concert halls around the world despite their own tragedies, personnel changes and creative high and lows by maintaining a high performance standard.
That means they're not just some tired oldies act. They rely on and celebrate their past, to be sure. But with a legacy to maintain and a considerable body of hits from which to draw, these Tempts seem more intent on keeping that alive than shoving it away on some trophy case.
Sunday's set, backed by a 15-piece band that featured a punchy 10-piece horn section, included a lively version of 'Stay," their last major hit, which topped the R&B charts only eight years ago, and a handful of songs from the aforementioned "Reflections," released a year ago this month. There wer lively takes of the classics too, including funked-up versions of "(I Know) I"m Losing You," "Get Ready," and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," while a breezy "Just my Imgationation" turned into impromptu singalong by the vocal crowd of 1,500.
It's to 66-year old Williams' credit that the men he recruits to fill the shoes once worn by the late Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin and Melvin Franklin, to name a few, are up to the task. Tenor and former Spinner G.C. Cameron has only been with the group a few years but sings "My Girl" like he owns it. Ditto for newest and youngest Temptation Terry Weeks, whose muscular, impassioned vocal on the lesser known "Since I Lost My Baby" suggests it may be time to expand his role in the group.
They round out a solid lineup which includes Ron Tyson, who at 23 years, is one of the longest-tenured members of the group, but whose high tenor defies age, and Joe Herndon of the bottom-rolling bass.
Make no mistake. This is not the classic Temptations of the '60's or early '70's. They don't step quite as lkively as they used to, their harmonies were occasionally rough around the edges and their between songs patter a bit too pat.
But the sheer emotional energy of their performance, not to mention Stubbs' surprise appearance, more than made up for it. Talk about sunshine on a cloudy day.
Flint--Like sunshine on a cloudy (and very chilly) day, the latest incarnation of the Temptations brought some much-needed warmth, a lot of energy and a surprise guest to Sunday's performance as The Whiting.
That guest was none other than Levi Stubbs, the 69-year old former Four Tops frontman, who was forced to retired in 2000 due to illness, having battled a heart attack, stroke, and prostate cancer. Now confined to a wheelchair, Stubbs doesn't perform any more and didn't Sunday night.
But his mere presence in the wings, which the group didn't arrounce until late in the 70-minute show, must have inspired the Motown legends to give it their all, or as member Ron Tyson said, "act like it's Saturday night."
They paid tribute to their stricken friend by wheeling him out onstage twice, once during an introduction. ("We miss you and we have eternal love for you," said Otis Willialms, the Tempts' lone original member), the other at the end of a thrilling gospel-style finale of "Can I get a Witness," resurrected for their recent Motown covers album, "Reflections."
Not that this classic act needs much inspiration. The Temptations have managed to stay in demand at concert halls around the world despite their own tragedies, personnel changes and creative high and lows by maintaining a high performance standard.
That means they're not just some tired oldies act. They rely on and celebrate their past, to be sure. But with a legacy to maintain and a considerable body of hits from which to draw, these Tempts seem more intent on keeping that alive than shoving it away on some trophy case.
Sunday's set, backed by a 15-piece band that featured a punchy 10-piece horn section, included a lively version of 'Stay," their last major hit, which topped the R&B charts only eight years ago, and a handful of songs from the aforementioned "Reflections," released a year ago this month. There wer lively takes of the classics too, including funked-up versions of "(I Know) I"m Losing You," "Get Ready," and "Papa Was a Rolling Stone," while a breezy "Just my Imgationation" turned into impromptu singalong by the vocal crowd of 1,500.
It's to 66-year old Williams' credit that the men he recruits to fill the shoes once worn by the late Eddie Kendricks, David Ruffin and Melvin Franklin, to name a few, are up to the task. Tenor and former Spinner G.C. Cameron has only been with the group a few years but sings "My Girl" like he owns it. Ditto for newest and youngest Temptation Terry Weeks, whose muscular, impassioned vocal on the lesser known "Since I Lost My Baby" suggests it may be time to expand his role in the group.
They round out a solid lineup which includes Ron Tyson, who at 23 years, is one of the longest-tenured members of the group, but whose high tenor defies age, and Joe Herndon of the bottom-rolling bass.
Make no mistake. This is not the classic Temptations of the '60's or early '70's. They don't step quite as lkively as they used to, their harmonies were occasionally rough around the edges and their between songs patter a bit too pat.
But the sheer emotional energy of their performance, not to mention Stubbs' surprise appearance, more than made up for it. Talk about sunshine on a cloudy day.
