Ringo Starr is like a fine wine, aging better with the passage of time. The drummer put down his sticks momentarily to front his studio band - The Roundheads - for a rare intimate club performance at Irving Plaza in New York City on Sunday, June 19, 2005.

     Musical Director Mark Hudson is the responsible party for granting Mr. Starkey a license to let loose and exercise his rock'n roll pedigree. Rich, as he is known by his bandmates, looked fit for action and sounded fab at the age of Sixty-four (no such luck on hearing a cover of Macca's famous Sgt. Pepper composition!).

     With The Roundhaeds assembled on stage, the band teased the SRO crowd with a brief jam on "With A Little Help From My Friends" to introduce the star of the event Ringo Starr, flashing his trademark Peace sign. Opening with "It Don't Come easy", Starr was relaxed and ready to enjoy himslef.

     The first major surprise of the evening was an outstanding version of "Ocotpus's Garden" from the Abbey Road album. The group harmonies gave the melody a lift with Burr adding the perfect lead guitar solo. Starr commented, "When I wrote that song, that was the one place I wanted to be".

     Another highlight was the title track "Choose Love" off the new album. The rhythm section was tight and, Starrr sounded great on vocals. "I Wanna Be Your Man" showcased Starr on drums and Hudson on harmonica, recalling the excitement of Beatlemania.

     Hudson switched back and forth from electric and acoustic guitar with additonal guitarists Gary Burr and Steve Dudas. After 70 minutes of high octane music, the audience had not had enough.

     Outside of a handful of television appearances, The Roundheads were only doing two dates a week apart in New York City and Waukegan. The promotional gigs were in support of Ringo's new studio album Choose Love, another Hudson production. Once again, Starr has delivered a strong collection of material focused on Love as a positive concept.

     The Roundheads was the nickname given to Ringo's studio band. Together, the unit has backed Starr on four studio albums (one of which was 1999's I Wanna Be Santa Claus) and the live 1998 release VH1 Storytellers. The Roundheads should tour more often!

NYC setlist: WALHFMF intro > It Don't Come Easy * Octopus's Garden * Choose Love * I Wanna Be Your Man * Don't Pass Me By * I'm The Greatest * Give Me Back The Beat * Memphis In Your Mind * Photograph * Never Without You * Back Off Boogaloo * Boys * You Can't Do That - Gary Burr * Long Tall Sally > I'm Down > Oh! Darling - Mark Hudson * Yellow Submarine * Act Naturally * With A Little Help From My Friends (aided by Little Steven & Max Weinberg)

Photo by Manuel Leston-Lado

RockonTour   Issue #46
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I think it was the Drummer!
Ringo Starr & The Roundheads choose to roll

by Timothy Tilghman