Burton Cummings at Harbourfest 2012
It was like a homecoming for Winnipeg's Burton Cummings last night at the Whitecap Pavillion. From the opening chords to No Sugar Tonight through the last of his encore Share the Land, the sold-out crowd sang along with gusto.
His references to playing the Kenricia Hotel and chumming around with Satan and the D-Men at the old Chez Le Rat clearly hit the mark. One could say he had them in the palm of his hand, even before playing the big smash hits These Eyes and American Woman. The boisterous audience even knew the words to Running Back from Saskatoon, which he dubbed the first really Canadian hit, along with his epic rock ballad Break it to them Gently, which he spun out into a tribute to old time rock 'n roll.
Looking slim and trim, he was in fine voice. Hard to believe he looks better today than he did 20 years ago, when he really did look the image of a bloated old rocker. On the eve of his 65th birthday, Cummings worked up a good sweat through his two-hour set. He didn't stray far from his greatest hits from the Guess Who or his solo career. The backing band was up to the task, even if he did miss a few notes on the flute solos in (She's Come) Undone. There wasn't any new material from an upcoming album, and this was just fine for most who paid the $80 to see him. One could've wished the same from opening act Prism, who offered -- not just one but two drum solos -- before resuming their selection of more popular material.
By contrast, Cummings only allowed himself a couple of political remarks, when he talked about recent shootings before launching into Guns Guns Guns or the prelude to Hand Me Down World, but really that was mainly to catch his breath. There was a nice shoutout to a fan, who brought along an old album cover for signing. A couple of nice thank-yous by the host for volunteers Brenda Chambers-Ivey and Joanne Hill.
All in all, it was a nostalgic walk down memory lane that left most fans more than satisfied. - See more at: http://www.kenoraonline.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2752:burton-cummings-rolls-through-his-hits&catid=4:q104-blog&Itemid=54#sthash.0I2Rup3h.dpuf
Cummings is a class act.
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