Setlist
As if You read My Mind
Master Blaster Jammin'
Did I Hear You Say You Love Me
All I Do
Rocket Love
Knocks Me Off My Feet
Talkbox jamming>People Make The World Go Round
Higher Ground
Spain (with band intros)>Dont You Worry Bout A Thing
If It's Magic (harp and full string ensemble accompaniment)
Living For The City
Golden Lady
Keep Fooling Yourself Baby Girl (new song)
I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life - Aiysha (daughter)
Isn't She Lovely
Ribbon In The Sky first version with son, Tyler, then full blown version)
Overjoyed
My Cherie Amore
Signed Sealed Delivered
Sir Duke
I Wish
You Are The Sunshine Of My Life
I Just Called To Say I Love You
Do I Do (add son Kailand on drums to set's end)
Superstition


The Bowl stage was fully loaded with orchestra and band. BAck row was horns and woodwinds on the left and strings to the right. Second row was percussion (drums timbales and miscellaneous), harp and various electronics and laid out in the first row ( though more like a semi-circle) was the band: 2 keyboardists, drums, bass and guitar and. Off to the right were three mikes (two fems and one male). Plus Stevie had a spot set up with Keyboards and mike in the center.

There was no opening act. Preshow, the Bowl played a loop of Bob Marley Stevie Winwood Police and Sting tunes). I didn't mind the marley or Winwood tunes, but I have grown to really detest the Police and Sting. Stevie was late. Should have started at 8 PM, but it was about 8:35. He came out and introduced three of his children Aiysah Tyer and Kailand. "Oh I gots lots more chirren", he joked and got the audience to clap along leading into the HOTTER THAN JULY miniset.

The sound was simply incredible. I don't know if other stops had the full orchestra, but the string section on "Rocket Love' was fantastic. SOunbded better than the record. After the HTJ set was a "knocks Me Off My Feet: a fave of mine from SONGS. You know I was singin' loud and out-of-tune, but I knew the words. Then Stevie loaded the tube to the electronic talkbox and goofed around with us and did a full version of "People Make The World Go Round" through the talkbox.

THe funk flew off immediately into "Higher Ground" that led into an extended jam on Chick Corea's "Spain" with band intros and the trumpeter's solo Harmon mute solo eerily recalled Miles (his Sketches of Spain album was the source for Corea's tune). The funk went tropical with a killer version of "Don't You Worry" and settled into a marvelous harmonica harp duet on "If It's magic" supported by a full string section. That was totally magnificent. I always wanted to hear this live, but the strings just blew me away!

After two songs from INNERVISIONS, "Living For the City" and "Golden Lady", Stevie discussed the project he's working on in memory of his mother, Lula Hardaway. This led to a new song "Keep Fooling Yourself Baby Girl". Then a jazzy big band treatment of "I'm Gonna Laugh You Right Out of My Life" featuring Aiysha on vocals. Now I had to blurt out "SHE DONE GROWED UP! LOOKIN' ALL FINE!" That got a bunch of laffs. Sure 'nuff Stevie hit us with "Isn't She Lovely."

Next up was a comedic dialog with his son Tyler. Stevie started out at the piano asking "How many guys have used Stevie Wonder songs to to get some?" and "How many babies had been made to Stevie Wonder Songs?". He turned to his son Tyler, maybe he's about 14 or 15, and asked if he uses these songs on girlfriends. He says sure he does and said he's picked "Ribbon In The Sky" a lot. Stevie starts playing telling him to sing along. He flubs the lines a bit and Stevie questions "Boy, you don't know my songs?" and going back to the first verse the youngster chimes in on key in great voice and sings a few bars. He gets applause and passes offstage. Stevie does the song from beginning to a rousing finish.

He launches into "My Cherie Amore" and has the whole audience singing along. He makes his pitch for Obama and delivers "Signed Sealed, Delivered". "Sir Duke" and "I wish" have the whole place partying and "Sunshine Of mY Heart' mellows the crowd into a singalong.

FOr the last numbers his youngest son, Kailand, took the drumchair and kept the beat on "Do I Do" This was another chance for Stevie to introduce the band, then a heavy funk breakdown of "Superstition". YOung Kailand held it down.

Show was a lot of fun. Plenty of crowd singalong and the band was great. Bassist Nathan Watts was superb all night. Everyone said the show could have gone another 2 hours, but Stevie wasn't paying a million dollar penalty. Freakin'curfews.

Thanks for the report - just saw Stevie about a month ago for the first time and was simply blown away! Such an amazing man, talent, and legend!!!

If you get the chance to see him - GO!!!

What was Keep Fooling Yourself Baby Girl like??

graecophilos said:

UGH I goofed the tribute to his mother is a gospel album..This is from an upcoming album. Here's a youtube clip



Chattter with audience ends around 2:22
[Edited 7/9/08 9:22am]

Thanks, I think it's a good album song. I can't believe he really wants to do two albums. I hope they will be released this atumn!!

I was at the show, it was amazing!!! one of the best shows i've ever been too. I have to agree that the strings just brought it to another level.i've never been to rock concert with a orchestra backing the band. It was an awesome experince

What song did he have the contest winner sing with him on?

GREAT concert report! Took me back to the Detroit show a few weeks ago!

PFunkjazz said:

I wish he would have used strings here in Detroit--I probably would have been one of them!

Was this the trumpeter (sorry for the tiny picture)?:



If so, his name is Dwight Adams--Stevie uses him almost exclusively. He's from Detroit--his wife is a friend of mine and plays in my jazz band.

NuPwr319 said:

Yep! That's him!

im going to see him in september and this looks like a tight show. im looking forward to it

How in the hell can u be as badass as Stevie and can't see? Hell, I play keys and I can't touch Stevie, and I see great.

Just amazing talent.

I was there!

He really IS an amazing talent!