3-Band Show Short On Subtlety
The Philadelphia Inquirer reviews Robert Palmer's concert at the Tower Theater in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania, on December 11, 1976.
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There was no shortage of music at the Tower Theater for Saturday evening's three-band show.
Healiner Robert Palmer brought an enlarged, if relatively unchanged, band with him - producing sound similar in concept to that of his previous Phialdelphia appearances. In addition to Palmer, Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes delivered a slick set, while Graham Parker and the Rumour made their first major appearance in the area.
As a singer, Palmer is obviously unconvincing, both technicallly and stylistically. But as a conceptualizer, he's far more formidable. He has managed to blend most of today's "funky" music - which includes various types of rhythm and blues, reggae and New Orleans styles - into one accessible mainstream package. If only for his continuing success in garnering a wide audience for these music styles, he is significant.
In addition to this, Palmer is an accomplished stage performer - and certainly more convincing live than on record. Even with his previous group, Vinegar Joe, Palmer was a visually exciting stage navigator. His bearing is aristocratic and his dress debonair - contrasting with his "nitty-gritty" music. He is rapidly becoming a sort of rock-matinee idol to many.
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He is at his best with the more rollicking fare - slow ballads were not made for his voice. Wisely, he generally sticks to this, and lets his somewhat rough put certainly colorful band carry a good part of the weight. Highly percussive, and anything but sweet, the band renders the syncopated patterns with appopriate punch and power. Certainly unnecessary, however, is the swaying, finger-snapping "chorus" - an awfully shopworn cliche. There must be another way to present additional vocal accompaniment that looks less contrived.
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes came off as the archetypal New Jersey bar band - which is exactly what they are. One wonders what they would be doing if they were not from Asbury Park (since Springsteen, anything from Asbury Park seems to be worth a couple of albums), but they perform their not-too-fresh-sounding material with intensity to spare.
Opening act Graham Parker and the Rumour proved spirited and tight, rounding out a show of considerable variety and little subtlety.
Edgar Koshatka (The Philadelphia Inquirer - Dec. 1976)