Ringo gets by with a little help from his All Starr friends

July 01, 2010|Sarah Rodman, Globe Staff

Ringo Starr turns 70 next week. Nobody would fault him for staying home, playing with the grandkids, and bathing in his Beatles money. Instead, every other year or so, the world’s most famous replacement drummer dusts off his sticks and his droll humor and flips through his Rolodex to put together a lively party caravan.

No one attends an All Starr Band show for surprises, but rather for a visit with a dear old friend who’ll tell the same great stories with the same good cheer. For two hours Tuesday night at the Bank of America Pavilion, the party was in full swing as the fit and affable Starr breezed through a dozen of his solo hits and Beatles beauties. He also gave his latest roster of “All Starrs’’ — Edgar Winter, Rick Derringer, Gary Wright, Wally Palmar of the Romantics, Richard Page of Mr. Mister, plus Gregg Bissonette on drums — a chance to shine once more on a pair of their own best known tunes for an appreciative, near capacity, all-ages crowd.

The joy of playing with a Beatle and stretching out on other people’s songs — like Winter’s funky “Frankenstein’’ — was apparent on the face of every participant, all of whom were in fine form vocally and instrumentally — particularly nimble guitarist Derringer and multi-instrumentalist Winter. Having a stage full of singers made the harmonies particularly strong, and this edition of the group soared on Starr tunes like “It Don’t Come Easy,’’ Derringer’s scrappy ’60s McCoys gem “Hang on Sloopy,’’ and the exultant Mr. Mister track “Kyrie.’’ The individual tunes were also complementary in temperament, with “Back off Boogaloo’’ flowing easily into “What I Like About You’’ and on into “Rock and Roll, Hoochie Koo.’’

(It was, however, a serious dudefest — we miss you Sheila E.! — and a feminine touch would be welcome at this party. Might we suggest Scandal’s Patty Smyth?)

Singalongs were numerous and hearty, with the most roaring one breaking out during Beatles favorites “Yellow Submarine’’ and, appropriately, “With a Little Help From My Friends.’’

Sarah Rodman can be reached at srodman@globe.com