CONCERT REVIEW
Richie Havens recalls Woodstock 40 years later
Like so many other people who grew up in the 1960s, my first glimpse of Richie Havens was in the Woodstock concert movie.
I still remember being surprised by the sight of him — a big, gangly dude, flailing away on his acoustic guitar, dancing around the stage, whipping 400,000 people into a frenzy. That was four decades ago. Thursday night, the now 68-year-old Havens played to maybe 500 people in the Mary Seaton Room, but he still flails away on his guitar, still sings with soul and passion and still knows how to get an audience going.
It was not a perfect show. Havens had a hard time keeping his guitar in tune, and I could have done with a few less rambling stories about his Brooklyn childhood, but once he got going, the music was a delight. Havens’ unique, soulful voice has lost none of its power, and his frantic guitar work still brings a distinctive sound to every song.
Drawing the first of several standing ovations as he stepped onto the stage, Havens spent some time storytelling before launching into his first song, a rousing version of “All Along The Watchtower” by his longtime friend, Bob Dylan.
A man who uses his music to convey messages of peace, personal freedom and brotherhood, Havens brought those thoughts to a very appreciative Buffalo audience, largely made up of folkies who look at Woodstock as one of the touchstones of their generation.
After a stirring version of Gary Wright’s “Love Is Alive,” Havens lit into George Harrison’s “Here Comes The Sun,” a song that was a big hit for him back in 1970. Another high point was a strong version of “You Are So Beautiful,” the classic ballad that was popularized by Joe Cocker.
But Havens really hit high gear toward the end of the show, with a hard-driving performance of another Dylan song, “Maggie’s Farm,” which then segued into an equally intense take on the Who’s classic, “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” After that Havens kept the fire burning with “Freedom,” probably the most remembered song from his Woodstock performance.
Havens keeps up a rigorous touring schedule. Thursday night’s show was his eighth in 13 days.
Opening the show was Maria Sebastian, a talented, singer-songwriter with a great sense of humor.
REVIEW
WHO: Richie Havens
WHEN: Thursday evening
WHERE: Mary Seaton Room, Kleinhans Music Hall
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