July 12, 2009. With the temperature hovering above 80 degrees, and the late afternoon sunshine slipping behind the shadowy mountains, the legendary Michael McDonald hit the outdoor stage of the Pala Resort & Casino to enthral a packed crowd with just about every hit from his considerable discography. This high energy performance which belied his years found massive favour with an audience that showed every indication of having been with him for the long haul and supported as he was by the tightest band imaginable delivered an occasion of accomplished professionalism, Although supplemented on vocals by both the wonderful Drea Rhenee and drummer Yvette ‘Baby Girl’ Preyer, McDonald, from the opening ‘I Keep Forgettin’ to the cascading back to back hits of a blistering finale, remained entirely at the centre of everything.
Indeed, since his early days of playing with Steely Dan, his glory years with the Doobie Brothers and through an illustrious solo career that after beginning in 1981 was so dramatically revitalised in 2003 with the release of the platinum selling ‘Motown’, McDonald has never strayed too far from his R & B roots and at Pala Resort & Casino his blue eyed soulfulness was a joy to behold.
Wonderful contributions also flowed from long time bass player Lanice Morrison, guitarist Bernie Chiaravalle, Pat Coyle on Hammond B3 and perhaps most significantly from sax and keyboard player Vince Denham who has now been with McDonald for over twenty years.
With the atmospheric ‘Heard It On the Grapevine’ to the soulful ‘Ya Mo B There’ and Doobie’s classics such as ‘Takin It To The Streets’, ‘You Belong To Me’, ‘What A Fool Believes’ and ‘Minute By Minute’ the hits just kept on coming and in so doing showed McDonald as being the consummate live performer. He will be on tour in the USA throughout July and will resume his schedule on September 17 at the MGM Grand at Mashantucket CT. Catch him if you can.