Steve Winwood - Photo By Ros O'Gorman
Steve Winwood must have been absent from Australia for about 16 years. He would have been in his late 40s last time he was here. Now he is in his early 60s.
Let me tell you the sounds, the voice, the Hammond sound exactly the same. Steve has all the parts still in the right place.
Unfortunately for the fans last night we just didn’t get enough Steve Winwood. He was the opening act for Steely Dan and joined them for their encore and sang their song ‘Pretzel Logic’.
The 10 songs he performed before Steely Dan just didn’t fill the gap of being away 16 years.
He sounded amazing, so if this is what a “less equals more” moment is all about, then I definitely want more.
Winwood was just 18 years old when he had his first global hit with Spencer Davis Group ‘Gimme Some Lovin’. The song is a classic today and a mighty fine song to finish his set with. He also opened with his 1967 Spencer Davis Group hit ‘I’m A Man’.
Steve Winwood has had a lot of lives in various bands and to showcase his career in one hour last night we got a bit of a showbag. From Blind Faith ‘Can’t Find My Way Home’, from Traffic ‘Dear Mr Fantasy’, ‘Low Spark’, from the “hit years” ‘Higher Love.’
Just one nod to the big 80s hits was a disappointment. With no ‘While You See A Chance’, ‘Arc Of A Diver’, ‘Valerie’, ‘Back In the High Life Again’, ‘The Finer Things’ or ‘Roll With It’ we could have really used an extra half hour.
Come back soon Steve. We need the rest of the set.
I’m A Man (Spencer Davis Group, 1967)
Fly (from Nine Lives, 2008)
Can’t Find My Way Home (from Blind Faith, ‘Blind Faith’, 1969)
Dirty City (from Nine Lives, 2008)
Low Spark of High Heeled Boys (from Traffic ‘The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys, 1972)
Empty Pages (from Traffic, John Barleycorn Must Die, 1970)
Light Up Or Leave Me Alone (from Traffic ‘The Low Spark Of High Heeled Boys, 1972)
Higher Lover (from Back In The High Life, 1986)
Dear Mr Fantasy (from Traffic ‘Mr Fantasy’, 1967)
Gimme Some Lovin’ (Spencer Davis Group, 1966)
Remaining shows for the Steely Dan and Steve Winwood tour are:
October 29, Yarra Valley, Rochford Winery
October 30, Adelaide, Entertainment Centre
November 2, New Zealand, Christchurch, CBS Canterbury Arena
November 4, Auckland, Vector Arena
November 5, Napier, Church Road
