Ringo Starr And His All Starr Band 2012: Ringo At The Ryman [DVD]

Friend told me I should get this DVD(I have a library of over 75 different concerts) even though I never considered myself a Ringo fan...Beatles fan yes, but not necessarily Ringo....but wow what a collection of talent on that stage....sure it's prolly more for the older crowd, but if you can't appreciate some, if not all, of this show, i don't know what to tell you....Lukather can still shred the guitar, Richard Page hasn't lost his voice, and Rundgren is crazy as hell...wouldn't have minded Greg Rolie playing one of his early Journey tunes, but his Santana choices are well known and well performed....and the Joe Walsh tune was spectacular as well...Ringo was Ringo, meaning his performance prolly hasn't changed in 50+ years...all those guys have some miles on them, but I hope I'm able to do anything as well as these guys perform in their 60s and 70s

This was the second and best time that I had seen Ringo Starr's All Star Band (my first was with Edgar Winter, Billy Squire, Colin Hay, and Gary Wright). Just four days before this one was filmed, I drove 250 miles to see this lineup in Tuscaloosa, so this serves as a quasi-souvenir of that show. My main reason for driving that far was that I am a big fan of Todd Rundgren and Greg Rolie, and was looking forward to seeing both of them on stage together with Steve Lukather of Toto to boot. Ringo's brother-in-law Joe Walsh did not show up in Alabama, but almost steals the show in this one.This was beautifully filmed and all of the musicians were having an absolute blast playing. This is the kind of DVD to be watched in a small party of long time friends and fans of The Beatles, Todd, Santana, and Toto. For me, the highlight is the Santana material with Steve Lukather on guitar. When Todd does Bang On The Drum All Day, notice that everyone is deliberately off key on vocals, because as Todd has said on previous tours, "Now for some foolishness". Enjoy this one!

Although, like many Ringo fans, I wish that Mr. Starkey would devote a concert entirely to his own songs (as he did with  Soundstage: Ringo Starr and the Roundheads  in 2005). But this concert, filmed at Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium on July 7, 2012 - Ringo's 72nd birthday - is the best All-Starr concert yet. Not only does it feature Ringo perennials such as saxist Mark Rivera and drummer Gregg Bissonette, plus All-Starr alumnus Todd Rundgren, the lineup is incredible - Gregg Rolie of Santana and Journey, Steve Lukather of Toto, Richard Page of Mr. Mister, and a special guest appearance from Ringo's brother-in-law Joe Walsh (who is married to Barbara Bach Starkey's sister). All of the artists perform their classic hits from the '60s, '70s, '80s, and '90s, and Ringo opens the show with Carl Perkins' "Matchbox" from the Beatle days, and does two songs ("Wings" and "Anthem") from his latest CD  Ringo 2012 [Amazon.com Exclusive CD+DVD Version ]. You'll also hear Ringo perennials such as "Photograph," "Yellow Submarine," "I Wanna Be Your Man," John Lennon's "I'm The Greatest" ("Now I'm only 72, and all I wanna do is boogaloo!"), "It Don't Come Easy," and "Act Naturally." For the finale, "With A Little Help From My Friends/Give Peace A Chance," the All-Starr cast is joined by Joe Walsh's daughter Lucy, and several Nashville guest stars, including Brendan Benson, Kix Brooks, former Roundhead Gary Burr, Vince Gill (where was wife Amy Grant?), Brad Paisley, and former All-Starrs Felix Cavaliere (The Rascals) and Richard Marx.Unlike previous Ringo All-Starr concerts, no audio CD was issued this time, only the DVD. It's just as well, because this concert deserves to be seen, not just heard.Now, if Universal would put out a DVD of Ringo's 70th birthday concert, filmed on July 7, 2010 at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, which features Paul McCartney's spine-tingling performance of The Beatles' "Birthday," which came as a total surprise to Ringo. Look for that clip on YouTube.

This may be the best music concert DVD I have, and I have many. It ain't easy to say that because while I was waiting for it to arrive in the mail, I viewed "The Concert for Bangladesh" & "The Concert for George" the night before, so I had fresh "dream" performances on my mind. But, this is 2014, and technology, plus current changes in music performance techniques makes one have higher standards in performance expectations of such presentations.Who are these guys that Ringo, and his team, recruited for this tour? Gregg Rolie? Richard Page? Steve Lukather? I had not heard of these guys, but I knew about the bands they had been in, and the song titles certainly rang familiar bells in my mind. Also, Ringo concerts have been very enjoyable in the past with guys doing great songs that I was really pleased to have in my library. Ain't no point in renting them, because I find myself wanting to watch them repeatedly. So I ordered this show.MAN! That Richard Page can sing in the stratosphere! He was the guy that sang that "Broken Wings" song with the great chord changes. When he steps in the help out with the TOTO classics, the magic explodes! The Lukather guy is a brilliant lead guitar player with current guitar methods, and equipment that just blew me away over & over, even on the Ringo classic songs! They open with an updated version of the "Matchbox" chestnut that may be the best version of that tune I have ever heard. The Rolie guy is a Santana veteran, and they do those great standards so well that those songs make the DVD worth having just for to have wonderful versions of "Evil Ways" and "Black Magic Woman" alone. Watching Lukather & Rolie work together with the excellent Bissonette on drums leaves me speechless.I ain't no Todd Rundgren fan really, but his version of "Love is the Answer" is just so good that I had to watch it twice immediately. Rundgren is a veteran, and he adds to any band, but he almost is superficial to this lineup.This band has muscle, power, and they play LOUD! The show just has that wonderful "strong" feel that you would expect at a Journey, or Foreigner concert, unlike most of Ringo's prior shows. His earlier concerts are often very good, but this show is a whole other thing. You just want to play it as loud as you can to get all this wonderful bass, drum, and guitar sound. When they play "Hold the Line" you just want it to never end, ...that is one GOOD song!!Ringo draws a varied audience including a lot of young kids; so he has to do "Yellow Submarine", etc. for them. But I would like him to explore some other ideas, like maybe doing some Harrison and Lennon songs that he could sing. He can deliver vocally a lot better than most expect these days. In fact, he is the glue that makes this kind of show work! Watching him play the drums on those Toto classics reveals just how good a musician he really is.Now one might protest that he could not do Harrison songs because those numbers often have sitar, and other exotic instruments incorporated within the sound. Well that Rivera guy who stands in the back is about as talented as McCartney when it comes to playing other instruments. That guy can play ANYTHING, and sing like Mickey Thomas (Starship) when it is needed!Ringo just gets better, and better as a master of ceremony. It is his stage, and when Vince Gill, and Paisley come out at the end; Ringo is still the star out there. He may be 72 years old, but you have to just take his word for it, because he moves & sings like a forty year old on stage.If you like Pop/ROCK music - DON'T miss this concert! (And go see Lukather, Page, & Rolie any chance you get!)

I wasnt sure when I first bought this if I would like it or not,but I watched it yesterday,it is just brilliant,the old Toto hits Rosanna,and extra specially Africa blew my socks off,I put it on surround sound,very loud,just great,all of it,even Yellow Submarine and Act Naturally,Broken Wongs,Hold The Line they all sound just as they did way back in the sixties and seventies.If you are having second thoughts about buying this,do your self a favour and get it it is brilliant.

I think that it is time to reassess Ringo's contribution to the Beatles. This concert brings a smile to your face, just like the early Beatles. That is the Ringo effect. Great band, wonderful concert. Why isn't he headlining Glastonbury?

Brilliant concert in one of the world's most iconic music venues. Stellar cast of backing musicians. Will be one of my favourite DVDs for a long time, I think.

This is Ringo and the band at their very best. The guest appearance of his Brother In Law, Joe Walsh, is mind blowing and the poor guy who has to follow his performance, just cannot compete after that. Rock on Ringo.

We all know who Ringo is and so do his band members, he always let's them do a spot in his shows and never takes all the glory - he shows what a band member should be. It's good viewing, and I would say one of his best line ups yet - a great show.