Steve Miller/Joe Cocker @ Target Center
Posted on July 4th, 2008 – 4:54 PMBy Jon Bream
Usually the only new wrinkles at a Steve Miller Band concert are in his face. But the 64-year-old blues-loving rocker has added a new band member this year — Sonny Charles, formerly of the Checkmates Ltd., and a new flying V guitar that he recently purchased in San Antonio. On Thursday at Target Center, Charles mostly danced while singing backup and also took the lead vocals on three exciting, fresh-sounding old blues/R&B numbers. The arrangements were creative (even on a Bo Diddley song) and Charles was entertaining and soulful. As for the rest of the Miller show, it was, in a word, crowd-pleasing.
The sound system wasn’t kind to Joe Cocker but he delivered nonetheless. One way to measure Cocker’s performance is to count how many times he jumps at the end of a tune. Four jumps for “With a Little Help from My Friends,’ two for “Cry Me a River” and “Unchain My Heart,” and one for “She Came in Through the Bathroom Window.”
Here are the set lists:
Cocker
1. ?? 2. Feelin Alright 3. The Letter 4. When the Night Comes 5. Up Where We Belong 6. You Are So Beautiful 7. Summer in the City 8. Come Together 9. Hymn for My Soul 10. You Can Leave Your Hat On 11. Unchain My Heart 12. With A Little Help from My Friends 13. She Came in Through the Bathroom Window 14. Cry Me a River
Miller
1. Swingtown 2. Abracadabra 3. Serenade 4. The Stake 5. Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma 6. Mercury Blues 7. Hey Bo Diddley (Sonny Charles lead) 8. Let the Good Times Roll (Sonny) 9. Ooh Poo Pa Doo (Sonny) 10. Fly Like an Eagle 11. Wild Mountain Honey 12. Winter Time 13. Dance Dance Dance 14. Rock N Me 15. The Joker 16. Jet Airliner ENCORE 17. Take the Money and Run 18. Space Cowboy 19. Jungle Love
What did you think of the concert? Please post your comments here;
9 Responses to "Steve Miller/Joe Cocker @ Target Center"
Steve Miller puts on a fabulous show everytime he is in Minnesota. I would have liked to see him at the Excel Center because I think the sound is better. But for good old fashioned rock and roll from a great guy you can’t go wrong with Steve Miller Band. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who remembers the fun of the past, and wants to bring that fun into the future.
Joe Cocker is a legend unto himself. If you don’t like Joe Cocker’s soulful music, and unimitable style, then I hope you get some help or therapy. Good times for sure.
4 stars.
Me think Joe’s voice sound like someone squeeze his meatbag.
He suck.
I thought Joe Cocker Was Awesome! I wish he would of been the headliner.Steve Miller band was good, but I went for Joe Cocker
Sonny Charles was Great, and his little hip hop routine during Fly Like An Eagle was a nice addition. The harmonica player, thirty year band member, was the best I ever heard, and I’m remebering how much I liked Dylan’s ang Young’s playing.
That being said, I thought Cocker stole the show.
I thought Joe Cocker was FABULOUS. It appeared to me that Steve Miller was just going through the motions, but still was good. I thought that Joe Cocker was MUCH better. Loved the show.
Joe Cocker is a Legend and his voice is a true instrument in itself. He is in in a league of his own! His vioce is one of a kind and being able to see him perform and was a chance of a lifet time.
The Steve Miller was better was good. His guitar playing was excellent and he is a true perfectionist when it comes to playing. The entire show was amazing and would go again.
Steve Miller checked in on the time clock and worked for overtime. He went the proverbial 110 percent pleasing and appeasing his 2nd hometown. In fact, proving 100 percent is the best you can do, his set was over mid-show after or during Billy Peterson’s bass solo halfway through what seemed a 40 minute jam on Fly Like an Eagle… Amazingly, Miller pulled out a Tap-like East-Indian jazz/rock jam (Wild Mountain Honey?)that lasted another 40 minutes. (Really it was a rock/jazz jam…) The crowd was literally bolting for the exits! After that, it was simply a matter of enduring the Miller catalog and trying to figure out the difference between Jet Airliner, Abracadabra and Take the Money and Run. The last of which sums up Miller’s part of the evening. What a shame that Joe Cocker and his soulful, vintage, honest rockin blues played second fiddle to the pablum served after intermission. Thank You Mr Cocker!
Why is everyone on here saying Joe Cocker’s performance was better than Steve Miller’s? Miller totally upstaged Cocker! Sure Joe was entertaining, but you couldn’t understand half a word he said! Steve Miller was way more fun and had some amazing guitar riffs and solos he whipped out. All Joe Cocker had was an old raspy voice and a huge stomach looking like it would bust open his pant button. Thumbs up for the Steve Miller Band part of the show…and not so much for old Cocker.
Joe Cocker was fantastic and the energy that he showed the crowed for an old geezer was super. Sound could have been better, but the group looked to be truly having fun and that carried over to the crowd. That being said I will echo the gal sitting next to me in saying that if I want to hear the pop Steve Miller I can turn on KQ almost any time. I would have really liked to hear early Miller which is more complex and not quite as radio oriented. All said though, a good show and fun for old hippies like me who are still looking for familiar music!
