Starr only one shining brightly

Ringo Starr’s Rolodex must be getting a little thin. When he first launched the All-Starr Band tours, he went through his A-list and called out such names as Jack Bruce, Dr. John, Billy Preston and John Entwistle. Those early tours were great fun, thanks to the unlikely combinations of star players.
But now it seems Starr is down to his C or D list. The closest thing to stars in this summer’s lineup are Billy Squier and Edgar Winter, and that’s not very close. Rounding out the group is a mix of lower-level names (Colin Hay and Gary Wright, who at least has a Beatles connection via George Harrison) and session guys (bassist Hamish Stuart and drummer Gregg Bissonette). Notably absent this year is Sheila E., who gave Starr’s past few tours a shot of Princely funk and much-needed sex appeal.
Thursday’s concert at the Bank of America Pavilion proved a good-natured, modestly enjoyable oldies show. Since most of the guests had only a couple of hits, you could guess what songs you’d be hearing. Sure enough, Hay did Men at Work’s two biggies, “Down Under” and “Who Can It Be Now?” and Wright (who seemed somewhat nervous onstage after a long hiatus) dug up “Dream Weaver” and “Love Is Alive.”



At least Squier has a full hit album, so he did “The Stroke” and “In the Dark” but not “My Kinda Lover.” Stuart was promoted this year from sideman to full band member, so he got to step upfront for “Pick Up the Pieces,” which he recorded with Average White Band.
The main problem was not enough Ringo. He followed along on drums for the guests while Bissonette did the heavy work; and he wasn’t even onstage for the drum battle during Winter’s “Frankenstein.”
But Starr was the only one offering recent material. His songs fell into three categories: songs about the Beatles (“Liverpool 8” and the touching George Harrison tribute “Never Without You”), songs that sound like the Beatles (“Choose Love”), and songs recorded by the Beatles (“Boys” and “I Wanna Be Your Man,” which turned the vets onstage into a jolly garage band).
Maybe it’s finally time for the ex-Fab Four member to drop the All-Starr concept and just tour as Ringo Starr. After a 45-year career he’s surely earned it by now.
RINGO STARR AND HIS ALL-STARR BAND
At the Bank of America Pavilion, Thursday night.