Lionel Richie Cee-Lo Green North American Tour Kicks Off & Then Some!!

Lionel Richie

CeeLo Green

The Friday Morning "Nobody-Asked-Me-To, But-Here-I-Go-Anyway" Concert Review: 

Lionel Richie, 

All The Hits, All Night Long

OK, I'll be honest - I'm not really sure who I was more stoked to see last night at this launch of Lionel Richie's North American tour - but I can say that neither one disappointed, how about that?

I mean, come on, a chance in Canada to see CeeLo Green, AND Lionel Richie - SOLD!

Kicking open the stage doors with a pounding version of "Bright Lights, Bigger City", the unmistakeable voice of CeeLo G kept things soulful and funky with fun takes on some disco classics and more current snippets, a la PussyCat Dolls. 

His predominantly female band found a groove and stayed there until his time was up - but along the way we were treated to a number of highlights - I don't like to spoil any surprises if you're already holding tickets and waiting for this to roll into your own town, but I can say you'll recognize a lot of what you hear - OK, including some iconic Gnarls Barkley, and a certain ear worm that rocketed him even higher when the censored and uncensored versions both went viral.

I mean, come on - the man is blood with the legendary Sam Moore (Sam & Dave) - talk about Soul, Man...

Lionel Richie? 

So, quick personal story - back on the night I started as a mobile DJ, the first song I ever played at a dance was "Night Fever", by The BeeGees (yes, I'm that old...). So I was there for the start of disco, and the birth of funk. 

When The Commodores were dominating the charts, I was playing their hits at parties.

After Lionel went solo, I ended up playing virtually everything he ever released - mostly by request, but I was a fan myself as well. Man, for a decade or two you could not play a wedding without "Three Times A Lady", "Hello", or a handful of those other hits...

So, here you go - as the title of the tours suggests, All The Hits, All Night Long - as well as his help in the walk down Memory Lane, sharing both how some songs came to be, and how he has shouldered the burden of being the go-to guy for music when relationships fall apart...

In concert, the man knows how to work a room, even one as big as Rogers Arena in Vancouver, where the tour started. And the crowd lapped it up - I never did check to see how long the show ran, but by the time surprise encore selection was finished, it had been a satisfying menu of songs that had the audience dancing in the aisles (oddly enough, not even one on the ceiling - go figure!), and getting close to their loved ones when he took to the piano.

Next up, Seattle! But thanks guys for starting things off here in Canada...

Later!