Two minutes before the Doobie Brothers were scheduled to start, Michael McDonald took the stage. He began to play on the piano.
What happened in September was remembered by Mcdonald. The only gig he’s missed on the band’s 50th anniversary tour is the one at the Minnesota State Fair. He was going to play music on Friday.
McDonald said he was happy to be here.
His voice and keyboard work made him speak louder. His vocals were always inspiring. McDonald displayed the intensity of Joe Cocker when he was lost in his serenading. There was an urgent sound in his voice.
The high point of the concert was an instrumental duet of his piano and sax by McDonald and Russo. It was a little bit like “Still Crazy After All These Years” by Paul Simon.
The 8,500 fans who got to hear McDonald deliver “What a fool Believes” were treated to a treat. After all these years, getting to hear McDonald’s voice was important. In 1996, he toured with them.
He was treated like a secondary player, with his keyboards set up far from the front of the stage and with guitarist John McFee standing in front of him, blocking the view for some of the Treasure Island concert goers.
The spotlights were on the two co-founding members of the band, Tom and Patrick.
Simmons said it was great to be back on the tour. Who is counting?
Not only did he sound like he did in the 1970s, but he looked the same as Tom Selleck, with a mustache and thatch of hair. The 73-year-old Simmons still had his salt-and-pepper hair down to the middle of his back.
McFee excelled on several string instruments, including slide guitar, pedal steel guitar and fiddle. Smooth jazz, R&B and rock stylings were just some of the things that the saxophone was used for by the man.
Sometimes it evoked Steely Dan and other times it evoked Poco. The band was tight and quick to find good grooves.
Their first studio album in seven years, “Liberte,” seemed more lived in than at the State Fair, and they hit their stride on “World Gone Crazy.”
The players were passionate for the last hour of the 130 minute performance. They were on fire for a seven-minute version of “Long Train Runnin’.” “Listen to the Music,” “Black Water,” and “Takin’ It to the Streets” are some of the 1970s favorites that should be included.