Music Review: Don McLean, Philharmonic Hall

Oct 15 2007 by Peter Grant, Liverpool Daily Post

A LONG, long time ago, 40 years in fact, Don McLean embarked on his musical voyage.

This one-time troubadour on the Hudson River wrote and sang the classic, American Pie.

He returned again to the Philharmonic Hall which he has already publicly stated he loves so well.

“You should be up here,” he said in that unmistakable voice – “it sounds so good.”

The audience knew that – we were sitting enjoying this masterclass.

McLean said that no two shows of his are ever the same and I know that, too, because I have been to many in all the years since I was a schoolboy delivering newspapers.

Just like he did . . . when he heard of Buddy Holly’s death.

He opened with his own tribute to Buddy with a jaunty version of Everyday.

And then this 61-year-old legend proceeded to go on a long fantastic journey through his multi-layered back-catalogue.

The beautiful Castles In The Air joined Homeless Brother, Wonderful Baby as well as And I Love You So in the greatest hits collection. And then on to the wistful Winterwood and the self-doubting, piano-led Crossroads.

The band left him alone in the solitary spotlight to sing one of his most poignant pieces – Empty Chairs.

McLean is a past master of pacing his sets, and he also enjoys audience participation.

“Liverpool, I know you can sing, so give me some vibe from the expensive seats,” he said.

Bronco Bill’s Lament, about a Hollywood singing cowboy who mimed, is one of his great story telling ballads.

McLean talked about the joys of raising his own family and said he won’t be touring that much any more to the scale he has done.

So he told the sold-out audience that, for this night only, he would be doing something extra special. After a standing ovation for both Vincent and American Pie, he asked two of his stage band to join him on an encore set that was a celebration of banjo classics.

Don’t retire yet, Don. You must know there will never be an empty chair when you come to Liverpool to play.