R&R Hall of Fame inductee Ronald David Wood fires up his axe
-by Radio RockonTour host Timothy Tilghman
Congratulations are in order for Ron Wood. Woody has turned the corner reinventing his soap-opera drama life of the last few years into that of a productive musician trouncing the stage at the top of his trade. After two long decades of absence from the American circuit as a solo artist, Woody accepted an invitation to appear in Atlantic City at The Grand ballroom on April 21, 2012.
Ronnie Wood and Friends comprised an extraordinary caliber of seasoned musicians who are all lifelong friends of the infamous Rolling Stones guitarist. Vocalist Bernard Fowler, keyboardist Chuck Leavell, drummer Steve Jordan, organist Andy Wallace, and bassist Willie Weeks collectively enhanced Woody’s performance delivering a singularly exciting one-off jam session that decisively rocked the intimate venue.
Woody’s Saturday night setlist showcased songs that had a foundation rooted in rhythm and blues grooves. The masterful band routinely shifted gears flawlessly from rock to blues to reggae to ballads to funk and climaxed with a popular Faces rocker belted by Fowler on vocals.
The incendiary setlist chosen by Wood was a interesting mix of diverse material blending his participatory past with The Faces and tenure as a Rolling Stone with a few selections from his own solo endeavors in a killer stage presentation. The powerful impact of the fine-tuned musicians delivered the perfect performance everyone had been hoping to enjoy.
Major league fans flew into Sin City of the Eastern seaboard from all over the country and many more from foreign destinations as well. Stoners have been jonesing for a stage fix since August 2007, and Ronnie provided the perfect live music prescription. Woody was fit, trim and looked the picture of health. Raising his fists in defiance before Father Time, Ronnie will reach his 65th birthday on June 1st ready to rock for as long as he chooses to do so.
Exactly one weekend beforehand in Cleveland, Ron Wood was inducted for the second time into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of The Faces along with bandmates drummer Kenny Jones, keyboardist Ian McLagan, and vocalist Rod Stewart. Faces fans had been looking forward to a long overdue Faces reunion performance but unfortunately, Stewart was stranded by doctor’s orders to remain grounded from flying on a bedrest regimen.
Recently, Ron Wood found himself in hotwater with chief Glimmer Twin Mick Jagger for being misquoted in the mischievous media regarding whether The Rolling Stones had plans on regrouping in the studio to commence recording a new album with the band’s 50th anniversary looming soon on July 12, 2012.
Speculation on a Rolling Stones 50th Anniversary Tour is now forecast to be undertaken in 2013. It has been wildly rumored that retired bassist Bill Wyman will rejoin Jagger, Richards, Watts and Wood for a world tour that will feature multiple dates in selected global cities.
Ron Wood, The Grand Ballroom, Atlantic City, April 21, 2012 setlist: Am I Groovin’ You * Cindy Incidentally * Thing About You * Seven Days * Sweetness My Weakness * Black Limousine * I Gotta See * Losing You * Oh La La * Spoonful * Flying * Statesboro Blues (Chuck Leavell on vocals) * It’s Only Rock’n Roll (But I Like It) * Dance (Part 1) * Worried Life Blues * Stay With Me