The Doobie Brothers at Madison Square Garden, Aug. 7, 2024 Pictured: Pat Simmons, Marc Russo, John McFee and Tom Johnston (Photo: Emma Goldschmidt/MSG Entertainment; used with permission)
It’s not every concert that one gets to hear three of rock’s most unique and standout vocalists on the same bill. But that was the case on Wednesday (August 7, 2024) when the Doobie Brothers headlined a show at New York’s Madison Square Garden with Steve Winwood as the opening act.
The hosts’ 20-song set was packed with hits and album cuts, largely culled from their estimable ’70s era catalog, beginning with an energetic start on “Take Me In Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While),” that showcased their two primary lead singers, founding Doobie Brothers‘ member Tom Johnston and Michael McDonald, whose soulful vocals added a unique alternative to the band when he joined in 1976. The eight-piece lineup on this tour also includes founding member and mainstay Pat Simmons as well as John McFee, a member since 1979.
A mid-set highlight was their cover of “Jesus Is Just Alright” that featured Simmons, Johnston, McFee and McDonald singing together to the delight of the enthusiastic Garden crowd.
Watch a performance of the song from a month earlier
But it’s Johnston, one of the great, distinctive and underrated voices from the classic rock era, who delivered the highlights on such tracks as “Eyes of Silver,” “Without You” and his signature tune, “Long Train Runnin’.” At this performance, the band chugged along like the big steam engine the song describes with a harmonica solo from McFee and a sax solo from Marc Russo, before closing with a sustained jam that included a mighty percussive solo.
It segued immediately into “China Grove,” the lively tune that was released on its predecessor’s heels as a single in 1973, that at the time packed a great one-two punch from their breakthrough album, The Captain and Me.
Related: Our feature story on “Long Train Runnin'”
Their first encore was “Black Water,” a #1 single from 1974, that features two solos by McFee.
As for Winwood, the ageless—he turned 76 on May 12—singer, songwriter, guitarist and keyboard player is making his return to the touring stage after a gap of more than five years. Unlike many other arena shows where the seats are empty for the opening act, the savvy Garden audience was packed for the legendary musician, who offered a hour+ 10-song, career-spanning set.
Steve Winwood at Madison Square Garden, Aug. 7, 2024 (Photo: Emma Goldschmidt/MSG Entertainment; used with permission)
If it seems like he’s been with us since forever… well, he has, first recording as a teenager with the Spencer Davis Group, and then with Traffic, the all-too-brief Blind Faith, and as a hugely successful solo artist. For this tour, his six-piece band also includes his daughter, Lilly Winwood, still in her late twenties.
The set began with “I’m a Man,” which Winwood wrote while still in his teens. The polyrhythmic performance set an early tone for the band’s efficient musicianship.
Midway through was a jazzy “Roll With It,” one of Winwood’s “newer” songs (from 1988!), that offered that distinctive organ.
Traffic’s “Dear Mr. Fantasy” featured a stunning Winwood guitar solo and closed with an extended jam.
His set closed with a sensational “Gimme Some Lovin'”
Go see the tour. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com.
3 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationTom is and will always be the Doobie Brothers leader. He is one of the most underrated singer / songwriters / lead guitarists of all time. The guy has charisma by the ton. He is incredible live. In 2019 he was playing a double bill with Santana and came out during Santana’s cover of “She’s Not There”, Carlos let Tom take on the lead guitar parts, Carlos’s jaw fell to the floor, he was speechless, he just let Tom take off and he did. The standing ovation was like an earthquake! Seen him 10 times over 5 decades, he literally is “the man”.
I concur… TJ is the heart and soul of the Doobies although Pat Simmons is right there with him. He made the early Doobies one of the most listenable bands, and in fact, my first album I ever owned was the captain and me and I still love it, especially dark eyed Cajun woman and clear as the driven snow ..very cool that they played eyes of silver one of the great songs from another great album what were once vices are now habits ….
Thanks for the great review! The Doobie Brothers are amazing and still in their prime. See them while you can.