Concert Review - Michael Feinstein

Concert Review

Michael Feinstein 

Davies Symphony Hall - San Francisco, CA
July 30, 2014

Photo courtesy HimmelrichPR

Reviewed By = Mauricio Segura

     Michael Feinstein came to the city by the bay Friday to play in front of a virtually sold out Davies Symphony Music Hall.

     With superb showmanship, Feinstein managed to stay a step ahead of the audience with his outstanding voice and hilarious stories. However, unless you were a die-hard standards fan, the set list seemed to be made up of lesser-known songs as he stayed away from performing too many of the more popular crowd pleasers.

Opening up with the Birth of the Blues, Feinstein belted out songs from his many recordings like Isn’t it Romantic, My Romance, and Girl Talk. In which he went on to apologize for some of it’s content, then cracked the joke that you have to have a disclaimer for everything these days. He also joked a bit about Linda Ronstadt’s recent controversies by getting political and honoring Ferenheight 911’s director Michael Moore in her concerts. Before continuing with the show, and much to the chuckles of the crowd, he dedicated the show to teen sensation Mandy Moore, only to rethink it, then rededicate it to Roger Moore.

Irving Berlin’s Alexander’s Ragtime Band got a great reception from the audience, as did Michael’s brief talk in support of the gay marriage movement begun in San Francisco where he said he would finally proclaim the love of his life, which led to his singing I love a Piano.

     Another highlight came with his rendition of the Fifth Dimension’s hit Up, Up and Away in my beautiful balloon with a slight Brazilian beat accompanying it. But the greatest crowd pleaser of the night was the Gershwin medley, which included Summertime, Embraceable You, They can’t take that away from me, I’ve got a crush on you, and S’wonderful. The latter of which became an audience participation number where he got them to sing background vocals.

     Before leaving the stage for the evening, Michael sang a rare Rock & Roll song. Jerry Lee Lewis’s Great Balls of Fire, which left the audience dancing in their seats and Michael’s piano smoking.

     Michael Feinstein is a great entertainer and I suggest seeing him live next time you have the opportunity. He’s a walking encyclopedia of musical information, which he shares throughout the night, as well as a comedian, and an excellent Paul Lynde impersonator. Put that all together with amazing vocal skills and superb piano playing, and you get an evening of pure entertainment well worth the price of admission.

Rating = 4 out of 5 Golden Bridges