Concert Reviews
May 27, 2003
Where: Cincinnati, Ohio ~ Riverbend Music Center
When: May 27, 2003 7pm
Riverbend is a beautiful outdoor theater to take in a KWSB show on an early May evening. Fans arrived very early for this opening act and long lines were forming by 5:30pm waiting for the doors to open at 6:00pm. All the reserved seats are under a metal covering and the lawn area was just beautiful with two huge screens on either side. The sunshine greeted us as we watched the lawn fill with prompt fans. Tons of people entered dressed in Harley gear. The staff was mostly young teenage girls and I walked in with my coat draped over my arm and my camera in my coat pocket. No one searched me at all.
The arena was filled pretty well and the lawn was completely full as the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band took the stage. People came out to have a good time. Most of the reserved seating section sat for the beginning of the set. Many couples and groups of friends gathered for this show. I noticed many people wearing T-shirts that supported one of the three bands on the bill. Security was much more relaxed and they were not patrolling the pavilion like at other shows. Local Ohio fans we talked to told us that the sound is not as good in Riverbend because of the metal covering. SRV fans in Cincinnati also attended this show to see Double Trouble jam with KWSB. There was also a number of people in the hometown audience who didn't know that Noah Hunt was the lead singer. A lot of guitar players who come out for these shows assume that Kenny Wayne Shepherd is the vocalist for the band.
The show began at 7pm when the band assembled and Noah Hunt strolled on stage and immediately belted out a song and shook the whole place. He drew the attention of everyone watching. Kenny had problems with his guitar early on into the first song, could have been a broken string. Noah carried right on singing while the guitar tech's snatched a new axe for Kenny and he strapped it on. Kenny seemed to hold back his charisma tonight, not in his playing, but in personality and his connection with the crowd. Noah did most of the talking for the evening, but you wouldn't have known it was his home town except for the fact that all his family and friends and some 420 All-Star band mates were in the audience. He asked the audience, "How's everybody in Cincinnati doin' tonight?" to cheers from the crowd. Noah really got the crowd into it, and played up the crowd especially on Shame, Shame Shame. He also called for them to stand up on Shotgun Blues and the audience happily obliged. On Blue on Black, the crowd sang along as Noah performed acoustically with a new guitar I had never seen before. It was black with red trim.
It was a swift set that seemed shorter than Mansfield time wise. The band just breezed through the songs with ease. Noah voice was strong and powerful as ever and Kenny lit up the stage with his electric guitar playing as the sun began to set over the lawn. Hunt in his brown velvet pants and tight black shirt covered by a short sleeve blue and green unbuttoned dress shirt, tilted his head back, arms wide open. Performing for the audience visually as well as vocally, Hunt was enjoying the music tonight. He smiled at fans he recognized from the stage, the few who were standing and dancing as he played his tambourine. As the encore of Voodoo Chile was about to begin, Hunt knelt down center stage and then raised the mic. With the opening vocals he rose and stood for dramatic effect hyping the crowd.
Shepherd appeared loose in his draping clothes, the skater boy look suited him tonight. He walked the full stage only once, exchanging sides with Noah. He was very laid back, quiet on the mic with the fans, as he allowed his guitar to do the talking. Local fans commented "ZZ Top should be opening for the Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band and how did Ted Nugent get on this bill?"
The after show gathering was made up of mostly friends and family of Noah Hunt. Rex opened the party by jokingly announcing "Anyone here not related to Noah Hunt? Raise your hand!" Though they didn't raise their hands, there would have been only six. Noah entered the circular party room off the patio through the back stage door for an extended time to meet with his guests before Shepherd arrived. Double Trouble greeted with their fans outside on the patio simultaneously. Noah signed autographs on the VIP passes that family and friends were wearing on their shirts.
Rex was in charge of the meet and greets room with comfortable chairs and couches and a coffee table in the middle. It was a big Noah Hunt party!
Set List:
Somehow, somewhere, someway
Kings highway
Shame Shame Shame
Blue on Black (Noah played a different guitar)
Shotgun Blues
While we cry
King bee
Voodoo Chile
©2003 Review written by NoahHunt.org 5/28/03
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