It’s been an amazing year in the WNY area. So many rock and roll legends have made their way through since January. Fleetwwod Mac, The Rolling Stones, The Eagles, Deep Purple, and Paul McCartney just to name a few. The latest artist to make an appearance was Motown legend Stevie Wonder. It’s been about 20 years since Wonder has made his last appearance in Buffalo.
Wonder took the stage at 8:24pm with his musical director. He thanked the fans for coming out and also said he was glad he was able to come back to the area. As soon as he was walked over to this keyboard/organ setup, he started the show with “Love’s in Need of Love Today.” This tour celebrates perhaps his greatest musical accomplishment, his 1976 “Songs in the Key of Life” release. The performance was to focus on just those songs but Wonder sprinkled in medleys of his other most popular tunes as well.
Wonder had a huge backing band. He had a 21-piece band, in addition to a 10-piece string section and a 10-piece choir that were utilized at various points in the show.
Each backup vocalist was called on to sing, including Wonder’s daughter Aisha Morris. Wonder did move from behind the piano, on his own, a few times to deliver songs like “Futures Paradise” and “Joy Inside My Tears,” which may have been the most emotional song of the evening.
Wonder frequently remarked that the two most important things in the world should be life and love. His whole show revolved around this message and it was almost a spiritual event. This feeling was shared throughout, but especially on “People Get Ready,” where the choir was in the forefront.
Not only was Wonder’s voice in tip top shape, so was his harmonica playing. He played a bunch of solos including the “Star Spangled Banner.” Wonder also paid tribute to Dorothy Ashby, the woman who played harp on “It’s Magic.” She passed away in 1986 but Wonder sang the song with the original recording of her playing.
Besides a 20 minute intermission, Wonder and his band played for about 3 hours and 25 minutes. The show ended after midnight. A lot of Buffalo references were made throughout by Wonder, and the band even did about half of “Superfreak” by Buffalo’s own late, great Rick James. All in attendance were fortunate to witness a legendary performer whose timeless classics are sure to endure.
Setlist:
Love’s in Need of Love Today
Have a Talk With God
Village Ghetto Land
Contusion
Sir Duke
I Wish
Knocks Me Off My Feet
Pastime Paradise
Summer Soft
Ordinary Pain
Saturn
Ebony Eyes
2nd set
Isn’t She Lovely
Joy Inside My Tears
Black Man
All Day Sucker
Easy Goin’ Evening (My Mama’s Call)
Killer Joe/The Star Spangled Banner (Harmonica Medley)
Ngiculela – Es Una Historia – I Am Singing
The Letter (The Box Tops cover)
People Get Ready (The Impressions cover)
If It’s Magic
As
Another Star
Encore:
Superfreak (Rick James cover)
Sunshine of my Life (snippet)
Living for the City
Superstition
We would like to thank Natasha Desai from PMK*BNC Entertainment for the credentials to review the show.
