Huey Lewis and The News are celebrating the 30th anniversary of their release entitled “Sports.” Lewis & the News dominated MTV back in the early to mid 1980’s with pop songs that had catchy melodies and videos that had humor. This formula propelled them to mega stars at the time. Fast forward to 2013, and with a release of a 30th anniversary edition of “Sports,” the band is enjoying a tour that included a sold out stop at the Seneca Allegany Casino in Niagara Falls, NY. The News still consist of original members Sean Hopper on keyboards, Bill Gibson on drums, and Johnny Colla on saxaphone and guitar. With a horn section that included Johnny Bamont, Marvin McFadden and Rob Sudduth, they steered the ship to make a good show a great show. It should also be noted that Lewis is a highly accomplished harmonica player. He has played on numerous other artists’ albums and he dazzled all night with it.
The played “Sports” in its entirety without much talking in between the songs. The band was having fun. Combine that with Lewis’ swagger, and by the end of the show they had people out of their seats and dancing in front of the stage. At the begging of the encore, Lewis noticed that fans were holding up signs for them to play the “Back to the Future” hit “Back in Time.” He gladly obliged, and the band played it for the second encore.
All in all it was a fun show and it was my first time ever checking out one of the biggest bands of the 1980’s. It won’t be my last either.
Set List:
The Heart of Rock & Roll
Heart and Soul (Exile cover)
Bad Is Bad
I Want a New Drug
Walking on a Thin Line
Finally Found a Home
If This Is It
You Crack Me Up
Honky Tonk Blues (Hank Williams cover)
While We’re Young
Trouble in Paradise
Some Kind of Wonderful (Soul Brothers Six cover)
But It’s Alright (J.J. Jackson cover)
We’re Not Here for a Long Time (We’re Here for a Good Time)
Encore:
The Power of Love
Stuck With You
Workin’ for a Livin’
We would like to thank Tony Astran for his assistance in helping BackstageAxxess review the show.
