Eric Burdon and the Animals performed a great concert at the Lynn Memorial Auditorium. The sold out mostly baby boomer generation crowd were treated to a little slice of the past. Part of the British Invasion that hit the airwaves in 1964 Eric Burdon still brings his blues rooted soul filled music to an eager crowd who stood and applauded his arrival on the stage following the intro notes of “Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick,” played by his band The Animals.
The Animals are a new younger version of the Animals with Rubén Salinas on Saxophone, Evan Mackey on Trombone, Johnzo West on Guitar, Justin Andres on Bass, Davey Allen on Keyboards and Dustin Koester on Drums. The entire band played a great set and were a good accompaniment to Burdon.
As Burdon took the stage the band immediately launched into the hit song “Spill the Wine.” Burdon crooned through it with his hand gestures honed over decades of performing the song live. It was a good choice as the crowd knew it well. “Spill the Wine” is one of those songs that is impossible not to know if you listened the radio in the 70’s when he was with the band War and still it’s on the air on Classic Rock stations worldwide to this day. For a man on the eve of his 77th birthday he hasn’t lost his stage presence and was a crowd pleaser.
On “In the Pines” Burdon gave the audience a soulful performance followed by a memorable rendition of “Bring it on Home to Me.”
The Animals hits “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and the classic “House of the Rising Sun” had the audience singing along. There was a standing ovation for the band as they completed these songs.
Burdon’s known over the years for his R&B style didn’t sway from that genre. He performed “Monterey” and “It’s My Life.” Both of those a classic and he performed them solidly.
The Encore for the evening was “We Gotta Get Out of This Place,” one of the British Invasions greatest hits. It was also a song voted as one of the most memorable songs of the 60’s by veterans who served in Vietnam. This was followed by “It’s My Life” and ending the night was “Hold On, I’m Coming” a Sam & Dave cover.
Then it was time for Burdon and the Animals to pack it up and move on to New York to celebrate his 77th birthday with another concert and a full house of fans. All in all it was a fun night with one of the greats of the British Invasion. If you do get the chance to take in this show, don’t miss the opportunity.
Set List:
Spill the Wine (Eric Burdon & War cover)
When I Was Young / Inside Looking Out
Bo Diddley Special (Eric Burdon song)
In the Pines (traditional cover)
Don’t Bring Me Down (The Animals cover)
Mama Told Me Not to Come (Randy Newman cover)
Bring It On Home to Me (Sam Cooke cover)
Monterey
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood (Nina Simone cover)
The House of the Rising Sun
Encore:
We Gotta Get Out of This Place (The Animals cover)
It’s My Life (The Animals cover)
Hold On, I’m Comin’ (Sam & Dave cover)
