Paul Rodgers packs in the hits at Pacific

Jul 26, 2011 Music Avenue

Time has been kind to Paul Rodgers. While many of his contemporaries have lost most (or all) of their voices, ultimately becoming parodies of their youthful rock-star selves, Rodgers talents and looks have hardly changed since I first caught him fronting the Firm in the mid-80s. I went to that show specifically to catch Jimmy Page, who performed several solos while seated and played terribly – but I came away awed by Rodgers talents as a singer and frontman.

At Pacific Amphitheatre Wednesday night, the 61-year-old Brit, who fronted Free and Bad Company in the 70s as well as a resurrected Queen this past decade, celebrated his long career with a heavy-on-hits 15-song set before an enthusiastic crowd.

Those on hand who love hard-hitting classic rock were in the right place to be sure. Hardly any Free or Bad Company staples were excluded, and the headliner and his solid four-man band rocked hard while never letting any individual songs dynamics or groove slip away.

Rodgers, 61, has maintained a voice aptly suited to material that blends British blues and hard rock, and he proved that over and over again Wednesday. His ensemble leaped out of the gate with a charging Cant Get Enough, immediately getting the crowd on their feet. The next selection, blues-rock gem Honey Child, may not have been as well-known, yet its forceful delivery, which kept the audience standing, matched the performance on the outstanding Bad Company: Live at Wembley set issued earlier this year.

There were shifts in mood and approach throughout the 90-minute concert. For Seagull, Rodgers started alone on acoustic guitar, then lead guitarist Howard Leese came out, also on acoustic, and added some nice lead lines for additional texture. Finally, the rest of the band emerged and the song continued to build to a vibrant finish.

His instrumental work while standing at the piano (Bad Company) or offering up a quick harmonica solo (Feel Like Makin Love) provided deeper layers to admittedly familiar material. He also had no trouble getting the audience to become an essential player in the proceedings, as the last verse and chorus in Shooting Star were sung completely a capella by Rodgers, bolstered by the crowd and his band mates.

Rodgers rewarded fans with a strong encore, offering up the Free classic All Right Now (Leeses solo killed) and the seldom-heard Walk in My Shadow, a Free song (the first ever penned by Rodgers) that showcased the singers lifelong love affair with the rich junction where rock and blues meet.

Setlist: Paul Rodgers at Pacific Amphitheatre, July 27, 2011 Main set: Cant Get Enough / Honey Child / Run with the Pack / Ready for Love / Mr. Big / Feel Like Makin Love / Bad Company / Seagull / Burnin Sky / Fire and Water / Shooting Star / Rock n Roll Fantasy / Movin On Encore: All Right Now / Walk in My Shadow

For complete 2011 OC Fair coverage, go to ocregister.com/ocfair.

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