Live Review: Ringo Starr & His All Starr Band

Hearing the Fab Four echo through the Entertainment Quarter ran expectations and excitement high, as Beatlemania was in the air. So naturally, when Ringo Starr & His All-Starr Band only played a half dozen Beatles songs, opting for a smorgasbord of solo Starr, Toto, Santana and Mr. Mister tunes with the odd Lennon/McCartney penned, Ringo-flavoured ditty tossed in, fans felt a little jibbed.

Just as expected, Ringo Starr is a bit of a dag – his grandfatherly step-touch dance moves kicked off the gig that had many still in awe at who was standing oh so close and eagerly anticipating the songs that followed. The Hordern crowd devoured a few tunes at the kick-off, including Starr's 1971 release, It Don't Come Easy, before the oldest Beatle retired to the drum kit perched high above his fellow musicians.

Toto guitarist Steve Lukather made easy work of the complex guitar solos of Santana's Evil Ways, Everybody's Everything and crowd-favourite Black Magic Woman, all three led by vocalist and keyboardist Gregg Rolie, receiving a brief standing ovation. These rockin' tunes were drastically contrasted with Mr. Mister frontman Richard Page's stunning delivery of Broken Wings, a moment of stillness in a night of blistering hot rock'n'roll. Lukather gave the Hordern audience near perfect renditions of Toto's classics Rosanna, Africa and Hold The Line, but the crowd ain't biting like they would at a Toto show – and this was a tragic shame, but fans ached for more Beatles, more Ringo.

Starr just kept the palate whet with the occasional familiar sound, Yellow Submarine sliding in halfway through the set to relieve what seemed like a bit of a '70s-fest. One eight-year-old girl near this reviewer jumped from her seat to boisterously sing along to the classic, before sulking back into her chair as Starr supported the others on drums once again, a pretty symbolic gesture for many of the patrons in attendance.

With A Little Help From My Friends rounded out the two-hour jukebox gig, a fitting conclusion to the multi-genre journey of music experienced from the very talented All-Starr Band. Typically, this tune – as well as outro of John Lennon's Give Peace A Chance – lifted the roof off the Hordern, a feeling of Beatles nostalgia that came all too little despite a night of fantastic musicianship. It was great, fellas… but next time, more Ringo in front of the microphone, please.