PHOTO BY PAULA MULLER
Steve Miller in concert Sunday night at the Lynn Auditorium.
By BILL BROTHERTON
LYNN — Some people call Steve Miller the Space Cowboy. Others call him the Gangster of Love. And what the hell is the pompitous of love?
I’m guessing a little reefer madness influenced the midnight toker on that one. Probably on the silly “Really love your peaches want to shake your tree” line as well.
He’s a joker, that boy. He’s also a terrific entertainer, as the Rock and Roll Hall of Famer showed Sunday night at Lynn Auditorium before a near-capacity crowd. The Steve Miller Band wowed with a 20-song set that mixed mega-hits with deep album cuts and thrilling blues explorations. At age 73, Miller’s voice and showmanship are as solid as ever. It was one fine show from start to finish.
We don’t know if the midnight toker will hang around until election day to lobby for the state’s pot referendum, but he did urge concertgoers to vote on Tuesday. The outspoken, reluctant hall of famer also introduced the harmonica-fueled blues song “Living in the USA” thusly: “It was written in 1968, when politicians were really crazy.”
Miller’s bandmates have been with him for many years, and this is one tight, rocking outfit. Kenny Lee Lewis (bass), Gordy Knudtson (drums), Joseph Wooten (keyboards), Jacob Petersen (rhythm guitar) and Miller (vocals and lead guitar) got the party started by opening with three of Miller’s biggest hits: “Jungle Love,” “Take the Money and Run” and “Abracadabra.” The main set closed with “Fly Like an Eagle” and a ferocious “Rock’n Me,” sending the crowd into a frenzy. The encore was sublime: “The Stake,” “Swingtown” and, of course, “Jet Airliner,” the tune written by Bostonian Paul Pena. All three are from Miller’s 1977 smash album “Book of Dreams” and this nostalgic trip back in time was as comforting as a mom-prepared meal of meatloaf, Tater Tots and butterscotch pudding.
The audience vigorously sang along to all the hits; they sang so loudly I bet “Jet Airliner” rattled windows in Wyoma Square. There were even a few cigarette lighter tributes at the end, a throwback to Miller’s ‘70s and ‘80s glory days.
Miller is one of rock music’s most underrated guitarists, shown during his muscular solos during the lesser-known bluesy songs “Going to Mexico,” “I Want to Make the World Turn Around” and the Santana-influenced “Shu Ba Da Du Ma Ma Ma Ma.” During “Winter Time,” Miller played a twin-necked guitar — both 6- and 12-strings — to marvelous effect. His effects pedals went into overdrive during an extended “Fly Like an Eagle.”
Miller’s between-song stories were great, too, especially the tale about how brazen 12-year-old Miller and his schoolmate Boz Scaggs started a band and convinced Dallas club owners to book the outfit for $125 in 1956. He then sang “Gangster of Love,” a risque song by Johnny “Guitar” Watson, that was the first tune the young band learned.
Chelsea’s own Adam Ezra, sans band, opened with a short set of his fiery pop songs and covers of “Ziggy Stardust” and “Take It Easy” by the dearly departed David Bowie and Glenn Frey. He shared a story that at age 17 he and a pal traveled to Great Woods in Mansfield to see his idol — Steve Miller — in concert. He admitted it was a special thrill to open for him.
Seeing Miller and his band in Lynn Sunday night was a thrill for all attendees as well.
Bill Brotherton can be reached at [email protected]