The Strange and Wonderful Dharma of Bob Seger

aka Rock & Roll Never Forgets

There was some kinda twisted supernatural force hovering around the Dow Event Center Friday night. Like the zombies in the Night of the Living Dead flick, people were voraciously devouring memories – mindlessly gnawing on the bloody corpse of the Seger catalog. Singing each lyric at the top of their ragged lungs in honor to the high priest of working class rock n’ roll – Bob Seger - who finally got off his yacht, squeezed on a pair of over-sized black denims, did a coupla sit-ups, gargled with warm salt water and prepared to rock the house down. No matter that Seger’s range had narrowed considerably through the years and his voice became husky and uncomfortable with singing anything outside a scratchy monotone, he STILL rocked. Hell, the old fart had more energy than any one of the old used-up boomers wearing Seger tee’s from ’78 and drinking $9 beer. Yep we were quite a sight. And Seger… well, he leaped, hopped and ran across stage like a mongoose chasin’ a snake. This guy has a pretty impressive work ethic…like in the old days when he played a high school dance in Saginaw and the next day he’s doin’ Tampa. The guy’s a MONSTER! But the Dow Event Center is another story…not the best place to see a show, especially when people stand throughout the entire show, not once sitting down and taking a break from their full throated sing-a-longs. Bastards. Even the ushers, young snot-nosed turks dressed in neat lavender blazers, were on a mission from God, actin’ like Eastwood protectin’ Kennedy - only it’s an imaginary postage-stamp-sized line between the seat and aisle. I thought I was gonna get tossed out for shakin’ my rickety-old ass! And the sound guy...he looked just like Joe Kidd! Same mullet, same pencil-thin body, same smirk - and when I yelled, “Hey Joe", he looked up with a shit-eatin' grin, held up a long-neck PBR and shook my hand like a brother.
I AM NOT KIDDING!
Oh well, I got over it… and everything else... and listened to the show - even caught a brief glimpse of the stage from time to time. Seger opened with Roll Me Away and then proceeded to dust off one classic after another…Turn the Page, Mainstreet, We’ve Got Tonight, Travelin’ Man, Old Time Rock N’ Roll, Beautiful Loser…almost hitting the notes and goin’ flat when you could hear him. But it was with the songs from his new disc Face the Promise where he really hit his mark. Wreck My Heart, Wait For Me, Simplicity, No More, Answer’s in the Question - that’s who he is now and that’s how he sounds today. It took guts to play so many new songs to an audience that worships the past and yearns for its lost youth but Seger pulled it off - with humility and charm. The second part of the show included such Seger gems as Ramblin’ Gamblin’ Man (with only a hint of its original fire), Night Moves, Sunspot Baby, and Rock N’ Roll Never Forgets (a remake of Ramblin' Gamblin' Man remaking Heavy Music). He also performed crowd pleasers such as Hollywood Nights and Against the Wind, bonafide top-ten hits that signaled Seger’s artistic decline. Don’t get me wrong, I love Bob Seger and I was grateful to see him one more time. And I’m glad I got it out of my system.
Man...it’s a bitch to get old

Peace
Bo White