Kenny Loggins
Fallsview Casino
Niagara Falls, Ontario
November 1, 2018
Clearly Kenny Loggins has a dedicated fan base. On the way to his recent concert at Fallsview Casino I met a couple in the elevator who had driven over a hundred kilometres from Toronto through teeming rain to see him.
I wasn’t really surprised by that.
Full disclosure here: I own a stack of Loggins and Messina albums and probably have as many or more of Kenny’s solo albums. I was a fan back in the 1970s and 80s and I was coming to relive some memories, perhaps, like the couple from Toronto.
Kenny Loggins wrote his first songs when he was still a teenager and, half a century later, after creating an impressive catalogue, he is still going strong.
This was my first time at the Avalon Ballroom. It’s a comfortable and, given its capacity, surprisingly intimate space; a perfect setting for the evening.
After a short but engaging multi-media presentation filled with interviews and historical footage about Kenny, the show opened with a couple of his earliest compositions; gentler signature pieces.
First came Danny’s Song, a ballad written for Loggins’ brother Danny to celebrate the birth of his son. Recorded initially in 1970 by Gator Creek, it was also covered by Anne Murray in 1972, and then appeared on Sittin’ In, the first Loggins and Messina album.
Kenny is perhaps best known as one half of the duo Loggins and Messina, with ex Poco and Buffalo Springfield member, Jim Messina. One of the biggest duos of the early 1970s, Loggins and Messina toured extensively and sold over 16 million albums. Danny’s Song was followed by The House at Pooh Corner, another mellow track from Sittin’ In.
From there, as the energy level built, and Kenny and his solid backup band wove their way through the vast repertoire of Kenny’s music, they seemed to check all the right boxes. From Loggins and Messina favourites like Angry Eyes and Your Mama Don’t Dance, through his solo catalogue with songs that included Celebrate Me Home, Whenever I Call You Friend, and others.
Throughout the evening, Kenny told the captivated and appreciative audience entertaining stories about his life, his family, and the background behind many of the songs.
During the 1980’s Loggins was known as the “King of the Movie Soundtrack”. The group performed a rousing selection of songs from that phase of his career, including I’m All Right (Caddyshack), Danger Zone and Playing With the Boys (Top Gun). The segment, which ended with the Academy Award nominated song Footloose, from the movie of the same name, brought the audience to its feet.
I saw him in concert once before, about 35 years ago. The most enduring memory of that concert for me, was the incredible power and range of Loggins’ voice. This concert left me with the same impression. Maybe he’s lost a bit of the power. Maybe he’s lost a bit of his range. But just maybe. You’d never have felt that way if you were in that packed house on Thursday night. And, as if to prove a point, the concert closed with a powerful rendition of Forever that both beautifully showcased his voice and demonstrated beyond doubt that he still has an incredible ability to reach out and touch an audience.
Setlist:
Danny’s Song
House at Pooh Corner
This Is It
The Real Thing
Whenever I Call You Friend
Angry Eyes
Celebrate Me Home
Conviction of the Heart
I’m Alright
Encore:
Don’t Fight It
Playing With the Boys
Danger Zone
Footloose
Encore 2:
Your Mama Don’t Dance
Forever
All photos by Scott Barrie
©2018. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
Scott: Nicely done! Jody kindly included me to your fine work-great article and bonus photos. Always fun when you get to see your favourites live! Jody took me to see Uriah Heep in London early Feb. this year- at my insistence- very loud. But well worth it. Cheers, Dave Kennedy