Story & Photographs by Diane Fleischman
There’s always a buzz of excitement and intense energy when an artist opens and closes a tour. Steve Winwood performed the last show of his 50 year anniversary tour of his greatest hits at The Sands Event Center Thursday night to a sold out crowd. The audience couldn’t wait to join the celebration of this legendary artist.
As the opening act, Lillie Winwood took the stage and performed her set on acoustic guitar. She referred to opening for Steve Winwood as opening for a friend, but we all knew otherwise, even though she never said it. Lillie is Steve Winwood’s daughter. Lillie announced the debut of her first EP, her sound was a little folk, a little indie, very well trained and pleasant.
In the vast catalog of songs that spanned his life, as he started with The Spencer Davis Group at a tender age of fifteen, Winwood took us on a journey back in time, as he opened with “I’m a Man”, followed by “Pearly Queen”, and added a Buddy Miles cover song, “Them Changes.” Winwood then stepped away from the organ effortlessly as he took center stage on guitar for “Can’t Find My Way Home”, which brought the first of several standing ovations of the evening.
“We’re going through the decades”, Winwood reminded the crowd, as he regained his seat behind the organ with “The Low Spark of High Heeled Boys” and “Empty Pages”, both songs provided more standing ovations.
Lillie joined her father back on stage and provided the backing vocals to “Roll With It”, and “Higher Love” closed the set. Winwood returned for a three song encore, a cover of “John Barleycorn”, then “Dear Mr. Fantasy”, and the final song, “Gimme Some Lovin’”.
From the swirling sounds of the organ to Winwood’s fever pitched guitar licks, we were reminded that this is classic rock at it’s finest. Winwood’s vocals remained strong and unwaivered. And while his catalog of music covering the last fifty years could never fill the constraints of one single concert, the list of achievements and awards obtained are equally as long of a list. While the 50 year celebration tour has ended, the night of music will remain in our hearts. Thank you, Steve Winwood.
