Christopher Cross’ concert
at Neighborhood Theatre Sunday night was unlike any show I’ve seen in that
the audience may or may not have been witnessing a public wooing. What the singer-songwriter said was his first Charlotte show
(although one reader emailed to say he thought he saw him play Ovens in the
`80s) was a very open, intimate set that even managed to tug the heartstrings
of the friend I brought with me who wasn’t even born when Cross had his biggest Grammy and Oscar winning hits.
She was drawn in not
only by the music but by the love story that some of us in the audience
fantasized was picking up after 30 or so years. From the stage Cross
was very open about the former girlfriend who inspired his second hit album “Another
Page” being in the audience. Midway through his nearly hour and a half set
he introduced a song he wrote for the “love of my life” that he left off that
particular album because it was too personal. Things felt very personal and real through that portion of the show. Through “Talking in My Sleep” and “Think of Laura” (which was written
about that girlfriend’s deceased best friend) it felt like he was singing just
for her. It could’ve been a scene from a movie. “Laura” was particularly
moving. Cross got choked up and it’s such a beautiful song. He certainly wasn’t
the only one.
Aside from the
imagined (or not) movie scale romance (although I decided I’m glad my husband
doesn’t write lyrics because I find the idea of him serenading me pretty embarrassing),
Cross and his five-piece band were a bunch of seasoned pros.
They opened the show
with “Never Be the Same” from his smash self-titled debut - the one that
garnered all those Grammys. He joked about a long career and nine albums - many
of which are out of print and only available at "garage sales and flea markets" -
before introducing his band.
He touched on his
latest album, “Doctor Faith” with “Hey Kid” and “Dreamers,” but most of the
material was culled from those first two hit albums which are likely what most
fans are familiar with. He also played his ode to Tina Fey’s “30 Rock”
character Liz Lemon ("Lemon's Theme" which you can watch on YouTube). He mentioned that Fey
told him that it was no coincidence the guy her character married earlier this
season shared Cross' name.
Cross was backed by a
drummer and percussionist, bassist Chazz Frichtel (who spent years working with
Michael McDonald), and
two keyboardists - one of which doubled as a mean sax soloist. Cross provided
the only guitar (which is pretty refreshing when you consider bands that travel
with so many guitars playing at once they all mush together). He's a subtle
player who can whip out a solo with ease.
Things truly escalated
for “Sailing.” The shakers and rain maker and the full band treatment helped recreate the beachy feel of the original recording (which undoubtedly helped coin the term "yacht rock") and Cross’ voice hasn’t faltered with time. He still hits the high notes.
“Best That You Can Do
(Arthur's Theme)” and “Ride Like the Wind” (with Frichtel handling
McDonald’s backing vocals superbly) ended the regular set with most of the crowd on its feet. The group returned
for “Say You’ll Be Mine” - the opening track of that 1979 smash. Cross ended the evening by stepping off the bus outside the theater to take pictures and sign
autographs for fans.
It was a really sweet and
special show from the stories he told to his connection with his now
Charlotte-based ex to the fans we met in the audience sharing their stories of
what his music meant to them.
With no opener we were
out of the Neighborhood Theatre by 9:30 and at Amos’ in time to see Hot Water
Music - a post-punk band from my post-college days who have returned with a
great new album. The polar opposite of Cross, but two good shows in one night perfectly timed. You can't beat that.
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