George Michael performed on August 11, 1988, at the Hartford Civic Center in Hartford, Connecticut, one of the stops on his first solo North American tour. Below is the concert review by Frank Rizzo published in the Hartford Courant newspaper.
Right up there with the motto “Rock ‘n’ roll is here to stay” is the equally timeless “Sex sells.”
At Thursday night’s concert at the Hartford Civic Center, George Michael embodied both slogans and perhaps invented a few new ones along the way, such as, “Looks help, but first you’ve gotta have the chops.”
This was Michael’s first solo tour of North America and his attempt to be taken seriously as a complete not just the better part of the teen-idol pop duo Wham!
Sex has always been an integral part of rock and pop music, but it took someone as seemingly clean-‘cut, charming and safe to celebrate it in such a popular way. As a teen idol, Michael sometimes seemed like a panderer. But now, as a serious musician, he uses his sexual image playfully, joyfully and intriguingly.
Michael began (as well as ended) his two-hour show with his controversial hit single “I Want Your Sex,” a song so rhythmically persuasive that even a Puritan couldn’t resist the beat.
Once he achieved a high hormonal level from his sold-out audience, Michael then wooed them with some love songs, sung simply and emotionally (and without a trace of any ill effects from his recent throat surgery). These songs ranged from the tender Stevie Wonder ballad “Love’s in Need of Love Today” to his own poignant “One More Try.”
Michael sang just a few Wham! songs (such as “Everything She Wants” and “Careless Whisper”), devoting the major part of his show to his thematically diverse solo album “Faith.” Songs from the album included a politically aware song (the subtle “Hand to Mouth”), one that was socially responsible (the edgy “Monkey”) and one that explored sexual fantasies (the dark and compelling “Father Figure”).
But it was the dance numbers, with an energetic Michael taking great leaps of faith, that received the heartiest response form the crowd, especially a version of Wild Cherry’s “Play That Funky Music” and La-belle’s “Lady Marmalade.”
Michael was backed by a sizzling band made up of bassist Deon Estus, drummer Moyes Lucas, guitarist Carlos Rios, sax player Andy Hamilton, keyboard players Tony Patler and Chris Cameron and vocalist Lynn Mabry.
Some minor quibbles: Michael overused the echo effect in several of the ballads; the audience didn’t quite take the place of Aretha Franklin in the duet “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)”; Michael had a lot of appeal, but his remarks to the crowd were rather bland and predictable.
The set and lighting design of the show also was stunning and evocative without being overwhelming, a neat balance between style and substance. The same could be said about George Michael.
Opening for Michael was a band headed by his bassist, Estus. As a lead singer, Estus has a good but hardly extraordinary voice. Minus a star stage presence, musical point of view or inviting material, Estus’ greatest musical contribution might be better served behind Michael, not before him.
Songs in the George Michael show: “I Want Your Sex, ” “Hard Day, ” “Love’s in Need of Love Today, ” “Everything She, Wants,” “Father Figure,” “I’m Your Man,” “Faith,” “Monkey,” “Hand to Mouth,” “Play That Funky Music, ” “One More Try, ” “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me),” “Careless Whisper,” “Lady Marmalade” and “I Want Your Sex.”
