Concert review: Bill Medley’s melodies remain unchained
Every year when I go see Bill Medley at the Lido Theater, I wonder if he can pull it off again.
After all, the guy’s 76 and still belting out songs with such dangerous, high-wire intensity that fans can’t help but worry about how long that voice will last. He’s the Evil Knievel of R&B/rock ‘n’ roll, forever pushing the envelope for the sake of his art.
But whatever he’s doing is working. Because that extraordinary baritone — velvety and ruggedly raspy with a sex appeal that seems to get stronger with age — is more powerful and passionate than ever.
He masterfully demonstrated this over and over again to an adoring crowd Oct. 3 at an annual concert to benefit Lupus International in Newport Beach. (Perhaps it’s all the practice he gets in Las Vegas, where he’s appearing weekly at Harrah’s with Bucky Heard, recreating the magic of the Righteous Brothers’ glory days.)
Some of the hardcore Medley devotees in attendance have been coming to this benefit concert for over 20 years. Notably, many were Rendezvous Ballroom regulars (myself included) when he and Bobby Hatfield began their stratospheric rise with the break out hit “Little Latin Lupe Lu” (an eminently danceable little ditty Bill wrote for a friend at hairdressing school, before he made it as a singer).
So this annual event always feels like a family affair, with a distinct air of camaraderie among a close-knit cadre of seasoned musicians, many of whom have traveled with him for decades, and his daughter McKenna, a powerful singer in her own right, with inside jokes and expressions of affection you don’t usually see at a concert punctuating the program. And there’s always the spirit of his beloved Bobby looming large, whom Medley pays tribute to each year with video and pics of those halcyon days when the two were unstoppable.
The vibe at these concerts is always one of raw emotion, something that has defined the old Righteous Brothers’ love songs of loss and angst, as well as Medley’s own newer playbook of blues tunes. The highlight of the concert was a song he’s done each year since his 2013 blues album, “This Will Be the Last Time I Ever Have the Blues,” a haunting number so filled with existential despair and pathos that it takes you to places in the heart that both ache and inspire.
A musician Medley’s been touring with since the ‘60s, Lee Ferrell (actor Will Ferrell’s father) played a sax solo so moving it carried listeners away. At one point, Medley’s voice and Ferrell’s sax were in such sublime synch it created one of those peak moments that elevates music to poetry. At the end of the song, as the crowd roared with approval, Medley kissed Ferrell with genuine gratitude, a gesture of affection he often shows his band mates.
For the last six years, the sold-out benefit has taken place at the Lido, with the Newport’s Fritz Duda Co. and Via Lido Plaza serving as title sponsors. Kent French, who does broadcasts for the Angels and Ducks, served as auctioneer for the14th year.
According to event organizer Christina Kelly, president of Lupus International, “After Linda Hatfield died in 2007, Bill dedicated himself to carrying on this successful fundraising event to honor the memory of both Bobby and Linda, who suffered from Lupus and passed away in 2007. Every year without fail, he puts on an unforgettable show. Part of the concert’s proceeds go to help college students with Lupus.”
Medley, it should be noted, recently moved out of his Peninsula Point home but still maintains a part-time residency in Newport Beach, and has shown devotion to community causes.
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FOR THE RECORD
10/17, 11:17 a.m.: A previous version of this story incorrectly stated that performer Bill Medley until recently lived part-time in Newport Beach. In fact, Medley recently moved out of his Peninsula Point home but still maintains a part-time residency in Newport Beach.
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The recent program featured Righteous Brothers’ standards “You’ve Lost that Lovin’ Feelin’,” “Soul and Inspiration,” “Little Latin Lupe Lu” and “Unchained Melody,” along with Medley solo favorites like “I Had the Time of My Life” (sung with McKenna) and his unique take on Ray Charles standards.
Medley wowed the audience once again with a show-stopping rendition of “Hey Jude,” inviting everyone to sing the chorus for a few minutes. An eclectic mix of ‘50s and ‘60s rock, blues, country and gospel rounded out the evening.