Music Icon Opens 'Positively Thankful Tour' In Front of Overly Appreciative Crowd In Charleston SC

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer

His 1976 live album 'Frampton Comes Alive' made Peter Frampton a global superstar, and carried the singer and musician throughout the 70's decade. Despite his star power being somewhat dimmed and dealing with a muscular disorder that oftentimes makes playing guitar a bit more challenging, 45 years later the British rocker still can deliver the goods, delighting several thousand fans Sunday (Sept. 8th) night at the North Charleston Performing Arts Center.

The guitar virtuoso who imagined he'd hang it up in 2020 wowed concert goers for over two hours offering up his familiar classic rock radio staples alongside some of his all time favorite numbers from the who's who of rock n' roll.

More than five decades into an incredible career Frampton doesn't need a whole lot of glitz and glamor to entertain. With a big screen backdrop providing a photo montage of Frampton's heyday, and a minimal light show Frampton and his bandmates made their way to the stage, and let their skilled musicianship enjoy the spotlight.

After offering heartfelt greetings, Peter said the 'Positively Thankful Tour' was his way of extending appreciation to fans who have followed his career throughout, adding kicking off the tour in Charleston was especially heart-warming because he's always been well received in the Holy City. 

With congenial opening remarks out of the way Peter took diehard followers back 50 years beginning the evening with 'Golden Goose', a solid guitar laden track off his 1974 release 'Something's Happening'. Keeping with the musicianship laden show Peter jumped ahead a decade with 'Lying' off 1984's 'Premonition', following with 'Shine On', a song Peter wrote during his time in 'Humble Pie', prior to his breakout solo success.

Six songs deep Frampton said concert goers might be familiar with the next number, as the recognizable chords to 'Show Me the Way' got everyone on their feet, singing in unison to the infectious chorus. Included on his self-titled 1975 release, the single gained momentum cracking the Top 10 the following year on the live album.

While the incomparable Ray Charles had the biggest success with 'Georgia (On My Mind)' the song written by legendary composer Hoagy Carmichael has found new life as an instrumental off Frampton's 2019 'All Blues' release, with the album topping the blues charts after it's debut. Adding the number in his shows proves Frampton's versatility and appreciation for the greats that preceded him, adding his mom loved Carmichael's original, so he no doubt grew up in a musical home.

'The Crying Clown' and 'I Wanna Go to the Sun' pleased the musicians in the audience, and provided a nice segue to 'Baby, I Love Your Way', easily Frampton's most familiar soft rock number. Past the midway point, 'All I Wanna Be (Is By Your Side)' set the stage to the finish including a tribute one of the most powerful songs to emerge from the alternative grunge rock era.

Frampton made a musical pitstop to 1994, as he and his band sent up a stirring rendition of Soundgarden's 'Black Hole Sun', closing out the extended track with a video salute to the late Chris Cornell. Trust me, you don't have to be a fan of the Seattle rockers to appreciate the beauty of this song, and Frampton's masterful tribute on the guitar.

'(I'll Give You) Money' further proved Frampton is one of rock's greatest guitar gods, and was a nice lead in to the finale, as the crowd was expecting perhaps his biggest across the board hit. 'Do You Feel Like We Do' has been a monumental Frampton show closer for years, and the addition of the talk box in the midst of his extended guitar solo has made Peter and the song an immortal.

Having used a cane to walk on stage due to his muscular disorder, Peter sat in chair the entire time, but that didn't hinder his guitar majesty one iota. Jokingly after his most popular hit song, he said he and the band would usually exit the stage allowing fans to go wild anticipating an encore. 

But given his recent limitations he said he'd let the audience go wild and wait the normal time and take it all in. It only made the appreciative crowd whet their appetite for the final few numbers which included a double dose of guitar wizardry on 'Four Day Creep' and 'I Don't Need No Doctor', impressive covers respectively by Ida Cox and Nickolas Ashford.

As Peter was saying his final goodbyes, he reminded concert goers to just be nice to one another, throwing in there's way to much hatred taking place in the world. A lesson we can all take to heart. It was a well timed message heading into a show's ending number.

'Glad All Over' a 1964 British chart topper by The Dave Clark Five was perhaps one of the many covers a teenage Frampton played while cutting his teeth in the music business. Either way, it was an epic sing-along song to close out the concert and have thousands of fans joining in on the upbeat chorus.

Frampton would agree he's not the glam pop star or live album poster boy several in the media made him out to be in the mid 1970's. Rather Peter is a serious musician, who as he told me 'was put on earth to entertain the masses through great musicianship'. And that's exactly what he did Sunday night before an overly exuberant crowd for two hours.

Peter Frampton is first and foremost a dedicated musician. A handful of his songs have become classic rock standards, and will live on well beyond the baby boomer generation. The same calling card has finally gotten Frampton into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, with his induction ceremony set to take place in October. Easily, long overdue. Before leaving the stage he thanked anyone in the crowd who voted for him this year.

Whether he'll be able to continue to tour for years to come remains a mystery. However, at 74 Peter's voice is still intact, and despite a muscular disorder it appears it hasn't slowed him down on the guitar. Long live rock, and long live Mr. Frampton and his bandmates!

If you're searching for a concert that includes iconic rock songs from the 70's & 80's, coupled with a great jam band than look no further than The Positively Thankful Tour which runs through the month of September. For dates visit https://www.frampton.com/ 

Photos Credit of Jim Russell