Toots and The Maytals @ Sugar Loaf Performing Arts Center, Sugar Loaf, NY

Live Reviews | Nov 4th, 2012

Date: November 3rd 2012
Venue Link: http://sugarloafpac.org
Band Link: http://www.tootsandthemaytals.com

Toots and The Maytals are currently on tour celebrating their almost 50 years as a band and playing all the classic hits in an acoustic setting. I originally wasn’t planning on seeing this because I live down in Jersey City. Since I was up in Orange County with family because of the Hurricane Sandy knocking out power for a week, it worked out well that I was here this weekend. I never saw Toots Hibbert before and thought last night’s concert was fantastic!

I wasn’t sure how many people would come out to the concert, but I would say about half the place was filled. I would imagine the place would have been more packed if the Hurricane didn’t come and knock out people’s power and damage people’s homes. Everyone was there to have a good time and a good time they had!

Toots’ current album (CD/DVD) Unplugged on Strawberry Hill, is the first ever acoustic renderings of his massive hits and that’s what was played last night. Not only was it great to hear all these songs being played live, I was truly impressed with Toots’ vocals. The man has got quite the voice! Plus, he was wearing some styled red-leather outfit. Not too many can pull that outfit off. He was joined by his son Hopeton on bass, drummer Paul Douglas on percussion, backing vocalists Chantelle Ernandez and Elenore Walters.

The beginning of the set, Toots played “Time Tough” which still feels like a fitting song. He played many classics like “Bam Bam,” “Pressure Drop,” “Do The Reggae,” “Sweet and Dandy” and “Peeping Tom.” Hearing “Pressure Drop” live was a highlight for me. He explained that “Do The Reggae” was a tune that gave the genre the name and identity. For me, the best song of the evening for me was hearing his version of “his good friend John Denver’s” “Take Me Home, Country Roads.” “Funky Kingston” was probably the most energetic Toots got, and stood up to play it at times. For the most part, he sat down and played the acoustic version. At times he would rise and play though.

After the intermission, he came back and played “Monkey Man” I believe. Not sure which songs were played in which set, but he also played “Louie, Louie,” “Reggae Got Soul,” “Rasta Man(?),” and “Johnny Coolman.” In between some songs, he would tell a story and then play a song. It was nice to hear that; I’d actually would have liked to have heard more of the stories. We all know Toots is a great showman and has a wonderful stage presence, and he worked the crowd nicely when it came time for “54-46 Was My Number.” We were screaming “Hey” and “HEY HEY HEY HEY HEY” 6 or 12 times. It was a lot of fun!

He played a few extra songs like the quick versions of “Broadway Jungle” and other tunes. It almost felt like a melody of tracks. It felt like a quick concert to me but it was an excellent time. It sure beat sitting in the house, waiting to hear about power coming back and cursing the storm. If you get a chance to see Toots and the Maytals unplugged/acoustic, be sure to get out and see him because he was fantastic!