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Kenny Loggins’ “This Is It Tour” is an apt play on his song title for what is claimed to be his final tour. Alpharetta’s Ameris Bank Amphitheatre had the perfect weather and crowd to send him along, with even the rear lawn covered by fans. Strong in both voice and song selection, the 75 years young Loggins didn’t disappoint as he covered most of his biggest hits.
Supported by two guitarists, bassist, drums, brass and keyboard, his band shone when called upon, including vocals when called upon. Highlights included a lengthy slide guitar intro to “I’m Alright” and an extended take on the instrumental section of “Angry Eyes” from his Loggins and Messina days featuring bass, sax and guitar solos.
A concert shouldn’t just be a parade of songs, and Loggins engaged the audience between a number of songs generally and more specifically about working with Michael McDonald and getting Disney’s permission to do the “Pooh” song. Those stories are probably carried with him from night to night and won’t be spoiled here. He commented that he enjoyed the 70’s classics played by the opener, Atlanta’s Yacht Rock Revue, along the lines of “You don’t understand. Those are my memories. Many of you were too young,” a complete misestimation of this particular audience!
“Celebrate Me Home” was a surprising song for an extended version, this time for audience participation with men and women respectively singing the overlapping chorus lines. It wasn’t unusual for the crowd to make things easy on Loggins vocally, as they took over a substantial part of “Danny’s Song,” “Return to Pooh Corner,” and of course selections from his soundtrack gravy days, “I’m Alright,” “Danger Zone,” and “Footloose.” And, when he reached for the high notes on his own, he delivered. “Footloose” wasn’t the first song that demonstrated far more women than men in the audience spent their adolescent years learning to dance.
The last two massive hits were featured in his encore, and fans who began heading for the exits missed his traditional closer, “Forever,” which began accompanied only by piano before the remainder of the band joined in. As with the recorded version, his closing “forever” sounded like he meant it.
Setlist:
Encore:
2nd Encore: