Leon Russell is my Hotrod | Leon Russell Live Review | The Plaza Live | January 29 2015

by Dainon Moody • February 3, 2015

I knew before I ever showed up at Leon Russell’s show at The Plaza Live that I’d be sitting between fans old enough to be my parents and beyond. I knew he was going to be using a cane to find his way to his very beautiful piano, that he’d be in a suit and wearing a white cowboy hat, sporting sunglasses and showing off the longest whitest beard in the music business. I knew all of that. His reputation precedes him. From his heyday of playing with pretty much everybody (and helping most of them write or co-write their hits) to the time Elton John basically rescued him from financial ruin and obscurity not so many years ago, he’s managed some kind of a fantastic career and career comeback, too.

And, if you don’t know who he is exactly, chances are good you know a few of the bands and musicians he’s played with. Some include (deep breath) Jan & Dean, Gary Lewis, George Harrison, Gram Parsons, Ringo Starr, Doris Day, Elton John, Ray Charles, Eric Clapton, The Byrds, Barbra Streisand, The Beach Boys, The Ventures, Willie Nelson, Badfinger, Frank Sinatra, The Band, Bob Dylan, J.J. Cale, B.B. King, Glen Campbell, Joe Cocker and The Rolling Stones.

So, sure, I was expecting some things. But there were others I wasn’t exactly planning on. There’s that comfortable Oklahoma twang attached to his storytelling, for one. As for his stories, I only wish he had time to share more. I got to hear about the time he asked Elvis point blank why he ended up starring in so many bad movies and how he liked playing alongside Dylan so much, he went home, immediately recorded six of his tunes and sent them to him as a thank you gift.

Another thing: Leon’s a jukebox filled right up to the top. He’s got his own share of tunes, sure, and they came out sounded familiar and delightfully scratchy (“Tightrope,” “Delta Lady”), but he also sang some Elvis, some Dylan, some Stones and on and on. While some bands might slip in a cover song at best, he never seemed to mind singing whatever suited his fancy, whether the song belonged to him or someone else. We approved, too. We were okay with helping sing along to whatever he offered us.

He came, he played, he shared and we walked away the most satisfied bunch of nostalgic music lovers you ever did see.

It’s worth noting that what followed that easygoing Leon Russell performance was another one, a set by Beartoe over at Lucky Lure (where you can find him pretty much monthly). Once he’d finished, Beartoe went ahead and suggested we go see Thomas Wynn doing his own musical thing (sans his Believers) over at Sideshow downtown, which I was on board with. And, once Thomas closed shop there, the decision was somehow made to head to someone else’s house for a fairly endless jam session. People took turns on drums, piano, guitar, you name it … and we all joined in singing loudly to the Beatles, Smokey Robinson, Otis Redding and, yes, that list is fairly endless on its own as well.

I waved the white flag of surrender just after 5 in the morning, before the cock crowed and before that big sun showed itself. All in all, it was a night of enough songs and music and memories to make your head spin some.

Now, I’m not saying it was all Leon’s fault that I had to get by on five hours of sleep the next day, but he certainly helped start that party. I can’t say for certain, but I think he’d have approved of that kind of behavior.

Leon Russell Live Review by Dainon Moody.