While a particularly hot, sunbaked summer day isn’t optimal for an outdoor gig in Florida, the mostly middle-aged patrons in attendance braved the sizzling sun to welcome Frampton back to a local stage.
In 2019, the British-born singer, songwriter and ace guitarist revealed that his tour at the time would be his last, based on his being diagnosed with inclusion body myositis, a disorder that wreaks havoc on the body’s muscles. Frampton's show that year was a s
However, the current tour he’s embarked on, the aptly titled “Never Say Never Tour,” finds Frampton well enough to still sing and play onstage, albeit while seated for the whole program. Fans and followers didn’t seem to mind one bit; the performance the 73-year-old established musician put on showed clearly that he still has the chops, both instrumentally and vocally, to command an audience.
Walking to his stool at the center of the large stage, while aided by a cane, Frampton made his way to the spot where he’d sit for the next two-and-a-half hours as vintage clips of him from throughout his long career flashed on the screen behind him. Instantly kicking things into gear for this early show, Frampton got to work and delivered an inspired version of “Lying,” a minor radio hit of his from 1985. The crunchy song benefited from Frampton’s still precise and powerful guitar work and proved that the sound at this new venue was top notch. The headliner's guitar licks and his vocal delivery were both pristine in their sharpness and clarity.
Photo by Josh Bradley
Walking to his stool at the center of the large stage, while aided by a cane, Frampton made his way to the spot where he’d sit for the next two-and-a-half hours.
Taking a few opportunities to address the crowd with anecdotes and observations, Frampton was blunt about his current condition and his decision to return to a concert stage after vowing not to; “My fingers are still working! What am I gonna do sitting at home all summer?” he joked when referring to his ability to make this summer concert tour work.
Getting the opportunity to plug an all-vinyl box set consisting of some of his earlier albums, Frampton chose to delve back to those records to perform some rarely played material and shed new light on some of those songs. “I Got My Eyes on You,” the opening cut from his 1973 Frampton’s Camel album, was a welcome surprise. The slow-burning, blues-inspired number sounded fresh and energized and offered the diehards something out of the ordinary.
Making several references to the heat, Frampton didn’t lose a beat or an ounce of enthusiasm despite the steamy conditions. For the stellar performance of “Lines on My Face,” several more vintage photos were displayed on the one large screen at the back of the stage, most of which featured longtime bandmate, keyboardist and guitarist, Bob Mayo, which was followed by some heartfelt words from Frampton in describing his former musical colleague.
The evening progressed with what many would come to expect from a Frampton show; all his huge, classic rock radio hits were eventually dusted off to mass applause and elation. “Baby, I Love Your Way” benefited from its jazz-inspired intro and would turn into a huge sing-along. “Show Me the Way” inspired some of the female fans in attendance to stand up and shake and shimmy along as they gleefully belted out the song’s catchy chorus. And, of course, there was the behemoth; the ultra-long staple that was the centerpiece of the man’s landmark live album. “You have to pee now?” Frampton joked at the sight of a fan who got up from their seat to walk away. “But this one is only 19 minutes long! I can hold it for two hours!” he laughed before diving into “Do You Feel Like We Do” to thunderous applause.
Showing off his ability to interpret the songs of others, Frampton also performed his renditions of Soundgarden’s “Black Hole Sun,” his blues-inspired reading of “Georgia on My Mind,” a standard written by Hoagy Carmichael and popularized by the great Ray Charles, and a set-closing version of the Beatles’ classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.”
Frampton also gave a nod to his stint with heavy 1970s power-rock outfit Humble Pie and delivered a couple of cuts from that band’s catalog. It’s fair to say that Peter Frampton isn’t one to turn his back on his roots and that he looks back at his past triumphs with a sense of pride, as he clearly showed while enthusiastically making his way through his decades of musical achievements.
Instead of leaving the stage for the traditional encore proceedings that occur at most shows, Frampton stayed perched on his stool for obvious reasons. “This is where we’d leave the stage and go do some drugs” he joked, possibly referring to past dalliances.
Rising from his perch to give a final bow with his fine four-piece band who’d accompanied him all night, there was a particularly inspiring moment that came, after his band had left the stage and left the singer all alone to address the crowd. “I’m a person of hope,” he said. “I’m gonna keep fighting this because my cup is half-full,” he continued, speaking of his current health condition. “This one is called Never Say Never but, maybe there’s a sequel” he continued, hinting that his touring days again, might not be all over just yet.
Despite the medical setbacks he’s faced in recent years, it’s obvious that Frampton still has a lot of fight left in him and that he’s not ready to hang up his guitar just yet.
