The heart of rock n roll was beating in Newkirk, Oklahoma on Dec. 1 as Huey Lewis and the News took the stage at First Council Casino.
The group opened their performance with the drumming heart beat sound that leads off the hit song “The Heart of Rock n Roll.”
The energy in the air was electric for the entire two-hour performance.
In addition to many of the hits the group is known for, they performed singles from their new album “Soulsville.”
Tracks included on the new release and performed during the concert include the classic tune “Respect Yourself” and a song called “Got to Get You Off My Mind.”
Lewis said the new album was recorded in Memphis, Tennessee and urged fans to purchase one.
After performing the new stuff, Lewis and The News stayed with the rhythm and blues sound and performed a tune called 60-minute-man.
The fun a cappella features five members of the band, including the alto voice of Sean Hopper.
The band followed up the soul music with an awesome performance of “Jacob’s Ladder.”
As the opening chords of the song played, instead of leading off with the lead lyrics of ” I met a fan dancer down in south side Birmingham,” Lewis instead began with extended play on the harmonica.
Lewis also made time to introduce the many members of the band, that include, Johnny Colla, Bill Gibson, Hopper, John “The Cat in the Hat man” Pierce, Stef Burns, Marvin McFadden, Rob Sudduth, and Johnnie Bamont.
After performing many songs, the band departed only to return to the stage after a two or three minute chant of “Huey” from the crowd.
Lewis took the microphone and said there were so many songs they could performed but so little time.
After a tossing out a few titles such as “This is It” and “I want a New Drug,” Lewis opened the encore with “Power of Love,” saying that when the song was written and recorded 25 years ago, they had no idea they would be performing it every night for the rest of their lives.”
After a 20-minute encore, the band departed the stage at First Council Casino for the last time of the evening.
The concert was an excellent experience.
Lewis and his News feels the music as they perform resulting in the crowd feeling it as well.
The day after the concert, I tweeted a message to Huey and told him it was my first time seeing the band in concert and that I enjoyed it and hope I can see them again sometime.
Huey replied and said he hopes so to.