Pop Music Blog

BY RICK MASSIMO
Journal Pop Music Writer

LEDYARD, Conn. - It would be really easy for Donna Summer to trot out on stage, say "Here's one you might remember," sleepwalk through "On the Radio," "She Works Hard For the Money," "Last Dance" and a few more of her seemingly endless trove of disco and post-disco dance hits and call it a night, a tour, a career.

And sure, those songs were on display Friday night at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, as was a lot of nostalgia for Summer's '70s heyday. But promoting Crayons, her first studio record in 17 years, Summer had more to offer and, it seemed, a bit to prove.

Summer put six songs from Crayons, all of which she co-wrote, in Friday night's show, and while a few, such as the self-celebratory opener "The Queen Is Back," were rather robotic and didn't show off Summer's vocal strengths, the funk-rock throwdown "Mr. Music" and, especially, the double-time dancehall of the title track were effortless updatings of the Summer dance ouevre. And "Sand On My Feet" was a lovely acoustic changeup, far in spirit from the rest of the set.

And of course, the hits were there, Summer's strong voice in the lead throughout. Her high notes as strong and high (if not quite as long) at age 60 as in her classic period.

Her band easily replicated the crack musicianship that even made ridiculous songs such as "MacArthur Park" and "Could This Be Magic?" credible and evocative, as well as the crunch of the disco-rock mini-set of "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff." The only misstep from that standpoint was "I Feel Love," which didn't - couldn't, really - pack the same impact in a full-band celebration that it did as a stark, futuristic throb in the '70s.

The less expected highlights came in an unadorned piano-and-vocal version of "Smile," done as a tribute to Michael Jackson, and her duet on "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)," with sister Mary Gaines Bernard taking Barbra Streisand's part on a pedal-to-the-metal rendition of the already-fast dance-floor banger.

And of course Summer finished with the pure aural champagne of "Last Dance," possibly disco's high-water mark.

rmassimo@projo.com / (401) 277-7206

 Tags  concert Donna Summer Foxwoods review

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