“Hey, how are you?” he asked his Westbury audience. Hughes was backed by a three-piece band and was greeted with a lengthy standing ovation.
Hughes began his set with “Stormbringer,” where he displayed his piercing high noted. “Thank you so much,” he said, following its warm reception. It was followed by the mid-tempo “Might Just Take Your Life,” where he showcased his whistle notes towards the end.
“How are you, Long Island?” he asked, and immediately broke into “Sail Away.” “Hello, this is the opening night of our American tour,” he said. “I love you all is the buzzword of this evening. I’ve been touring for nine months, with 18 months to go. I hope to connect with you on a one-on-one level.”
After a neat keyboard solo, he continued with “You Fool No One,” where the fans were clapping along. “Thank you all for being here tonight. I love you all deeply from every core of my body,” he said, effusively.
During “You Keep on Moving,” red and orange lights dimmed from the stage, and his vocal performance was controlled and melodic. When he introduced “Gettin’ Tighter,” he acknowledged that it was going to get a “little bit crazy,” but the New York audience didn’t mind that one bit. They were in total awe of Hughes’ talent. “Thank you,” he said and expressed to his fans that they did not come to see him. “This dude came to see all of you tonight,” he clarified.
He brought the house down with “Mistreated,” and the audience sang along with him on the infectious “Smoke on the Water,” which coupled with a soothing medley of “Georgia On My Mind.” “Thank you so much for coming this evening,” he said.
Hughes returned for his encore, which he kicked off with the upbeat “Highway Star” and he closed on a powerhouse note with the fan-favorite “Burn.” “Thank you for your love and support, and for supporting rock music in general. I shall return. I simply came to be with you,” he concluded.
The Verdict
Overall, Glenn Hughes was able to electrify The NYCB Theatre at Westbury with his powerful vocals. There was a rawness and authenticity to his music and his band delivered as well. Hughes proved that his induction into the prestigious Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2016 was based on sheer merit. His goal for the night was to connect with his audience on an intimate and an emotional level, and it is safe to say that he surpassed that goal. The crowd knew that they were in the presence of rock and roll master. Hughes’ live rock show at Westbury garnered five out of five stars.
Read More: Digital Journal chatted with “The Voice of Rock” Glenn Hughes about his U.S. Tour.
