Winwood & Petty Tear Up Marcus Amphitheater: Part One

This was a classic, campers. Two Rock and Roll Hall of Famers. Same stage. Same night. All is right in my world.

From the moment Steve Winwood took the stage, it was nearly four hours of pure bliss at the Marcus Amphitheater.

Opening with "I'm a Man," this was vintage Winwood. No other rock & roller can play both keyboards and guitar with such precision and beauty. Stevie took us through the ages, with songs that span his 40+ year career. From the Spencer Davis Group, Blind Faith and Traffic through his new album, Nine Lives, Winwood was clearly on top of his game.

As he dipped into Blind Faith for "Can't Find My Way Home," I was particularly entranced knowing that he and Clapton are going out on tour again and I'll likely  hear them play it together later this year.

The opening notes of "Dear Mr. Fantasy" put me in the way-back machine as I swayed to the groove with my darlin' daughters. "Dirty City" from the new disc has Traffic written all over it, and "Higher Love" brought down the house. Naturally, he closed with "Gimme Some Lovin'," the song that brought him fame as a teenager.

It just doesn't get any better than this, my celestial brethren.

But wait, there's more...