A trooper, a party pooper

KENNY Loggins. POCHOLO CONCEPCION

THE ONLY sign that age had crept up on Kenny Loggins was the way he moved. The 63-year-old singer-songwriter seemed to be limping in the first few numbers at his concert Sunday night at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay.

But it hardly mattered, since people had come to hear his friendly, trebly voice, which has entertained three generations of music fans.

He even came up with a few surprises, like putting a gospel and jazz vibe in an extended jam on “Celebrate Me Home,” title track of his 1976 debut solo album; and covering Robert Johnson’s “Crossroads” near the end of the show.

The jam on “Celebrate Me Home” was memorable. A full backing band helped Loggins play around the tune that toasts the joys of getting together with friends and family. Lead guitarist Scott Bernard unloaded some fiery licks while Loggins’ vocals frolicked with a gritty edge. He even scatted, and later on teased Bernard to unleash more energy through the wah-wah pedal.

Not chronological

Throughout the show Loggins played the story of his musical journey, starting off with 1973’s “Danny’s Song”—written for his brother, and a fruit of his tenure with the country-folk-rock duo Loggins and Messina.

But there was nothing chronological in the set list, which was interspersed with other hits that showcased the various emotions that found their way into, for instance, 1979’s “This Is It” (a collaboration with Michael McDonald, written for Loggins’ then ailing father), 1978’s “Whenever I Call You Friend” (which he dedicated to Stevie Nicks, his ka-duet in the studio version), “Return To Pooh Corner” (an update on “House at Pooh Corner,” also the title of the first children’s book that Loggins read), and more.

Loggins switched from acoustic to electric guitar a number of times, underlining the folk-rock character of his songs.

But his encore highlighted his most commercially successful phase via the movie soundtracks “I’m Alright,” “Danger Zone” and “Footloose.”

Everything was fine until Martin Nievera joined him on “Forever,” in which Loggins flubbed some lines, and then showed signs of fatigue again while waving goodbye.

Turned out, he was suffering from severe pain in his spine and had been on medication prior to the show, Nievera told the Inquirer.

What a trooper.

MAROON 5: White boys who drank the potion that made black musicians spin on a funk groove.

Party people

The next night, it was Maroon 5’s turn to perform at SMX. More than 5,000 people showed up—most of them ready to party and dance to the band’s funk-laced music.

The fun started with “Misery” and “If I Never See You Again”—both songs expressing unhappy thoughts over bouncy backbeats.

As the mental anguish and tempo escalated in “Harder To Breathe,” front man Adam Levine was the apple of the eye of every woman in the concert hall. Behaving like an excited teenager, he was a joy to behold—a diminutive but larger-than-life presence who sprinted across the stage and played guitar like Prince and sang like Sting.

The rest of the band—guitarist James Valentine, keyboardist Jesse Carmichael, bassist Michael Madden and Matt Flynn—played like white boys who drank the potion that made black musicians spin on a funk groove.

In “The Sun,” Valentine’s guitar wailed like Jimi Hendrix’s spirit was guiding it.

Hearing “I Won’t Go Home Without You” blurred the gap between the year (2007) the song came out and the period (the 1980s) some of us in the audience spent our teenage years. It was like digging college rock—without the drugs.

A cover of Alicia Keys’ “If I Ain’t Got You” reaffirmed Maroon 5’s love of black music. Slowing down further, the band proceeded with a stripped-down version of “She Will Be Loved.”

When the action resumed with upbeat numbers, some girls couldn’t contain their energies and jumped up and down like they just won the lotto.

Suddenly a group of four burly men aka event security surrounded the girls, admonishing them to stop dancing.

It was the first time we ever witnessed such an anomaly—a rock concert that ruled out fun.

What a party pooper.