AMERICA
ANNOUNCE THE STREAMING OF
THEIR CONCERT SPECIAL
“AMERICA–LIVE AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM”
FOR THE FIRST TIME
BEGINNING FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27
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Photo Credit: Henry Diltz
From left: Gerry Beckley and Dewey Bunnell
Q&A WITH GERRY BECKLEY AND DEWEY BUNNELL OF AMERICA
ABOUT THEIR CONCERT SPECIAL
“AMERICA–LIVE AT THE LONDON PALLADIUM”
America’s performance at the London Palladium was a particularly strong one. Listening to the music and viewing the performance, one can sense that magic was truly in the air. What are your overall impressions about the performance and how it was personally meaningful for you?
Gerry Beckley: Anyone who knows our history as a band knows that London is where we got started. Although we’ve played London countless of times since 1970, we’ve never played the Palladium. It was a true honor to finally have the chance and it was a total gift that the stars aligned for us to make the video recording.
Dewey Bunnell: The band had been really working hard on the road and the shows had been going very well, so we felt good about the trip to England for this one. And we were prepared for the filming process. For Gerry and I, it was particularly special since the band formed in London and we had family still there who would be attending along with old friends from the 70’s. We had never played the London Palladium before which made the performance that much more meaningful and I felt like we delivered our best that night.
England is pivotal to America since the band was formed there, and of course George Martin produced your fourth album and then six more albums. Can you talk a little bit about this British connection and how it’s intrinsically woven into your music?
Dewey: Looking back, I realize what a special experience it was to be young Americans living in London at a pivotal time in music history in the late 60’s. We spent a lot of time seeing shows around London and meeting people that added to our evolution in the beginning. When George joined the team in 1974, it only solidified that strong connection and began a great relationship for the next 7 albums and the rest of our lives.
Gerry: As I mentioned, London is a place very dear to our hearts. As often as we’ve been bundled into the “West coast sound” group of artists, I’ve always thought of us as a mid-Atlantic band. Certainly my love of all things having to do with the British invasion in the 60’s carved that in stone from an early age. To have the opportunity to work with George Martin in the middle of our journey was an immeasurable bonus.
The Palladium show featured an absolutely killer set list with all the hits and deep cuts too. Are there any secrets in creating the ultimate set list, including the order in which the songs are performed, that will satisfy both longtime fans and newer ones, not to mention you yourselves as musicians?
Gerry: Our set has been built and refined over these 50 years of touring. We do make changes from year to year but they are subtle and hopefully don’t damage what we have worked so hard to construct.
Dewey: To begin with, our current band is incredibly talented including longtime bassist Rich Campbell along with Ryland Steen and Steve Fekete on drums and lead guitar respectively. They bring their own unique energy to the arrangements that needs to be seen and heard. The set itself has evolved over recent years with the obvious need to play the most familiar songs at the core, but it’s important to us that we pace the set and tie it together with less familiar songs that add different dynamics to the show. At the end of that night I think we delivered our best and had as much fun as the audience!
America – Live at The London Palladium
October 19, 2018
Set List
Miniature
Tin Man
You Can Do Magic
Don’t Cross The River
Daisy Jane
Riverside
I Need You
Here
Ventura Highway
Driving
Cornwall Blank – Hollywood
Survival
The Border
Greenhouse
Woman Tonight
Only In Your Heart
-Dewey’s Memories-
California Dreaming
Lonely People
-Band and Crew Intros-
Sandman
Sister Golden Hair
A Horse With No Name
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