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Apr 28, 2009 Web Exclusive By Nate Daly

One month after Woodstock and after more than ten years of not being on the music charts, Little Richard took the stage at Varsity Stadium in Toronto determined to light the crowd on fire. Dressed in a mirrored shirt, a 30-pound gold chain, silver bell bottoms, and sporting a ridiculously tall pompadour wig, he opens his set with “Blueberry Hill” and “Lucille,” relatively tame in comparison of what was to come. After “Lucille,” Little Richard demands that the stage and stadium lights be turned off, leaving a single spotlight shining on him. Arms outstretched, he becomes a giant, sweaty disco ball, leaving his smoking band in the shadow and leaving the camera operators with nothing to focus on except Little Richard’s eyeliner. Truly “the prettiest man in show business.”

During “Good Golly, Miss Molly,” he climbs up on top of his piano and throws his white leather boots to the crowd, followed by his enormous gold chain, surely maiming someone. Leading the audience in a clap-along during “Rip It Up,” he ends up repeating the song three times, charging through the revved up rock song and energizing the throng. The short “Keep on Knockin’” is monopolized by two teen Canucks groping on the lawn. Luckily, he plays the song twice, so we don’t miss out on the back shot of Little Richard’s pompadour eclipsing the spotlight. Pulling three hippies on stage for “Jenny, Jenny,” a few crowd shots show a swarm of bodies going crazy, which is only elevated when he tears his shirt off. His set ends with an extended take of “Long Tall Sally.”

The kids may have been into The Doors and the Plastic Ono Band (also on the bill), but Little Richard came to please and his performance delivers. A month later, he would appear at the Rock ‘n’ Roll Spectacular at Madison Square Garden, kicking off several years of ’50s nostalgia and reigniting his career. (www.shoutfactory.com)

Author rating: 5/10