Steve Winwood
Marcus Amphitheater
Milwaukee, Wi.
July 5, 2008

Source: Audio Technica AT-899 omnis => Edirol R-09
Transfer: R-09 => WAV => Magix Audio Cleaning Lab => WAV => FLAC (level 8)

Location: Beside stage, Right side, 2nd row

Track listing:

(1) I'm a Man (5:10)
(2) Hungry Man (8:00)
(3) I'm Not Drowning (3:47)
(4) Can't Find My Way Home (5:03)
(5) Banter (0:54)
(6) Dear Mr. Fantasy (9:50)
(7) Fly (7:50)
(8) Higher Love (7:47)
(9) Band introductions (1:00)
(10) Higher Ground (8:55)
(11) Gimme Some Lovin' (6:11)

Total time: 64:32

Checksum file is included.

Comments:

As opening sets go, the Steve Winwood performance opening for Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers was pretty good. Like all other dates from the current tour, Winwood relied heavily on material from his new album, "Nine Lives," which to me was not necessarily a positive (I felt these songs, for the most part, were pretty long and meandering). Since he didn't join the Heartbreakers on this night, both "Can't Find My Way Home" and "Gimme Some Lovin'" appeared in the opening set, which predictably met with tremendous applause. Altogether, a pleasant hour waiting for the headliner.

The recording itself is pretty good; I was second row next to the stage, which is normally lethal for a taper. The sound was much better than usual up close due to the positioning of overhead speakers that pointed directly down on us; I'm sure it was even better 10 or 15 rows back, but I was relatively pleased with the recording. Balance and dynamics are pretty good -- overall a very listenable recording (probably a B+).

Mp3 samples are attached.