Meat Loaf Review

By EVAN PARKER PIERCE

News Staff Reviewer

 

Let me get this out of the way to start: Meat Loaf was a rock star years before I was even born. That’s may not be saying a lot, but even with classics like “Paradise by the Dashboard Light” and “Anything for Love,” the Loaf never had the same influence on my generation as, say, Led Zepplin, the Rolling Stones or the Beatles. But after seeing him perform Tuesday at Darien Lake Performing Art Center, I’m struggling with my preconceived notion that Meat Loaf was simply a rock’n’roll novelty.

True, his act was – and still is – an over-the-top operatic epic, but that’s exactly what current pop culture seems to love. Today’s big ticket trends are gigantic fantasies like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter, while bands like Fall Out Boy and Panic! At The Disco traffic in pop theater; the songs that make up Meat Loaf’s Bat out of Hell albums are of similar stuff. They’re huge, dramatic and more than a little bit campy. And that’s what the Loaf gave his audience Tuesday.

Show opener “Into the Fire” established Meat Loaf’s larger-than-life persona very literally – giant inflatable versions of his entire band exploded onto the stage with the song’s first chords. His band’s sound was as massive as his image, with eight members lending to an almost orchestral-like fullness of sound.

But the trademark of Meat Loaf’s shows is the theatrics, and his band were a big part of that. His back up singers were more than just midriff baring babes, in “I Want My Money Back,” they were both audible and visual representations of temptation, clad in black and white, posing the questions of conscience from opposite sides of the stage. Slightly overwrought, to be sure, but it’s drama that even today’s most serious acts don’t even attempt.

But the Loaf also dodges pretentiousness that comes with heavy theatrics with a self-deprecating sense of humor and an ability to cut loose and simply have fun. In break leading into “Anything for Love,” the Loaf poked fun at his own hefty image (“I was in the shower with all of you, naked, and we all looked beautiful,” he said.). His show also had fun with his long rock star tenure. After an intermission, the band took the stage in garb that would fit in at The World’s Largest Disco, with fringe vests, zebra go-go boots and Meat Loaf reincarnating his younger self – long hair, sloppy tuxedo and red bandanna in his hand to mop his brow.

All the fun had the bittersweet feel of a farewell tour, however. Opening and intermission montages celebrated his career in music and the movies, but seemed like posthumous retrospectives. The Loaf also gave somewhat of a farewell address, saying, “I’ve never said this before, but it is an honor and a privilege to play here in Buffalo.” Lastly, and most disturbingly, it seemed Meat Loaf’s health might be catching up to him. Though laboring through shows is part of his schtick, cracks showed through. His voice cracked where his bellow used to shine, and a clearly out-of-breath Meat Loaf slumping on stools, monitors and microphone stands.

Regardless of whether or not Meat Loaf has another tour in him, the 56-year-old gave himself a send off that removed the tarnish of datedness from his material, refreshing his devotion to drama and theatrics.