Michael McDonald at the Rooftop at Pier 17

Michael McDonald & Mark Douthit

While in high school in Ferguson, Missouri, Michael McDonald played in several local bands. Hoping to further a career in music while in a band called Blue, he moved in 1970 to Los Angeles, California. In 1974, McDonald became a member of Steely Dan's touring and studio band, singing and playing keyboards. The Doobie Brothers recruited McDonald in 1975, initially as a temporary replacement when primary vocalist Tom Johnston became ill during a national tour. McDonald’s work with the Doobie Brothers proved so successful that the band retained him as a full-time member. From then on, McDonald sang the lead vocals on many of the Doobie Brothers’ best-known songs. The Doobie Brothers announced a farewell tour, and so McDonald became a solo artist, recording his first solo album in 1982. For his work both with the Doobie Brothers and with James Ingram, McDonald has won five Grammy Awards. He released his ninth and most recent solo album, Wide Open, on September 15, 2017. McDonald now resides in Santa Barbara, California.

Promoting his first album of original songs in 17 years, Michael McDonald headlined tonight at the new 2,400-seated-capacity open-air Rooftop at Pier 17. For nearly two hours McDonald sang and played piano and guitar, accompanied by vocalist Drea Rheneé, guitarist Bernie Chiaravalle, keyboardist Pat Coil, saxophonist Mark Douthit, bassist Jacob Lowery, and drummer Dan Needham. Although McDonald did not play all his hits, he played enough of them, and interspersed with newer songs, escorted the audience alternatingly between intentional listening and chanting along to familiar choruses. McDonald’s distinctively throaty voice charmed with a soulful ache, especially since many of his lyrics dwelled on bruised relationships, and his jazz-rooted band added muscular solos to the “quiet storm” mood of the rhythm and blues-based compositions. McDonald recorded a duet with the late Aretha Franklin in 1991, so fittingly, his set included a cover of her “Ain't No Way.” The concert was a sophisticated and classy event from start to finish, even when rain started to fall during his three-song tribute to Motown Records during the encore.

Visit Michael McDonald at www.MichaelMcDonald.com.

Setlist:

1. Yah Mo B There (James Ingram cover)
2. Here to Love You (The Doobie Brothers song)
3. I Keep Forgettin' (Every Time You're Near)
4. Find It in Your Heart
5. Just Strong Enough
6. Ain't No Way (Aretha Franklin cover)
7. Sweet Freedom
8. On My Own (Patti LaBelle cover)
9. Hail Mary
10. Beautiful Child
11. Half Truth
12. Minute by Minute (The Doobie Brothers song)
13. What a Fool Believes (Kenny Loggins cover)

Encore:

1. Ain't No Mountain High Enough (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell cover)
2. Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing (Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell cover)
3. What's Going On (Marvin Gaye cover)
4. Takin' It to the Streets (The Doobie Brothers song)