We covered Peter Frampton’s 2016 show in Raleigh, North Carolina when he opened for the late Greg Allman. In February of 2019, he announced that he had developed a rare degenerative muscular disease after a fall onstage. He was feeling the effects of the disease in his fingers and knew there might come a day when he would not be able to play the guitar again. So, he announced his farewell tour, which we were unable to see. That show in 2016 would be the last time that we would see the guitar icon perform live in concert. Well, at least we thought. In 2023, he announced his Never Say Never Tour and he was coming to the same venue that we covered him at in 2016.

The tour made a stop in Raleigh, North Carolina on June 24, 2023 at the beautiful Red Hat Amphitheater in downtown Raleigh. Early on in the day, there was a threat of Mother Nature making this a rain soaked show, but it cleared up shortly before showtime. We love to people watch when we go to these shows and this one was very interesting. I noticed all the different types of band shirts being worn to the show. The selection was quite interesting as we saw everything from KISS to Dinosaur Jr. to Agent Orange to Agnostic Front being represented at this show. I’m not sure if it is because of Frampton’s wide influence over guitarists over the years or not. There were also multiple generations there as many kids and parents attended together. We tried hard to find three generations of fans there together but we were unable to.

The show started just a few minutes after 8:00 with no opening act. I had read reports that Frampton was performing the show sitting down, so this was going to be very interesting. The band had taken their spots and Frampton was the last one to hit the stage walking with a cane and a noticeable limp. 

A lot of groundwork from Frampton’s career was covered during the show including Humble Pie and of course his solo career. “Shine On” by Humble Pie was the second song of the set and it was pretty damn awesome! An absolutely beautiful instrumental version of “Georgia on My Mind” was also included. The hits or Frampton staples were there including “Show Me the Way” and “Baby I Love Your Way.” You’re probably already familiar with it thanks to the internet, but Frampton has been doing an incredible version of the Soundgarden classic “Black Hole Sun” for years. Yes, that was present as well, with his voxbox of course, and it was blistering hot! 

Frampton told a funny story about the drums that were being played that night. It seems that they former drummer John Siomos played that kit on the landmark Frampton Comes Alive! album. Frampton said he had to buy them a second time when he found them on Ebay, but had to pay much more for them this time!     The band finished the set with “Do You Feel Like We Do.” I’m not sure, but I think our version last much longer than the 14:15 version found on Frampton Comes Alive! Yes, the infamous vox-box was used with Frampton cracking jokes even telling that he had to get hsi teth fixed because using the vox-box messes them up! Instead of the traditional leaving and playing peek a boo before returning to play a few more songs, the band remained onstage with Frampton addressing the situation. The band then ripped into an amazing cover of “Four Day Creep” by Ida Cox. Frampton then touched on his Humble Pie days again with a rousing version of “I Don’t Need No Doctor.” He closed the show out with an utterly brilliant cover of The Beatles’ classic “While My Guitar Gently Weeps.” The show clocked in at about two hours and forty minutes! 

The show was kind of loose and it seemed at times as if the band extended some of the songs and turned them into mini jam sessions in different parts. The band itself was incredibly tight and sounded so amazing! If anyone is wondering if sitting in a chair for the entire show is going to affect the way he plays, and I’m sure there are plenty who are, well then you’re in for something rather special. He didn’t sit still while playing; he was all over that seat! He squirmed back and form like a little impatient kid. The crucial guitar faces were there as well, which I love seeing. He never stood up until after the last song was played and the band stood together to bow. I swear, I think having to remain seated through the entire show added an element to his playing that I have never seen or heard before. It’s something that you can’t really describe in words; rather it’s something you have to experiences to truly appreciate. 

There were several moments during the show that you could see that Frampton was truly moved by the yin and yang going on between the audience and the band. He even commented on how special of an evening this particular show was. Now, I know you’re probably saying ‘oh he says that at every show’ but I can’t help but think there was something special there. The look on his face was all you needed to know that it was really something special. I’ve been to hundreds of concerts and I have to say that this show was something powerful and moving. I felt as if I had just attended an amazing day (or night) of church and the message really moved me. After the bow, Frampton said a few words about how blessed he was to still be able to play live. He then closed with teasing a Never Say Never Tour Part Two!

Review & Pix by I’m Music Magazine Owner/Editor Johnny Price