![]() ![]() The voice is frailer, the raspiness a bit more defined in the upper registers. Now at 70, Knopfler’s vocals struggled at times to be heard above the mix of the band. ![]() The expanded live versions fit in perfectly on Straits’ classics like “Once Upon a Time in the West” and the night’s first encore, “Money for Nothing,” which gave drummer Ian Thomas and percussionists Danny Cummings a chance to trade off on the beats while keyboardist and musical director Guy Fletcher got to play “Sting” on the falsetto refrain, “I want my MTV.” These are musicians who’ve played together a long time and it shows-beautifully. The 10-minute opener, “Why Aye Man,” demonstrated how tightly knit the band plays together all in lock step yet each musician exploring his own sounds, which was repeated throughout the evening. And the sold-out crowd was treated to a diverse mix of old and new tunes with extended guitar solos showcasing Knopfler’s unassuming but creative talents. But the entire focus is on the man and his varied songbook of music. Yes, there are the requisite colored lighting schemes and spotlights. Yet his two-hour performance at the Riverside Theater last weekend reinforced why he and his stellar 10-piece band are one of best groups recording and touring today. ![]() It’s been almost 30 years since Mark Knopfler disbanded Dire Straits.
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