Meat Loaf plays Chinook Winds Casino

This article was originally published 01/15/2011 on www.oregonmusicnews.com

By:  Nancy Glass

Meatloaf's "big surprise"

Let’s get one thing straight… I’m NOT a big Meat Loaf fan. But, I’ve been listening to him since his musical debut in the Rocky Horror Picture Show when he sang that memorable song “Hot Patootie – Bless My Soul” back in 1975, and some of his songs have grown on me. So, going to see him live at Chinook Winds Casino was a no-brainer. Besides, at this venue, there are no bad seats!
What’s got Meat Loaf out performing is his latest CD Hang Cool Teddy Bear, which was released on May 11th, 2010 by Loud & Proud Records.
Celebrating his 11th record, Meat Loaf spoke of the album in a video interview: “It’s the most important record of my career. I’ve never been more proud of anything.”

Meatloaf's 11th release Hang Cool Teddy Bear

After picking up the CD and doing my usual listen through, there are a lot of songs in the “Meat Loaf style”–that is to say, lots of pounding guitars and heavy bass drums with a wall of sound type production value. Even a couple of the songs, while Jim Steinman did not write them, are perfect for Meatloaf.
The track that has been receiving airplay across the US since the release is “LosAngeloser.” Unusually poppy for Meat Loaf, it’s one of those songs if you hear it once, you won’t be able to get it out of your head.
Imagine my surprise then hearing only 3 songs off the CD in the two-hour set! Cashing in on his familiar songs, Meat Loaf’s third song of the night was title song from Bat Out Of Hell. He also sang “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through,” “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth,” “I Would Do Anything for Love,” and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.”
“This song was written on a bet” Meat said, as the intro for “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad” began on guitar. “A bet was made to Jim Steinman that he couldn’t write a song simply, such as ‘I Want You I Need You I Love You’ by Elvis Presley. He looked around and looked at a woman nearby and said to her… ‘I want you. I need you. But there ain’t no way I’m ever gonna love you. Now don’t be sad. Cause two out of three ain’t bad.’ Within five Jimmy had the entire song done.”
Closing the night with the song “Paradise by The Dashboard Lights,” a “big surprise” was brought on stage toward the end of the song. With the help of his female lead vocalist, Patti Russo, a very large penis-shaped air gun, shot white tee shirts in to the sold out crowd. Let me tell you, it was pandemonium for this over 40 crowd.
For a man who is 63-years-old, or as he says “sexty-three-years-old,” he’s looking good and puts on a lively, energetic show.
You can see it in his face… this man loves what he’s doing.