More than 2,360 miles due west of Tampa is a little place called Las Vegas. And this past Friday night, Barry Manilow was kind enough to bring a slice of Vegas-style glitz and showmanship with him to the St. Pete Times Forum in Tampa.
If you're not a fan of Mr. Manilow, you won't appreciate the costume changes, choreographed dance numbers by the back-up singers, or over-the-top musical presence of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra of Punta Gorda, Fla. But for the legions of fans in attendance, it was a bit like heaven. Red glowsticks in hand, a crowd that was unabashedly in love with the Brooklyn native swayed in time to Barry's jukebox of hits. Some may choose to call them cheesy, but the showman knew who he was playing to and gave them exactly what they all came for — an evening of Manilow magic complete with stories about his music, growing up in New York, and going to the toughest school in America. Not a bad way to spend an evening in Tampa … but if you missed the show, there's always Vegas. Check out the complete setlist and photo gallery from the show after the jump.
This article appears in Jan 20-26, 2011.