Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band live: Conrad, Punta del Este – 2 November 2013

Saturday 2 November 2013 | Live performance | Conrad Punta del Este Resort & Casino, Uruguay | By Beatles Fabdom

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed at the Conrad Punta del Este Resort & Casino in Uruguay on 2 November 2013. Ringo’s first concert in the country was an invitation-only event for the resort’s guests, rather than a show with tickets available to the general public.

The performance formed part of the Conrad’s sixteenth-anniversary celebrations and the opening of its new Enjoy casino facilities. It was the 16th show in the 28-date 2013 All-Starr itinerary, following concerts in São Paulo and Curitiba and preceding the band’s return to Argentina.

Ringo Starr’s first concert in Uruguay

Punta del Este’s Conrad hosted the band in its Salón Punta del Este. The resort stands beside Playa Mansa, on the waterfront of the Uruguayan holiday city. The event’s private format had been announced months earlier: invitations would go to Conrad clients, with no public ticket sale.

The concert coincided with changes at the resort as Enjoy’s casino operation was introduced. Contemporary coverage connected Ringo’s appearance both with the hotel’s anniversary and the casino inauguration. The hotel was still widely identified as the Conrad; the same complex is now known as Enjoy Punta del Este.

Uruguayan reports described an audience standing and clapping during “With A Little Help From My Friends”. El Observador highlighted that closing Beatles song in its review, while other contemporary reports described Ringo alternating between singing at the front of the stage and playing drums with the band.

The 12th All-Starr Band

Ringo’s group brought together Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren, Mark Rivera and Gregg Bissonette. Its concerts shared lead-vocal duties between Ringo and the musicians whose recordings supplied much of the evening’s repertoire.

Lukather sang “Rosanna”, “Africa” and “Hold The Line”; Page led “Kyrie”, “You Are Mine” and “Broken Wings”. Rolie’s songs drew on the Santana repertoire, while Rundgren contributed “I Saw The Light”, “Bang The Drum All Day” and “Love Is The Answer”. Bissonette provided the continuing drum foundation when Ringo moved to the microphone.

The same touring year had taken the group through New Zealand, Australia and Japan. Our account of the Zepp Nagoya concert on 27 February 2013 covers an earlier performance by this line-up.

Setlist

1. Matchbox
2. It Don’t Come Easy
3. Wings
4. I Saw The Light — Todd Rundgren
5. Evil Ways — Gregg Rolie
6. Rosanna — Steve Lukather
7. Kyrie — Richard Page
8. Don’t Pass Me By
9. Bang The Drum All Day — Todd Rundgren
10. Boys
11. Yellow Submarine
12. Black Magic Woman — Gregg Rolie
13. Gypsy Queen — Gregg Rolie
14. You Are Mine — Richard Page
15. Honey Don’t
16. Anthem
17. Africa — Steve Lukather
18. I Wanna Be Your Man
19. Oye Cómo Va — Gregg Rolie
20. Love Is The Answer — Todd Rundgren
21. Broken Wings — Richard Page
22. Hold The Line — Steve Lukather
23. Photograph
24. Act Naturally
25. With A Little Help From My Friends
26. Give Peace A Chance

From Matchbox to Yellow Submarine

The opening “Matchbox” returned to the Carl Perkins song Ringo had sung with the Beatles. “Boys”, “Honey Don’t” and “Act Naturally” also represented the cover versions associated with his Beatles performances, alongside Lennon–McCartney songs “I Wanna Be Your Man”, “Yellow Submarine” and “With A Little Help From My Friends”.

“Don’t Pass Me By” brought Ringo’s own songwriting into that Beatles selection. Released on the White Album in 1968, it sat alongside his later solo successes “It Don’t Come Easy” and “Photograph”.

The programme was not confined to earlier recordings. “Anthem” came from Ringo 2012, while that album also included a new recording of “Wings”, a song Ringo had originally released in the 1970s. Those selections connected the concert with his recent studio work.

Ringo Starr merchandise

The Ringo Starr Colour Peace T-shirt features a colour portrait of Ringo making his familiar peace sign.

The All-Starr repertoire

The concert’s shared format placed Ringo’s recordings beside songs that the other singers had helped make famous. Lukather’s three Toto numbers spanned “Hold The Line”, the band’s early hit, and the Toto IV songs “Rosanna” and “Africa”. Page’s “Kyrie” and “Broken Wings” represented Mr. Mister, with “You Are Mine” adding a solo selection.

Rolie led “Evil Ways”, “Black Magic Woman” and “Gypsy Queen”, and “Oye Cómo Va”. “Black Magic Woman” and “Gypsy Queen” were listed separately in the programme but form the familiar paired sequence from Santana’s Abraxas.

Rundgren’s contributions ranged from his solo “I Saw The Light” to “Love Is The Answer”, first recorded by Utopia. Rivera’s multi-instrumental role and the two drummers allowed the group to move between these different catalogues without bringing on a separate backing band for each singer.

Complete 2013 All-Starr Band tour dates

The 2013 itinerary comprised 28 performances, beginning in Christchurch on 7 February and finishing in Las Vegas on 23 November. The autumn dates below reflect the performed itinerary, including Buenos Aires on 4 November rather than the initially announced Asunción engagement.

Venue map: Conrad, now Enjoy Punta del Este

The former Conrad is now Enjoy Punta del Este, Rambla Claudio Williman, Parada 4, Playa Mansa, Punta del Este, Uruguay. The resort’s current official contact page confirms this waterfront location. This is the same hotel-and-casino complex that hosted the 2013 concert, rather than a replacement venue elsewhere in the city.

Open the former Conrad resort in Google Maps · Current resort contact and location.

Peace-sign portrait T-shirt

The Ringo Starr Peace Red Circle T-shirt pairs a portrait of Ringo with a red circular background on grey fabric.

Frequently asked questions

When did Ringo Starr first perform in Uruguay?

Ringo Starr and his All-Starr Band performed at the Conrad in Punta del Este on 2 November 2013, his first concert in Uruguay.

Could the public buy tickets for the Conrad concert?

No. The concert was an invitation-only event for the resort’s clients, with no public ticket sale.

Who played in the All-Starr Band?

Steve Lukather, Richard Page, Gregg Rolie, Todd Rundgren, Mark Rivera and Gregg Bissonette accompanied Ringo Starr.

What is the Conrad called today?

The resort is now Enjoy Punta del Este, on Rambla Claudio Williman at Parada 4, Playa Mansa.

How many dates were in the 2013 itinerary?

There were 28 performances between 7 February and 23 November 2013.

What was the final tour date?

The tour finished on 23 November 2013 at the Pearl Concert Theater in the Palms Casino Resort, Las Vegas, following a show there on 22 November.

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