At eighty years old, the legendary soul singer spent much of the concert seated, but his spirit and radiant enthusiasm lifted an adoring audience.
By John Lavitt
Hollywood, CA (The Hollywood Times) 08-17-2026
In difficult times, there are nights when music offers more than entertainment. It offers a refuge. On August 14 at the Hollywood Bowl, Al Green transported thousands of fans back to a soulful era when love and desire were the name of a much more pleasant game.
The Womack Sisters opened with infectious energy, warming up the excited crowd with a sound rooted in one of American music’s royal bloodlines. BG, Zeimani, and Kucha Womack are the daughters of Cecil and Linda Womack, the granddaughters of Sam Cooke, and the nieces of Bobby Womack. Performing on the release date of their self-titled Daptone Records debut, they honored that extraordinary inheritance while revealing plenty of personality of their own.
Then Green arrived, surrounded by one of the finest big bands on the road. With gleaming horns, supple rhythms, gospel-flavored backing vocals, and arrangements rich enough to fill the vast Bowl, the musicians provided a magnificent foundation. At eighty, Green had to perform much of the concert seated. Yet the chair never became the focal point. His joy did.
Green’s voice no longer has every ounce of its youthful silk, but the essential instrument remains: the teasing phrasing, sudden falsetto, preacher’s cry, and an unmistakable ability to turn romantic yearning into spiritual release.
“I Can’t Stop” and “I Can’t Get Next to You” set the evening’s tone, while “Everything’s Gonna Be Alright” conveyed Green’s reassuring optimism. A joyous medley of “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie Honey Bunch),” “Bring It On Home to Me,” “My Girl,” and “(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay” and more became a whirlwind celebration of the soul tradition that shaped him.
However, Green’s own classics formed the emotional heart of the evening. “Tired of Being Alone,” “I’m Still in Love With You,” and “Simply Beautiful” revealed the many dimensions he found in romantic desire. “Take Me to the River” brought the Bowl to life, while “Love and Happiness” captured the evening’s purpose.
Green was not pretending that age had left him untouched. Instead, surrounded by superb musicians and sustained by his fans’ devotion, he showed that delight can endure time.
For a little while, the world outside the Bowl felt less angry, less divided, and less frightening. Al Green took us to a happy place. Even more beautiful, he seemed genuinely happy to be there with us.
