Peter Frampton brought his farewell concert tour presented by SiriusXM to the Vina Robles Amphitheatre in Paso Robles on Oct. 3, and just when you thought it couldn't get any better with all of the great summer concerts at the venue, it does.

Frampton put on a fantastic performance that I felt for sure was one of the best this summer, singing many of his hits, including “Baby I Love Your Way,” “Do You Feel Like We Do” and the sensational instrumental “Soundgarden.”

The whole summer has been great, with incredible shows such as Foreigner, Chicago, ZZ Top, Ringo Starr, Earth Wind & Fire and many others. It’s like comparing apples to oranges, but the winner in my book goes to Frampton because of his stage backdrops, special effects and camera work that were second to none.

As a performer, Frampton is one of the best. He is best known for his hit album “Frampton Comes Alive,” which sold more than 18 million copies worldwide and held the distinction of being the best-selling live rock album in history until 1998. Another distinction is that Frampton was inducted into the Musicians Hall of Fame in 2014 and won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Album for “Fingerprints” in 2007.

Frampton also served as a technical adviser on Cameron Crowe’s 2000 film “Almost Famous” as well as appearing in it and writing songs for the soundtrack. Frampton also has appeared as himself on the television shows “The Simpsons” and “Family Guy.”

He has finished a double LP vinyl version of “All Blues,” Frampton’s first-ever blues album with the Peter Frampton Band that is out now to buy. The vinyl version includes the bonus track “I Feel So Good” (written by Big Bill Broonzy, originally performed by Muddy Waters) and is available as a limited-edition translucent blue color pressing exclusively at PeterFrampton.com.

Frampton will retire at the end of this year because of his diagnosis of the autoimmune disease inclusion body myositis. IBM is a progressive muscle disorder characterized by muscle inflammation, weakness and atrophy.

During Frampton’s farewell tour, $1 of every ticket sold, as well as any donations, will benefit the Peter Frampton Myositis Research Fund at the Johns Hopkins Myositis Center, a newly established fund by Frampton and the center, where he’s being treated.

The bittersweet truth is that Frampton is at the top of his game and is going out in a blaze of glory, as he showed his fans at the Vina Robles Amphitheatre. His touring band includes Adam Lester (guitar and vocals), Rob Arthur (keyboards, guitar and vocals), Steve Mackey (base guitar) and Dan Wojciechowski (drums).

In closing, it’s sad to see the concert season coming to a close soon. I encourage anyone who hasn’t been to this venue to give it a try, as it’s one of the best on the Central Coast.

Set List

» Baby Somethin’s Happening
» Lying
» Lines On My Face
» Show Me the Way
» The Lodger
» Georgia On My Mind
» Me and My Guitar
» Same Old Blues
» Breaking All the Rules
» Black Hole Sun
» I’ll Give You the Money
» Baby, I Love Your Way
» Do You Feel Like We Do
» While My Guitar Gently Weeps

— Gary Lambert is a Noozhawk contributor. The opinions expressed are his own.

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