Don McLean Proves the Music Never Died at Santa Barbara’s Lobero Theatre

Don McLean | Lobero Theatre | Santa Barbara, CA | photos by L. Paul Mann

There is a specific kind of magic that occurs when a legendary songwriter meets a venue that predates them by nearly a century. On Friday night, the historic Lobero Theatre provided the perfect velvet-lined backdrop for Don McLean, the “American Troubadour,” to guide a sold-out crowd through more than five decades of musical history.

McLean graced the Lobero stage on Friday, February 6th, before heading to Beverly Hills the following evening. For those in attendance in Santa Barbara, it was an evening of “starry, starry nights” and rhythmic nostalgia—an intimate masterclass in American songwriting delivered by an artist who has long since secured his place in the canon.

Now 80, McLean utilized every inch of the Lobero’s famed “living room” acoustics. Backed by a razor-sharp touring band of elite Nashville session musicians, he moved seamlessly between folk-revival storytelling and the country-rock energy that has defined his later years. While his tenor has naturally deepened, the delivery remains raw and authentic. Between songs, he shared sharp-witted anecdotes about his early days in the 1960s coffeehouse circuit, grounding the evening in lived history rather than mere nostalgia.

McLean’s current touring lineup has been with him for decades, bringing both polish and a deep sense of musical intuition to the stage. Musical director and keyboardist Tony Migliore anchors the group with elegant piano work that shapes the emotional core of ballads like “And I Love You So” and “Castles in the Air.” A veteran producer, arranger, and conductor, Migliore’s resume stretches across Nashville royalty, and his three-decade partnership with McLean is evident in every cue and dynamic shift.

On lead guitar, Vip Vipperman shifts effortlessly between folk-rock strumming and crisp, melodic leads, giving the songs both lift and bite. Bassist Ralph Childs locks into the groove with understated, melodic precision—true “pocket” playing that supports the narrative arc of each tune. Drummer Jerry Kroon, one of Nashville’s most recorded percussionists, supplies both delicate restraint and driving energy, guiding the band through the hushed stillness of “Vincent” and the communal surge of “American Pie.”

The pacing of the evening felt deliberate and seasoned. The show opened with “Headroom” and “Botanical Gardens,” mid-tempo selections that highlighted the tight chemistry of the band and set a comfortable tone. McLean then leaned into his 1970s balladeer persona with “And I Love You So” and “Castles in the Air,” reminding the audience of the poetic precision that made him a household name.

Midway through the set, he paid homage to the artists who shaped him, delivering Roy Orbison’s “Crying” and Buddy Holly’s “Fool’s Paradise” with a reverent but spirited rockabilly edge. These moments underscored McLean’s deep roots in early rock and roll and the lineage that runs through his own catalog.

The emotional peak arrived with “Vincent (Starry, Starry Night).” Bathed in a single spotlight, the Lobero fell into near-silence. You could hear a pin drop as McLean’s voice carried the aching tribute to Van Gogh across the hushed theater. It was a reminder that simplicity, when paired with sincerity, can still hold an audience captive.

The inevitable climax came with “American Pie.” The eight-minute anthem transformed the Lobero into one giant choir, every verse sung back with near-religious fervor. It was less a performance than a communal ritual—proof that some songs transcend generational boundaries and remain living, breathing artifacts of shared memory.

By the final notes, McLean had proven that while “the music died” in his most famous lyric, his ability to bring it back to life remains untouched. It was a poignant, celebratory, and quintessentially American evening—one where history and immediacy met in perfect harmony inside Santa Barbara’s most storied theater.