Scaggs, McDonald a dynamic double bill

HYANNIS – It was ‘70s night at the Cape Cod Melody Tent on Saturday, as two longtime friends whose voices were a big part of that decade’s soundtrack kicked off a summer long joint tour.

Boz Scaggs and Michael McDonald evenly split the bill, each playing a 75-minute set heavy with their hits, but with nods toward the genres they’ve recently favored. The crossover artists are both described as “blue-eyed soul singers” on their Web sites, but McDonald veered into Motown when he went beyond his Doobie Brothers standards, while Scaggs favored a New Orleans flavor.

Both were in strong voice, despite McDonald’s jokes about reaching AARP status (Scaggs just turned 65; McDonald is 57). The musicians – McDonald behind his keyboard, Scaggs on guitars – were each backed by six-member bands that included outstanding female vocalists. Scaggs offered bluesy numbers and a more laid-back mood, while McDonald’s segment was more hard-driving.

McDonald started the night, with his mane of white hair grown out since his role in the “He Needs a Kidney” parody in the “30 Rock” season finale. He relied heavily on Doobie Brothers standards, starting with “Real Love” and “It Keeps You Runnin’” and moving through “What a Fool Believes.” Highlights of his 14-song set, though, were his yearning “You Don’t Know Me,” and a rousing Motown medley.

Scaggs brought the crowd to its feet with “Lido Shuffle” after slower-tempo, sometimes torchy versions of hits like “Georgia,” “Lowdown,” “Slow Dancer” and “Look What You’ve Done to Me.” Vocalist Ms. Monet stopped the show with “Until You Come Back to Me” and Scaggs seemed happy to yield her the floor.

Scaggs and McDonald will be at Bank of America Pavilion in Boston on Thursday.

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