Get your laughs out of the way now: I've waited a very long time to see Burton Cummings live.

The Guess Who is one of my top 10 favorite bands, and while I reviewed them in Waukesha in 2007 the only original member then was bassist Jim Kale. The most dynamic part of the Guess Who, lead singer Burton Cummings, wasn't with this veritable tribute band, replaced with a sound-alike stand-in. And let's just say, that band isn't talking to Cummings.

So when I saw that 64-year-old Cummings was playing Summerfest this year, I put it in my calendar early. I watched YouTube videos of his performances; I followed him on Twitter. I knew what to expect.

This was a case of "I'd better see him play, in case I never get the chance again."

I think it was worth it ... but I'm not sure.

In the '70s, Cummings had that wide mustache, framing a grinning mouth that showed amazing range. His unruly, curly hair evoked Canadian classic rock, the originator of amazing music like "No Sugar Tonight, "These Eyes" and "American Woman."

Tonight, Cummings still has the jet black hair, his too-small mustache completely unironic. He looks and sounds like the lead singer of a Guess Who tribute band, his sweet, sweet voice somehow turned lounge singer as he makes beautiful music on his piano.

It was pretty weird, actually. When Cummings hit the high notes (which he seldom attempted and weren't that high ), he sounded so nasally and unlike the voice I've known and loved. He sounded good in the lower registers, but his vocal skills have deteriorated in a way I've never experienced.

Again unironically, clad in a black cat T-shirt, black jeans and black button-down shirt, Cummings sweated his way through a long hot set at the Potawatomi Stage. He brought with him a top-flight backing band, and bantered a lot with the crowd.

Unfortunately, he took repeated digs at the band touring as the Guess Who (which, technically speaking, sounded much better than Cummings tonight). I can see how angry he was, and I don't blame him, but the ever-present griping got old. Cummings also told a nice story about hearing how he found out "American Woman" went #1 when he was playing in Milwaukee in 1970.

But the show just didn't have much luster. Some songs, like "Undone," "Clap For The Wolfman," "No Time" and "Share The Land" sounded great. But others, like "American Woman," started with a long and hokey, Doors-eque intro. All in all, it felt a little sad.

But you know what, Cummings had fun out there, and so did the older, sweaty crowd. We get it: these are his songs, and I just came to watch and to enjoy.

Mostly, I did. But I can't help but be a little disappointed. Cummings once had a voice as good as Freddie Mercury, but that's long gone now.

You can't go back, but hey, you can try. Who can fault him for that?

Set list:

No Sugar Tonight / New Mother Nature

Albert Flasher

Clap for the Wolfman

Laughing

Guns, Guns, Guns

Bus Rider

Undun

Hand Me Down World

Stand Tall

We Just Came From The USA

Saskatoon

These Eyes

I'm Scared

American Woman

Star Baby

No Time

Encore:

Share The Land