Shows
Kansas/Styx/Foriegner - Queensryche Cabaret - Ratt - Sevendust/Drowning Pool
Kansas/Styx/Foriegner - Citizens Business Bank Arena - Ontario, CA 05/10By Jeffrey Easton
Back in the days before the likes of Motley Crue and Judas Priest ruled the arenas, the power chords that excited fans belonged to another brand of rock. The forefront of that movement belonged to the three bands that were on this bill: Kansas, Styx and Foreigner. Songs like Dirty White Boy, Cold As Ice, Renegade, Come Sail Away, Carry On Wayward Son and Play The Game Tonight all rocked the charts and still dominate classic rock radio. While most bands fade away into obscurity these bands still release relevant material, still put on a great show and still bring in the fans in droves. Kansas hit the stage to a thunderous applause and it was on. They were on tour promoting their 35th Anniversary DVD : There’s Know Place Like Home. They have toured the world for over three decades but they still play like the hungry young band they once were. They peppered the set with classics like Point Of Know Return, Dust In The Wind, Carry On Wayward Son, Hold On and Icarus and held the audience through every note. Steve Walsh is still a phenomenal singer and Rich Williams is ever the amazing six stringer. I would have loved to hear Play the Game Tonight but I still loved what I heard. Styx, what can be said about this class act that has not been said before? They still rock with authority with Tommy Shaw and James “JY” Young still one of the best guitar duos around. That being said, they powered their way through Styx classics that I am sure will be on playlists at rock radio for years to come. Count them down: The Grand illusion, Too Much Time On My Hands, Renegade and Come Sail Away to name the hard side. I did like hearing Lady updated as well as Lorelei, they both sound great 35 plus years later. I on the other hand did not like the medley of tunes, I think Mr Roboto should have gotten its own time and not diced up with some other material. I also think High Enough should have been left out as well as there are way to many Styx songs that could be played and the Damn Yankees are not Styx. I did rather enjoy watching Gowan perform with his keyboard, that’s a showman so to speak….. Foreigner were the headliners and they acted every bit the part. Kelly Hansen is the ultimate performer and fronting a band on the arena circuit, which is where he belongs, is his calling. He took the Foreigner tracks to places they have not been before and made tunes 30 years old new again. They are touring on a new record, Cant Slow Down, which is their best in many years and a new lease on Life. The set list was gold, Double Vision, Head Games, Juke Box Hero, Cold As Ice and to my amazement, Starrider!! What a great trip to the beginning! They played In Pieces and Cant Slow Down from the new record and they sound stunning: great new additions to the Foreigner catalog. Kelly’s input to the Foreigner sound with the new material seemingly makes them sound like a new band with classic roots. If you missed this tour, you missed a piece of what makes classic rock radio tick and what the new rock generation can take for their own. BUY Cant Slow Down!!!! BUY STYX: The Complete Wooden Nickel Recordings!!! BUY There’s Know Place Like Home!!! |
Queensryche Cabaret - Aqua Caliente Casino - Palm Springs, CA 5/10By Jeffrey Easton
I know you are asking the same thing I was asking myself when I first heard about the Queensryche Cabaret. What exactly is it and how can this heavy band pull of that? A Cabaret is form of entertainment featuring comedy, song, dance, and theatre, distinguished mainly by the performance venue—a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables (often dining or drinking) watching the performance being introduced by a master of ceremonies, or Emcee. So that out of the way how did they pull it off considering their past and the material they have issued? I must say they did quite well. They went through their catalog of material and chose songs that best fit the scene that was in Geoff’s mind and made it work. I Am I featured Geoff flocked by a horde of paparazzi and with Lady Wore Black, Geoff serenaded a lady in black that happened to be a transsexual etc. You get the message. The theme was Geoff finding love and seemingly looking in all the wrong places. He talked about traveling different places which of course set up Jet City Woman, which drew raves from the crowds. Speaking of, the crowd was half and half. The fans that knew what they were coming to see got it but there were some that did not understand what they were seeing and grumbled. I got it and I enjoyed it. Geoff Tate is a showman at heart and with this show it comes out in spades but he pulled it off. The set did include some great gems like Tribe, Another Rainy Night, Lady Jane, Roads To Madness and Thin Line amongst other rarities. The band was tight and new guitarist Parker Lundgren had the riffs to match Michaels solos. It was a circus on stage and Geoff was the ringmaster but a well-orchestrated circus. I will say the women that Queensryche employed to do the burlesque end of the show as well as the go go dancers looked great, they ran the gamut from skinny to full figured and they did a great job as part of the show. If you are in the mood for a different rock n roll show then you Need this. They are doing more shows this summer as the Cabaret so it is a must see for the ears AND the Eyes. the performance venue—a restaurant or nightclub with a stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables (often dining or drinking) watching the performance being introduced by a master of ceremonies, or Emcee. So that out of the way how did they pull it off considering their past and the material they have issued? I must say they did quite well. They went through their catalog of material and chose songs that best fit the scene that was in Geoff’s mind and made it work. I Am I featured Geoff flocked by a horde of paparazzi and with Lady Wore Black, Geoff serenaded a lady in black that happened to be a transsexual etc. You get the message. The theme was Geoff finding love and seemingly looking in all the wrong places. He talked about traveling different places which of course set up Jet City Woman, which drew raves from the crowds. Speaking of, the crowd was half and half. The fans that knew what they were coming to see got it but there were some that did not understand what they were seeing and grumbled. I got it and I enjoyed it. Geoff Tate is a showman at heart and with this show it comes out in spades but he pulled it off. The set did include some great gems like Tribe, Another Rainy Night, Lady Jane, Roads To Madness and Thin Line amongst other rarities. The band was tight and new guitarist Parker Lundgren had the riffs to match Michaels solos. It was a circus on stage and Geoff was the ringmaster but a well-orchestrated circus. I will say the women that Queensryche employed to do the burlesque end of the show as well as the go go dancers looked great, they ran the gamut from skinny to full figured and they did a great job as part of the show. If you are in the mood for a different rock n roll show then you Need this. They are doing more shows this summer as the Cabaret so it is a must see for the ears AND the Eyes. BUY AMERICAN SOLDIER! BUY SIGN OF THE TIMES: THE BEST OF QUEENSRYCHE! Queensryche |
Ratt - House of Blues - Cleveland, OH 05/10By: William Alexander
The 2010 Infestation tour and the new “Infestation” record…..the boys from RATT selected the perfect name for their new record and tour! RATT has successfully “re-infested” the music scene with what looks to be a great tour and an incredible record. The new record is ear candy for any RATT fan and is evident they stuck to their roots as this record is “Invasion Of Your Privacy” meets “Dancing Undercover” which were both killer records. However, this is a show review not a record review….so, on with the show! The venue was House of Blues in Cleveland, and the band was RATT. The band came to rock and they delivered a powerful and perfectly selected song set list. The lineup includes three of the original five members in Stephen Pearcy, Warren Demartini, and Bobby Blotzer. Rounded out by Robbie Crane (bass, he has been with the band for many years now) and former Quiet Riot guitarist Carlos Cavazo, this RATT lineup has great chemistry and they were on their game for this show! In talking with several fans before the show and with the band after the show, energy levels were high and this helped to fuel what ended up being simply a killer show. The band opened with “You’re In Love” and went right into “Lay It Down” both off of the Invasion Of Your Privacy record. The set list was jammed with hit after hit and made you realize this band was and is still a force in the rock world. The guitar duo of Warren Demartini and Carlos Cavazo sounded as good as just the mention of those names! Two guitar legends together driving the killer riffs and guitar rhythms song after song. The set list included other RATT classics like “Back For More”, “Lack of Communication”, “You Think You’re Tough”, “I Want A Woman”, “Wanted Man”, “Way Cool Jr.”, “Body Talk”, and “Slip Of The Lip”. Get the picture yet?? Ready to see this show?? As I mentioned the outstanding new “Infestation” record, I was hoping to hear some of the new tracks performed live. The band delivered by playing a few songs off the new record including “Last Call”, “Eat Me Up Alive”, and the new hit single “Best Of Me”. If you did not know RATT, you would have thought these songs were also from that 80’s era of the RATT tidal wave of hit songs. Great songs, great record. The band closed the show with the infamous classic “Round And Round”. This was the perfect finish to a great show. The only blurb of the show was when Pearcy screamed out “Come on Chicago”…..I guess all the House of Blues venues start looking the same after awhile?? Honestly, I don’t think any one noticed or cared as there was a good time had by all and this is a must see show for any RATT fan. And, if any of you RATT fan parents out there are looking to introduce your younger little Rockers to a great band and great rock show…..pull out a vintage t-shirt and take them!! This tour will continue, as bass player Robbie Crane shared with me after the show, the band will be joining forces with the Scorpions for a summer tour starting in July with the first show in Nashville. Make no mistake about it, the boys from RATT are back for more and there are still more great times ahead for this RATT gang! www.therattpack.com BUY INFESTATION! |
Sevendust/Drowning Pool - House of Blues - Anaheim, CA 03/10By Jeffrey Easton
A solid ball of rock descended upon the Anaheim House Of Blues in the form of Sevendust and it was a loud explosion once it landed. Sevendust are out in support of their much anticipated new record Cold Day Memory and they were here to deliver. Sevendust are the consummate rock band from Atlanta that survived the demise of most of the bands that came out of the late 90’s so called Nu Metal scene. They have proliferated the senses of the rock masses with sick records like Next, Animosity and Home and now with Cold Day Memory they assault to the top of the metal heap should be complete. This trek had them out with fellow nu metal stalwarts Drowning Pool who themselves have a new record out as well with their S/T release that blisters heavily. The riffs and aggressive vocals that flow through their new album are fluid and it translates well into the live setting. They came out to the heavy blast of Enemy and it was on.. Soldiers of course was on tap as well as Step Up and 37 Stitches as they blew through their short but insanity filled setlist. Feel Like I Do and All About Me from the new record was in there as a teaser and with the release of the S/T I am sure they will throw half of the new album in. They may not be the Drowning Pool per se that blew onto the scene a decade ago but with Ryan McCombs still out front this band is not going to go away and will only grow stronger. Sevendust was up next and they still have what it takes to own a crowd and tonight proved it. They as well have a sickening new record out entitled Cold Day Memory and it stands as their best to date, period. The riffs are dark and the melodies are haunting, in a word, a Sevendust album. Their set was long and the throng that was somehow stuffed into the House Of Blues was taking in every note as if it was their last show. The show opened with Black from the debut and the house ignited. Driven and Alpha from Alpha were thrown at the crowd next and the intensity swelled. All of their records were well represented, nothing was left out and Unraveling from the new record was as intense as the old material. I remember living in Atlanta seeing this band begin to happen and it is a nod to their fan base to keep them going this long. If you have yet to see these great bands live then you are cheating yourself out of a great rock experience. http://www.sevendust.com/ BUY COLD DAY MEMORY! http://www.drowningpool.com/ BUY DROWNING POOL |