Another day in paradise for the Detroit Rock Dogg & the lovely BLT. A iffy Saturday night weather wise, dinner and drinks in the VIP Starlight lounge with dear friends Jimmy & Peggy, followed by 3 1/2 hours of classic rock. Can it get any better than this?
The Dogg has been taking some heat from followers of my blog because they say I always write positive reviews. My opinion is that the classic rock bands touring today are better now musically, lighting, and staging than in their heydays. A lot of this has to do with the improved sound systems and better mixing. Even more to do with the familiar songs that we all want to hear. Todays review will give my detractors even more fodder for critisism. THIS SHOW WAS NEAR PERFECT!!!
Kansas takes the stage at 6:45 (15 minutes early) and proceeds to play Popint of no Return, Carry on my Wayward Son, Fight Fire with Fire, Song for America, Hold On, The Wall, Play the Game and closed with Dust in the Wind. Steve Walsh was spot on his vocals and keyboards were awesome. As usual for a Kansas show, the guitar, violin, and bass kept a steady and strong companion for Walsh's vocals. The 45 minute set flew by and left us wanting more.
One of the questions we all had going in was "who is playing second" was answered when Styx hit the stage at 7:50. Tommy Shaw, James Young, Tommy Panozzo, Todd Sucherman, Lawrence Gowan and Ricky Phillips kicked it out strong, loud and proud! From the opening medley of 6 Styx songs rolled into one, followed by Blue Collar Man, Miss America, Too Much Time on my Hands, Fooling Yourself, Crystal Ball, Loreilie, Renegade, I am the Walrus, I Don't Need no Doctor, and the encore of Come Sail Away were all played flawlessly, with an appreciative crowd standing and singing all the way through. We would have loved another 45 minutes, but the 1 hour 20 minute show was good enough. "Great job men"!
At 20 till 10:00 Foreigner took the stage and the crowd was in great form!The opening of Dirty White Boy followed by Hot Blooded, Juke Box Hero, Urgent, Cold as Ice, (two new songs, one good and one weak), followed by Starrider, Head Games, with a closing Feels like the First Time. A cover of Aqualung was the encore. Strong performance by Mick jones Kelly Hanson, and the rest of the band. BLT and her favorite Dogg saw the Lou Gramm Band at Andiamos this winter and as I told Lou at that show, "Kelly is you, minus 25 years and 50 pounds"! He agreed that Kelly Hanson is a very strong vocalist and in my opinion a better showman than Lou.
Overall, this was an awesome night and worth every penny.
Crowd A
Weather C
Sound A
Lighting B
Staging B+
Line up A
Atmosphere A+
Overall we all ranked this show a strong A
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