The Scorpions delivered a spectacular performance at Bakkt Theater in Las Vegas in the penultimate performance of their month-long residency. They showed an abundance of energy and their cohesive style displayed that Klaus Meine and Rudolf Schenker have been performing together for nearly 60 years. From the start of their two-hour set, the sold out crowd of over 8,000 fans were clapping and cheering, as they did throughout the entire show. The Scorpions opened with “Coming Home,” showcasing Klaus Meine’s vocals, which were as forceful and strong as ever. The heavy-metal German supergroup followed with “Gas In The Tank” from their most recent album, Rock Believer, which engulfed the crowd and featured great guitar riffs from Matthias Jabs and serious pounding from drummer Mikkey Dee.
Another fan favorite, “The Zoo,” rocked the entire theater, especially Matthias Solo on talk box and Klaus lobbing drum sticks as souvenirs to the enthusiastic crowd. “Crossfire” and “Bad Boys Running Wild” segued into “Delicate Dance” as Rudy and Klaus exited the stage, allowing Matthias to perform a super-charged solo, with assistance from his guitar tech Ingo Powitzer, and Pawel Maclwooda and Mikky Dee to provide a jazz-like groove. The Scorpions then performed an emotional rendition of “Send Me An Angel,” dedicated to their late, former band member James Kottak. They followed with “Winds of Change” which resonated with the audience in light of current world affairs. “Please Me, Tease Me,” a Matthias Jabs composition, elevated the energy and volume of the audience even more. Mikky Dee shined with a monster drum solo and featured great visuals from the large screen above the stage. During the classic “Blackout,” Rudy running and exploring the entire stage while wearing his forks-in-the-eye Blackout mask, stoked the crowd with his smoking guitar. “Big City Nights” featured great vocals from Klaus, whose pipes are like a bottle of fine wine as it gets better with age! For their encore, the band that is way overdue to be enshrined in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, performed “Still Loving You” and a highly-charged “Rock You Like A Hurricane,” which had the entire crowd rocking to in unison.
Las Vegas will be the only US dates for the Scorpions in 2024. It is likely, though, that they will embark on a US tour in 2025 to celebrate The Scorpions 60th anniversary. Their loyal fans will demand it!
Kamelot/ HammerFall/ Ad Infinitum May 6, 2024 Tannahill’s Tavern & Music Hall Fort Worth, TX
Photos and review by Andy Laudano
It was a metal invasion of the Wild West when Kamelot and HammerFall’s current U.S. tour stopped at Tannahill’s Taven & Music Hall in the Fort Worth Stockyards. Tannahill’s is a brand new, state of the art, live venue with killer sound and lighting. Before the show you can chill in the lounge or grab a bite in the restaurant. This is a great place for concerts.
Support on this tour was provided by the Swiss/German symphonic metal band Ad Infinitum, led by vocalist Melissa Bonny. They tour with Kamelot frequently as it not only provides the band with great exposure in front of many fans seeing and hearing them for the first time, but it also allows Melissa to join Kamelot later in the night as a guest vocalist. Bonny has a beautiful mezzo soprano voice, but she can also switch to death metal growls. The band quickly won over the Fort Worth crowd and had them warmed up and ready for the following acts.
Sweden’s HammerFall are one of the top power metal bands in the world and could have just as easily headlined the show themselves. With 12 incredible albums and a thirteenth about to drop later this year, the hardest task was trying to fit as many hits as possible into a one hour setlist. Every song they played could have easily been found on a greatest hits compilation. The band, which includes founder/guitarist Oscar Dronjak, Joacim Cans (vocals), Pontus Norgren (guitars), Fredrik Larsson (bass) and David Wallin (drums) has never sounded better. Each member was full of energy, which the jam packed crowd for a Monday night returned to them in kind. Highlights included “Any Means Necessary,” “Renegade,” “Hammer High,” “Last Man Standing” and their signature song “Let the Hammer Fall.” Their all too short set came to an end with the crowd pleaser “Hearts On Fire.” Hopefully the next time HammerFall comes to the U.S. we’ll get a headline tour of their own.
After a quick set change, Florida’s Kamelot took the stage. The band was out in support of their latest release, The Awakening. They played five songs from that album including the opening number, “The Great Divide.” Swedish vocalist Tommy Karevik (Seventh Wonder) had the fans hanging on his every word. Founder/guitarist Thomas Youngblood and bassist Sean Tibbetts constantly crossed the stage, pumping up the crowd. Both keyboardist Oliver Palotai and drummer Alex Landenberg were given time to shine with solos. Melissa Bonny made several appearances adding vocals and growls to songs. The set was heavy on their more recent material with a few classics thrown in. Highlights included “Opus of the Night (Ghost Requim),” “When the Lights Are Down,” “Karma,” “Willow,” “March of Mephisto” and the show closer “Forever.” As the crowd loudly chanted for “One More Song,” Kamelot returned to the stage and rewarded them with three more encores to end a great night of metal.
Zebra April 26, 2024 Echo Lounge and Music Hall Dallas, TX
Review by David Simers Photos by Andy Laudano
Dallas crowds typically arrive late to any event, but on this atypical night, the audience fought the additional traffic caused by the Dallas Mavericks playoff game just across the highway and were in their seats early at the beautiful Echo Lounge to hear The Maylee Thomas Band kickstart the show. Their fans immediately began cheering and those who didn’t know them became fans by the middle of the first song.
Maylee started the show with her expressive voice and presence and the rest of the band were just as engaging. The recently-reached-retirement-age diva pulls in the audience with her energy and the crowd gives the energetic force back to her many times over, as she showed she still has the pipes and presence to leave you wanting more.
Guitarist George Fuller, the three-decade husband to Maylee, owner of The Guitar Sanctuary and Mayor of McKinney, TX, added tone to complement the songstress as well as stand-alone riffs that could turn any song into a jam session. The rhythm section of Allen Forsythe on drums and Brad Thomas on bass, along with Joslin Dsouza on keys, showed how playing together so long meshes the band into a tight unit that resonates with the audience.
In their much-too-short set, the energetic fireball sang a few of their well-written originals, but she touched every heart as she sang “Simple Man” to her son who just got out of the Golden Knights unit of the Army. She stayed true to the original, yet gave it her own interpretation as a mother who worried about her son being in danger while serving his country.
The rest of their set was full-on rock and loyal fans know that when the cap comes off, her long hair starts whipping and the physical and spiritual movements just flow through her like a church revival. It was a fantastic way to begin the night and segue into the rest of the rock and roll night.
After a quick change-over, a video screen dropped down and snippets of videos played from 45 years ago. Under the cover of darkness, Zebra walked onstage and as soon the videos stopped, Zebra began the excitement with the hard licks of “Arabian Nights.” The band members looked and sounded great, especially Randy Jackson’s voice which was a treat for all the fans in attendance. The vocalist hit every high note just like he did when the band originated in New Orleans in 1975.
The band showed their versatility with a slightly softer “Last Time,” but ended it with a power jam that raised the energy in the Echo Lounge to another level. Felix Hanemann rocked an offensive bass and gave so much more than just keeping the rhythm. Guy Gelso was bombastic on the kit and delivered a backbeat that complemented the group as needed and at other times, led the group as needed. Almost 50 years of playing together has given them a cohesion that very few bands can match.
Randy switched to acoustic and Felix moved the keyboards as the crowd erupted again for “Who’s Behind The Door” from their eponymous first album. The venue full of loyal fans knew every word and sang from their own souls, making the great song sound even better. The energy passed between band and fans was electric, making it an experience and not just a concert.
“The La La Song,” a longtime fan favorite kept the drive alive with its power keys and drum-led jam session that lasted several minutes and had the fans bobbing their heads with the beat. Randy also introduced Jim White, recently retired from the Bo and Jim Show, who has been a friend to the band since the beginning.
Randy shined on the guitar as he delivered short riffs to add to individual songs and longer solos that showed why they’ve been such a great touring band for all these years. Felix and Guy also got their time to show off their musical talent as they made the songs come alive. In a power trio, they have to produce great sounds as there is nowhere to hide if one out of three doesn’t deliver on every note of every song.
Felix moved from the keyboards back to the bass and zealous fans were dancing in their seats or in the pit section right in front of the stage. The Zebra sound filled their souls and they expressed it with their movements. The talented trio gave over 100% the whole evening and the crowd adored them for it and gave them a well-deserved standing ovation.
Cheering and clapping brought the band back for an encore and they opened the finale with “Your Mind’s Open” featuring Randy on acoustic and Guy hitting the skins with an effervescent gusto. Randy wrote a slow song about John Lennon for their second album, and the roller coaster of emotions continued with “Lullaby.”
As usual, the night ended with two Led Zeppelin covers. The crowd, who were fans of both Zebra and Led Zeppelin, roared at the beginning notes of the penultimate number, “Immigrant Song,” and continued standing, dancing, singing, bobbing and weaving until the last notes were played. That wasn’t the end, though. The crowd came unglued when Zebra began “Stairway To Heaven” and stayed that way until the lights came on a few minutes after the song was over.
The show covered the gamut of Zebra’s output over the years and the crowd was thankful and went home satisfied, spent and well pleased in knowing the band they had been listening to for over 45 years was still producing great music for their fans.
On a personal note, in talking to the band backstage after the show, they are still the same down-to-Earth people they’ve always been. It’s always a pleasure to talk to such talented musicians and see that they’re good people who have progressed far utilizing their musical skills.
Special thanks to Rick Eberle, Dave Rothstein and the staff at Echo Lounge and Music Hall.
Blind Guardian April 23, 2024 The Factory Dallas, Tx
Review and Photos by Andy Laudano
After a long absence, the mighty Blind Guardian returned to Dallas for a show at the Factory. The Bards were in town in support of their latest album, The God Machine.
If there were such a thing as a power metal Mount Rushmore, Germany’s Blind Guardian would easily be one of the four on top of the mountain. Their music will take you on a journey, to another time and place, through Middle Earth and other Forgotten Realms. Every venue in which they play becomes an old time tavern, where the Bards tell their tales and lead their audience in drunken singalongs. That is the magic of Blind Guardian.
Frontman Hansi Kursch’s powerful vocals are only matched by his powerful stage presence. Whether he was belting out a power metal classic like the opener “Imaginations from the Other Side,” leading the crowd through a big singalong chorus in the crowd favorite “Nightfall” or sharing an intimate moment with the acoustic “Skalds and Shadows,” Hansi had the crowd right where he wanted them, hanging on his every word. Kursch was joined onstage by his fellow original members guitarists Andre Olbrich and Marcus Siepen, whom Hansi jokingly referred to as “The Witcher” as he looks very similar to Henry Cavill’s character in the series.
The set was a nice mix of classic older material with a few newer songs mixed in. Unfortunately, with a catalog as large as Blind Guardian’s, with 12 studio albums and counting, you’d need a three hour set to hear all your favorites. But as long as the crowd got to sing along with “The Bard’s Song – In the Forest,” everyone went home happy. Other highlights included “Lost in the Twilight Hall,” “Time Stands Still (At the Iron Hill)” and the seemingly endless audience singalong during “Valhalla.” Hopefully it won’t take so long for the Bards of metal to return again.
Catch Blind Guardian as their tour continues in the Unites States through May before heading into the international leg. Special thanks to The Factory staff and Kristin at Nuclear Blast.
Eric Johnson April 4, 2024 House Of Blues Dallas Dallas, TX
Review by David Simers Photos by Jlyne Hanback
Eric Johnson and Michael Landau made sure the aptly named Tone-A-Rama Tour was complete truth in advertising. From the opening song to the encore, the two premier guitarists filled the House of Blues Dallas with great riffs that heightened the senses of everyone in attendance.
Johnson picked the perfect opening act in the Michael Landau Group as Landau has had an exceptional career as both a session guitarist and a touring guitarist with other groups. His body of work has included a long list of musicians, from Pink Floyd to Tim McGraw.
His band, consisting of Tim LeFebvre on bass and Keith Carlock on drums, was spot on for his much too short set of rock, blues and rocking jazz. He used guitar riffs to tell a story and let the other band members shine, which made the rich tones sound even more complete. Eric Johnson came out for the final song of their set and the two played off each other as if they been playing together for years and not the first night of a new tour.
After a short break, Johnson and his band came out and EJ quickly showed why he is known as the Master of Tone. Rich, full notes permeated throughout the venue as the loyal fans listened intently and oohed and aahed at the marvelous music emanating from Johnson’s soul. Naturally, there were some cameras out to record the fantastic night, but the true music aficionados knew that a recording device could never capture the essence of his mastery and instead gazed and allowed the soulful tunes to sweep over them and fulfill their own souls.
With longtime compatriot Roscoe Beck on bass, Sean Giddings on keyboards and Keith Carlock pulling double duty on the kit, Johnson plunged into “Righteous,” an upbeat instrumental that immediately showed the night was going to be special. “Trail Of Tears” showed that his songwriting fit his voice and was much more effective than if he had wailed lyrics that weren’t suited for him. As shown all night, the rhythm section was both strong and complementary to the tune.
Carlock led the drum infused “On Green Dolphin Street” while EJ’s tone was an unbelievable testament to his guitar prowess. The soft jazz “Down Here On The Ground” featured Beck on the stand-up base and showed another genre that Johnson has mastered and incorporated into his show. Giddings keyboard work led the way on “Raphael” while Eric went acoustic for another sound for the crowd to enjoy.
Energy flew through Johnson’s fingers on his power jazz rendition of Duke Ellington’s “Caravan.” He seamlessly took an old standard and turned it into a modern classic. Continuing into jazz fusion, the Texas Songwriters Hall of Famer lit up the audience with John Coltrane’s “Mr. P.C.” while perfectly picking individual notes around Carlock’s powerful solo on the skins.
The ten-time Grammy Award nominee got playful onstage to everyone’s delight during a technical issue, then led the crowd on a journey with riffs that sounded like additional vocals. Even the most casual listener of “Desert Rose” felt as if they had been on a road of discovery as the sound stirred feelings and evoked memories of special times in their collective lives. As always, EJ let the band shine as Riddings tickled the keys with a solo that produced smiles and good vibes in the crowd.
The Grammy Award winner began an instrumental with classical picking that delivered a desired mood, and kept building until it morphed into the all-time classic “Cliffs Of Dover.” Cameras again came out and everyone stood and swayed as the pulsating tone delivered extraordinary feelings and the energy it sent into the crowd came back to Johnson many times over. The crowd connection was unifying and the entire venue felt a kinship in spirit. Landau then came out for “Freeway Jam,” a cover of Jeff Beck’s classic that the two maestros turned into a riff-off duel, then a dual riff as the crowd roared at how well they complemented each other. The brilliant set-ending song earned a standing ovation that lasted until they came back out for an encore.
After the musical brilliance of Jeff Beck, they ended the night with the magical imperfection of Jimi Hendrix’s “Spanish Castle Magic.” The powerful song left the audience with an uplifting song to end the evening. It engaged long-rooted feelings of everyone with its emotional tones and took the crowd for a musical ride before it ended with its well-earned Standing O.
If you have the chance, try to see Eric Johnson on the Tone-A-Rama Tour this Spring. It’s a show that is not to be missed.
Special thanks to House of Blues Dallas and Melissa Dragich of Blue Elan for their help.
A pair of rock legends graced the House of Blues – Dallas stage when former Queensryche vocalist Geoff Tate and former Whitesnake guitarist Adrian Vandenberg brought their current bands to town. Tate has been seen on a regular basis as he tours constantly, but this was the first time the Dutch-born Vandenberg has toured the U.S. since his days in Whitesnake.
Vandenberg opened their set with “Hit the Ground Running” off their new album, Sin. This was also the first album to feature talented vocalist Mats Leven (Yngwie Malmsteen/Therion/Trans-Siberian Orchestra). The fans loved the first of many Whitesnake songs in the set with “Fool For Your Lovin’.” The audience knew that no one could ever replace David Coverdale as vocalist for Whitesnake, but Leven did a great job belting out the Whitesnake classics and quickly won over the crowd. As for Vandenberg, he reminded anyone who may have forgotten why he is one of the best guitarists in the world with his blazing solos on “Judgement Day” and “Cryin’ in the Rain.” While some fans may have seen Adrian play live in the 80s with Whitesnake, it’s been nearly 40 years since his band Vandenberg has played in the U.S. Unfortunately for Dallas fans, Vandenberg’s biggest hit, “Burning Heart” had to be cut from the set at the last minute due to circumstances beyond their control. The show had to go on, though, and the set closed with the crowd pleasing “Still of the Night” and “Here I Go Again.”
Geoff Tate opened his set with a great rendition of the Queensryche classic “Empire” from the album of the same name. He showed his musical versatility on the saxophone and singing “The Thin Line” from the same album before performing a block of favorites from Operation: Mindcrime. The loyal fans could see, feel and hear Tate’s intensity on this tour. He sounded amazing and was hitting notes that some people didn’t think he could hit anymore.
Other highlights included “Another Rainy Night (Without You),” “Jet City Woman” and the closing number “Silent Lucidity.” A change of his standard format made the night even more interesting! After introducing the members of his international band of young talented musicians, they played an extra-heavy killer cover of Pink Floyd’s “Welcome to the Machine,” where after being on fire all night, all four guitarists got extended solos. Next came the return of a couple of iconic Queensryche songs that Tate hasn’t sung in concert in years, “Take Hold of the Flame” and “Queen of the Ryche.” Anyone who might have doubted if he could still sing those songs were proven wrong as Tate showed them he’s still got it.
Dragonforce April 15, 2022 Amplified Live Dallas, TX
Review by Jeff Dennis Photos by Ramie Lay
England’s Dragonforce finally made another rare appearance in Dallas Friday Night supporting their 2019 release “Extreme Power Metal” and this overcrowded show of speed, precision and madness was one for the ages. The stage was loaded with a 15ft. dragon behind the drums as well as two 8′ tall arcade video game consoles with stairs in the back on each side of the stage for the band members to stand on during their performance and the screens actually worked and played videos along with CO2 cannons and confetti cannons and tons of smoke and lights to make this performance quite the spectacle.
The pandemic did most of us no good, but for musician Simon Sanchez (guitar) it gave him time to write and record a demo and when he found multi-talented Derek Corzine (vocals, drums, bass, guitar) he sent that demo over for Derek to add and polish and presto, you have this 12 song slab or guitar driven rock!
This release has several layers to it, a lot of it sounds like early Foo Fighters, especially ” Pieces Of My Mind” and “Pipe Dream” and other times it reminds of the heavier Pat Travers type stuff like on the songs “Devil’s Trail” and “World On Fire” with catchy riffs and tasty solo’s. Just when you think you have it all figured out, they throw in a female singer (Chandess Milner) for the ballad “Face To Face” and the poppy “Sunday’s Girl”.
The last song and one of my favorites is “Black Days” which develops slowly and delivers in the end, the groove on “Down And Out” is another highlight, overall, this is an impressive disc considering it was mostly done with none of them in the same room, let’s hope they figure out how to get this to live stage soon!
Queensryche January 25, 2020 House of Blues Dallas, TX
Review and Photos by David Gonzalez
Queensryche Returns With New Tour And New LP The Verdict!
Washington’s hard rock outfit Queensryche is currently on the road with “The Verdict Tour” in support of their latest 2019 studio offering “The Verdict”.
For those that might be unaware, Queensryche formed in 1980 out of Bellevue, WA with the original lineup that consisted of guitarists Michael Wilton and Chris DeGarmo, drummer Scott Rockenfield, bassist Eddie Jackson, and lead vocalist Geoff Tate. Now, 40 years later in 2020, one might question their ability to perform, well, have no fear, the band is still as solid as they were back in their younger days. Read more »
JAM Magazine 