Rock Show Critique

Concert Review
Breaking Benjamin
Chevelle
Starset
Kami Kehoe
Thursday September 10, 2026
Darien Lake Amphitheater
Darien Center, NY
Review: Joseph Suto

A power house package headlined by Breaking Benjamin was just what the doctor ordered for the estimated crowd of 8,500 for a midweek show out at the Darien Lake Amphitheater. Not too bad considering it was Thursday evening with school back in session. As the summer concert season wound down the music got louder and more powerful. Along for the ride were Chevelle, Starlet and Kami Kehoe. Continue reading →

Concert Review
Black Label Society
Zakk Sabbath
Dark Chapel
Buffalo RiverWorks
Buffalo, NY
Wednesday August 26, 2026
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

Black Label Society returned to town Wednesday night for the first time in some eight years. In tow were Zakk Sabbath and Dark Chapel. Zakk Sabbath of course is guitarist Zakk Wylde’s Black Sabbath tribute band who actually played this same venue, Buffalo RiverWorks back in January 2025. Continue reading →

In Conversation
Donnie Vie
Solo
Enuff Z’nuff
August 25, 2026
w/ Joseph Suto

Join us for a return interview with Donnie Vie. He just released his solo album Beautiful Things on Wicked Cool Records. We talk to him about the new record as well as many other subjects.

Concert Review
Billy Idol
Devo
Empower FCU Amphitheater at Lakeview
Syracuse, NY
Saturday August 15, 2026
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

Making his first appearance in Syracuse since 2019, Billy Idol wasted no time capturing the audience’s attention to make up for lost time. He was still touring in support of Dream Into It, his latest album released last year. He announced a small 17-date tour entitled It’s a Nice Day to …Tour Again which runs through September. All of the August shows feature Devo as the opening band and they got the crowd warmed up as only they know how. Continue reading →

Concert Review
Jo Dee Messina
Batavia Downs
Batavia, NY
Friday August 14, 2026
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

The 2026 Batavia Downs “Rockin’ the Downs” concerts series closed the book on another great season out at the fabled racetrack Friday evening. With a ton of major concerts going on in the Western NY area that night, the Downs had a very healthy crowd on hand to witness country superstar Jo Dee Messina. Messina who is currently on tour supporting Bridges, her first studio album in some 12 years. She played a solid mix of her new album along with her other hits and even threw in some well-known cover tunes. Continue reading →