Rock Show Critique

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 →

Concert Review
Franz Ferdinand
Electric City
Buffalo, NY
Sunday August 2, 2026
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

The Scottish rock band Franz Ferdinand made it to Buffalo, NY for the first time in 9 years Sunday night. To say the Electric City crowd was wired was an understatement. The show started a little late as the venue maintenance had to deal with a leak that appeared in the roof near some equipment. Once that was resolved the band came out for just their second ever Buffalo show having made their debut in town at Kerfuffle 2017 at Canalside. Continue reading →

Concert Review
John Waite
Batavia Downs
Batavia, NY
Friday July 24, 2026
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

When asking the old question Isn’t It Time for John Waite to rock the downs? Well it finally was and while it may have taken eight years, John Waite has finally played Batavia Downs. I had always said that this would be a perfect place for Waite to play. Other than a few sound issues Waite pulled off a fantastic set of songs that spanned his whole career including his time with The Baby’s, Bad English and his stellar solo catalog. Continue reading →

Concert Review
Toto
Christopher Cross
The Romantics
Empower FCU Amphitheater
Syracuse, NY
Saturday July 25, 2026
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

A moderate crowd was on hand Saturday evening as 80s heavyweights Toto played the Empower FCU Amphitheater. Toto brought Christopher Cross and the Romantics as support as each delivered a solid set featuring many of both artists hits of yesteryear. Continue reading →

Concert Review
Tom Keifer Band
LA Guns
Lock 3 Park
Akron, OH
Thursday July 23, 2026
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

Nothing says summer like a Tom Keifer Band concert in the outdoors in the heart of downtown Akron Ohio. Lock 3 Park is known as a place where everyone belongs and everyone can find something to celebrate. Thursday evening we celebrated the return of Tom Keifer and LA Guns to town. This show marked Keifer first in Akron since 2023 but 4th Akron appearance in the past seven years. The city is special as he could easily play nearby Cleveland but continues to come to Akron with regularity. Continue reading →