Summer of 2013 In Review

Season Review
Summer of 2013
By: Joseph Suto

As we look back in the rearview mirror and see summer get further behind us, we decided to take a quick look back at what was the summer of 2013. We took in 46 concerts as a whole from Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend. We started off in Cleveland Ohio at Marc’s 22nd Annual Great American Rib Cook-off at Jacobs Pavilion At Nautica for Bret Michaels and ended up at Seneca Allegany Casino for Huey Lewis & The News. In between we visited such cities in Pennsylvania as Erie and Greensburg. We hit Toronto, Rochester, Canandaigua, Chautauqua, Niagara Falls and everywhere in between. We logged too many miles, paid too many tolls, paid for way too much gas that we care to mention.

These days almost everyday of the week is featured in a concert series in western New York. Artpark has shows on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, Canalside Buffalo has Thursday shows and Lockport has Fridays booked. This doesn’t include the usually full slate over at the Darien Lake PAC as well as selected weekend shows over at Canalside. Braun’s in Akron, NY also added on their dome this summer and hosted several big shows and promises to get even bigger and better in 2014.

Without further adieu here are what we consider the top five concerts from the summer of 2013

#5
Buckcherry
Braun’s Concert Cove- Akron, NY
August 12

Buckcherry played another show here in the area making their third show in a year’s time. This band delivers one of the rawest pure energy shows on the touring circuit today. You will never see the same show twice as the band also tends to mix up their playlist each night as well. Having been together since 2005, this lineup has grown extremely tight and it has really shown in their playing. Josh Todd and Company delivered another stellar show as they rocked the Cove!

#4
REO Speedwagon
Artpark- Lewiston, NY
June 18

Kevin Cronin and REO Speedwagon’s rise to fame was long and hard. It wasn’t until their monster smash Hi Infidelity released late in 1980 that all their hard work finally had paid off. The album went on to top the charts for fifteen weeks and catapulted them into superstardom. The band dug deep into their old catalog and played such gems as “Golden Country”, “Keep Pushin'” and “Son Of A Poor Man”. For good measure an unexpected encore of the Them cover “Gloria” closed out the affair. An astounding show that satisfied fans old and new along with the diehards. Who could ask for anything more on a great summer night at Artpark.

#3
Whitesnake
The Palace Theatre- Greensburg, PA
July 29

It had been a few years since David Coverdale and Whitesnake unleashed their arsenal on unsuspecting US fans. Featuring the talented duo of Reb Beach and Doug Aldrich on guitars, the band put on a show to remember. Longtime snake drummer Tommy Aldridge also returned to the band after a lengthy absence and dazzled with his drum solo. Among the many highlights of the night included “Give Me All Your Love” which kicked the show off in fine style. Also blistering versions of “Gambler”, “Slide It In” which ran into “Slow An’ Easy” and show closer “Still Of The NIght”. For a guy who has had several vocal issues over the years Coverdale sounded pretty good all things considered.

#2
Bad Company
Artpark- Lewiston, NY
July 16

Paul Rodgers and Bad Company touched down in Lewiston, NY and put on one amazing show in July. Still featuring original members guitarist Mick Ralphs and drummer Simon Kirke along with Rodgers, the band were in the groove right from the the first notes of “Rock N’ Roll Fantasy” all through the final song of “Seagull”. Rodgers has not lost a thing in the voice department as he and the band tore through “Electricland”, “Movin’ On” and classic “Shooting Star”. Voted by us as the best show at Artpark for the summer of 2013.

#1
Sammy Hagar
Molson Canadien Amphitheatre- Toronto, Ontario
August 27

What can be said about the “Red Rocker” that hasn’t already been said? From his early days when he was a member of Montrose, his tenure in Van Halen and his through his long and fruitful solo career, Hagar has amassed an unbelievable catalog of music. On this wet chilly night, Hagar warmed up the crowd by playing songs from his four decades in the music business. Kicking things off with a Montrose medley which then led into some of his most loved solo songs such as “Red”, “I’ll Fall In Love Again” and classic “There’s Only One Way To Rock,” Hagar had the crowd at his mercy. For dessert there was his friend Michael Anthony who came out and played a number of Van Halen selections such as “Best Of Both Worlds”, “Finish What You Started” and what we deemed the top song of the night “Why Can’t This Be Love”. Despite some rough weather the concert went off without a hitch and Toronto was treated to the top concert of the summer.