Concert Review
Platinum Blonde
Glass Tiger
Seneca Niagara Events Center
Sunday May 18, 2014
Photos/Review: Joseph Suto
A pair of Canadian bands landed stateside at the Seneca Niagara Events Center for a rare Sunday evening affair. Platinum Blonde and Glass Tiger, two bands who hit their peak in the mid-to-late eighties shared the bill as they took the fans for a stroll down memory lane. Both bands are similar in that both had taken a long hiatus before finally reforming.
First up was Platinum Blonde who took the fans back in time with some of their best known tracks from the mid eighties during their brief one hour set. While Platinum Blonde were a good draw in their native Canada, earning a couple of platinum albums, they never really took the U.S. by storm. Being close to the border helped gain a small following as the band received a lot of airplay with their second release Alien Shores. Arguably the bands two biggest songs “Situation Critical” and “Crying Over You” received the loudest response from the audience. Singer Mark Holmes, drummer Dan Todd and guitarist Sergio Galli played the show as a three piece with Holmes doubling up on bass.
Glass Tiger the bigger of the two acts in terms of sales and airplay managed to hit the top ten in the US twice in 1986 as well as receiving a gold record for The Thin Red Line. Their set featured their biggest songs as well as a more recent track “I Take It Back”. Singer Alan Frew even threw in a solo track “Healing Hands” into the mix. The band’s lineup has remained stable with the lone exception of current drummer Chris McNeill who joined in 2000. Bassist Wayne Parker, guitarist Al Connelly and keyboardist Sam Reid comprised the rest of the original lineup.
The band got things started with “I’m Still Searching” off their Diamond Sun album. The Thin Red Line was heavily represented with such gems as “I Will Be There”, “You’re What I Look For” and of course top ten smash “Someday” and their best known song “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” which peaked at #2 on the US Billboard Charts. Incidentally it was Janet Jackson’s “When I Think Of You” that kept “Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)” from reaching #1.
Despite the venue being only a shade over half full, it was still good to get a chance to see two bands who haven’t played on this side of the lake in a number of years. Kudos to Seneca Casinos for what hopes to be a new concept by bringing in double bills of bands who alone may not be able to fill up the Events Center but together can get a healthy draw. In the end it’s the fans who win as they get to see bands who may not otherwise get the chance to play a venue of this caliber. Both Platinum Blonde and Glass Tiger were able to give their fans a night that they soon will not forget.
Platinum Blonde Set
Take It From Me
Standing In The Dark
Not In Love
Valentine
Hungry Eyes
Sad Sad Rain
Somebody Somewhere
Beautiful
Contact
Situation Critical
Crying Over You
Doesn’t Really Matter
Glass Tiger Set
I’m Still Searching
Thin Red Line
My Song
My Town
Love Is On The Way
I Will Be There
Diamond Sun
I Take It Back
Someday
Healing Hands
Animal Heart
Encore
You’re What I Look For
Don’t Forget Me (When I’m Gone)
