Concert Review
Steve Augeri
Batavia Downs
Rockin’ The Downs
Batavia, NY
Friday July 12, 2019
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
Former Journey vocalist Steve Augeri rocked a crowd of 3000-plus Friday night at Batavia Downs. The show was part of the Rockin’ the Downs concert Series which is now in its third season. Augeri and his band played a solid set that unfortunately featured mostly Journey songs. For more on why I chose that word continue to read the rest of my review.
Augeri was the vocalist in Journey from 1998-2006. He recorded two albums and an EP with the band. His current band which features Gerard Zappa on bass, drummer Tobias Ralph, keyboardist Craig Pullman and guitarist Adam Holland pulled off the material without batting an eye. It is no wonder the band is so fluid as Zappa, Pullman and Holland were all members of the melodic band Valentine who had minor success with their song “No Way” which was played on MTV. Valentine later became Open Skys who also had some minor success.
Those who knew of Augeri before he became a member of Journey will recall he played with two bands Tall Stories and Tyketto, both of which received some national attention. Many may recall that Tall Stories and Tyketto received a good amount of airplay right here in Buffalo on the now defunct WUFX 103.3 The Fox. Augeri recorded some great songs such as “Wild on the Run” by Tall Stories and “Jamie” and “Get Me There” by Tyketto.
The concert Friday night found Augeri to be in great voice however the one complaint his biggest fans will have is the fact he chose to play too much Journey. For some strange reason he did not play any of the Journey songs he recorded with the band. “All the Way”, “Remember Me” and “Higher Place” are all great songs that he could choose to play that many fans will remember. It’s a shame that they remain forgotten even by the voice that sang on them.
Highlights from the evening did include “Ask the Lonely”, “Who’s Crying Now” and the Cover of Rod Stewart’s “Forever Young”. “Riverside”, a song Augeri released as a single a few years back also was a pleasure to hear as it gives one a taste of what his current band can churn up.
While Augeri will best be remembered for his 8-year stint in Journey, he should still want to push songs he is known for from all eras of his career. I mean after all it’s not as if any of those songs are being played live in concert these days by anyone. Once again Friday was an enjoyable evening of great music that had the potential to be so much more.
Hover over photo and press play for slideshow
Set List
Separate Ways
Stone In Love
Ask The Lonely
Send Her My Love
Lights
Riverside
Wheel In The Sky
Faithfully
Don’t Stop Believin’
Lovin’ Touchin Squeezin (Snip of Rocky Mountain Way)
Any Way You Want It
Encore
Forever Young (Rod Stewart Cover)
Who’s Crying Now
Open Arms
Be Good To Yourself
