Concert Review
Steve Augeri Band
Batavia Downs
Batavia, NY
Friday June 25, 2021
Review and Photos: Joseph Suto
A crowd of over 3000 came out to see Steve Augeri, the former lead singer from Journey and his band this past Friday. This marked Augeri’s second appearance at the Rockin’ At The Downs concert series as he had last played here in 2019. If you wanted to hear the Journey classics you came to the right place as Augeri played all of that band’s standards.
Opening as usual with “Separate Ways”, the band kicked into “Stone In Love”. For the Augeri diehards “Higher Place” from the Arrival album was performed. With so many great songs he has been associated with in his career, it’s a shame we did not get any Tall Stories, Tyketto or any other Augeri era Journey songs.
Other than that the only problem with the set was the needless extending of a handful of songs. I can understand that this was only the third show Augeri had performed since the pandemic and he has to work his voice back into touring condition but sometimes less is better than more.
The band featured mainstays Gerard Zappa on bass, Adam Holland on guitar and Craig Pullman on keys. Those familiar with the names know that those three were all members in Valentine, a band who gained some success in 1990. Joining the band on drums this time around was Augeri’s son Adam.
Despite a few drops of rain, it was an enjoyable evening for those who decided to come out and brave some threatening weather and see Augeri play a rare show in our area. The show marked only the third area appearance since he last played here with Journey in 2005.
Augeri mentioned that it felt good to be on the stage singing again after a long layoff. One thing seemed apparent, that the band was clearly having the best time they’ve had in over a year. They fed off the crowd who were enjoying singing, dancing and celebrating to what we hope is the end to a dark time we hope to put behind us and move forward from. Steve Augeri and his band were the perfect antidote Friday night.
Set List
Separate Ways
Stone In Love
Ask The Lonely
Lights
Higher Place
Send Her My Love
Wheel In The Sky
Faithfully
Don’t Stop Believing
Lovin’ Touchin’ Squeezin’
Any Way You Want It
Encore
Forever Young
Who’s Crying Now
Open Arms
Be Good To Yourself/Whole Lotta Love/Medley
