Rock Show Critique

Concert Review
Sugarland
Brandy Clark
Turning Stone Casino
Verona, NY
Sunday July 8, 2018
Photos By: Thom Jennings
Review: Thom Jennings

Fans met Sugarland’s announced return last year after an extended hiatus with jubilation, not just at the prospect of the country music duo’s return to the concert stage, it had been years since the group’s last album of original material “The Incredible Machine.” Continue reading →

Concert Review
America
Seneca Allegany Events Center
@ Seneca Allegany Casino
Salamanca, NY
Saturday July 7, 2018
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

This year marks the 48th anniversary of rock band America. That is 48-years of playing an average of nearly 100 shows per year. These guys had no idea when they first formed the band in 1970 that they were really in it for the long haul. There is rarely a summer that doesn’t go by that these cats aren’t playing somewhere in the western New York region. Saturday evening, they pulled into the Seneca Allegany Events Center and delivered their set of “gold”. Continue reading →

Concert Review
Styx
Joan Jett
Tesla
St. Joseph’s Health
Amphitheater @ Lakeview
Syracuse, NY
Thursday June 28, 2018
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

“This is my favorite part of the show,” proclaimed vocalist, guitarist Tommy Shaw as he went on to introduce original founding bassist Charles Panozzo. With that intro the band launched into one of their finest performances of the night, the classic rock gem “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” on a clear crisp night out at the St. Joseph’s Health Amphitheater at Lakeview in Syracuse, NY. The show also featured Joan Jett & The Blackhearts as well as the rocking quintet from Sacramento, Tesla. Continue reading →

Concert Review
Poison
Cheap Trick
Pop Evil
Darien Lake Amphitheater
Darien Center, NY
Tuesday June 26, 2018
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

The Darien Lake Amphitheater came alive with the sights and sounds of Poison Tuesday night. Along for the ride were power-pop masters Cheap Trick and Pop Evil who seemed a bit out of place. The show was the first headlining appearance at the venue for Poison since 2007 and was their first appearance at the venue since 2012. Continue reading →

In Conversation
Tony Lewis
The Outfield
Solo
June 2018
New album out June 29 Out Of The Darkness

Tony Lewis was the singer and bassist for The Outfield, a group that made a big splash in 1985. Their debut album Play Deep climbed all the way to #9 on the album charts while going triple platinum on the strength of their top-10 hit “Your Love”. The follow up Bangin’ went gold. The band accumulated four charted albums and 5 top-40 songs during their career. Continue reading →

 Concert Review
Foreigner
Whitesnake
Jason Bonham’s Led Zeppelin Evening
St. Joseph’s Health
Amphitheater @ Lakeview
Syrcacuse, NY
Tuesday June 19, 2018
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto

When I first heard the announcement of the Foreigner/Whitesnake tour I found it to be a little odd at first. At a closer glance it makes all the sense in the world. Both bands were formed and came into prominence in the late 1970’s. Foreigner struck gold with their first album in the U.S. while Whitesnake did well in the UK. It took both bands a while to break through into the opposite territory. Foreigner 4 released in 1981 was the album that did it in the UK. As for Whitesnake and David Coverdale who were starving for U.S. success it finally happened slowly with Slide It In and their 1987 release skyrocketed to #2 on the Billboard charts. Continue reading →