Our buddy and co-worker, Mark Arsen loves all things rock 'n roll. He's took in David Coverdale and Whitesnake's show Tuesday night at the Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts. Here's his review:
Whitesnake concert review - Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts
Raleigh, N.C. 7-30-13
By: Mark Arsen
I've been fortunate lately to have seen several of my all-time favorite rock bands in concert so when it came time to see Whitesnake, a band I've enjoyed hearing and playing their songs on the radio over the years but not what I would consider one of my faves, I was ready to contrast and compare.
First off, for an 80's heavy metal front-man who's nearly 62, David Coverdale definitely looked the part Tuesday night at Duke Energy Center for the Performing Arts in Raleighwood. When you make your bank screaming-out arena rock style vocals from the decade of decadence, it helps if you still have the BIG Hair to go with the big tunes, and Mr. Coverdale does. Unfortunately not too many elder singers can hold-on to the vocal range they had in their youth and Coverdale's voice became increasingly gravely by mid-show.
That brings me to my next observation. The band, featuring Raleigh born guitarist Doug Aldrich, Winger axeman Reb Beach and legendary Whitesnake drummer, Tommy Aldridge was strong from the start of the show, playing a good variety of Snake tunes from the bands 35 year catalog, including"Give Me All of Your Love" and "Love Ain't No Stranger" but roughly 25 minutes in, they went into "solo mode", to me that's a momentum killer. First, it was a dueling guitar solo "Pistols At Dawn" between Reb & Aldrich that lasted far too long followed by the ubiquitous drum solo although when it's the incredibly talented Tommy Aldridge behind the kit, I'll cut 'em some slack.
After the solo intermission and some funny interaction between the audience and Coverdale over a cup of North Carolina apple juice, Whitesnake played a newer tune, the title track from 2011's "Forevermore" and dedicated it to the fans, that was cool but then strangely, the band whipped through a medley of Whitesnake album favorites, "Slide It In / Slow An' Easy / Bad Boys & Children of the Night". As much as tickets cost these days, we get a medley of hits from the headliner? Fortunately, WS played a full rendition of "Here I Go Again" followed by a staple of the headbanger hall of fame, "Still of the Night".
Overall, it was a strong performance from an aging 80's war horse, just cut the solo length and dump the medley next time to make it a "4-Horn" show.
"Mark Arsen's Metal Meter" - 3.5 Horns-Up!
No comments:
Post a Comment