The Badlees and Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band at the Bryce Jordan Center! Not only were there speakers serving all seating areas of the venue, there were two, count 'em, two jumbotrons visible to all and plenty of camera coverage of the whole stage. The Badlees opened the show, and they've got one badass fiddle player! The Badlees and Bob Seger's band members used the whole stage well, and shifted positions so everyone got a smile and a fist shake regularly throughout the show.
The Badlees noted that they were the first band to ever play the BJC when it opened in 1996. And we heard them say it...in English!! They've got a new album coming out soon, and I can highly recommend it or any of their other releases...all now available on iTunes.
Favourite tune? Fear of Falling.
Bob Seger was fabulous. Don Brewer (yes, THAT GFR Don Brewer!) on the drums and Alto Reed on saxophone, with Bob Seger playing piano made Turn the Page my favourite offering of the evening. Come to think of it, that's pretty much what made every offering a favourite all night long. The Silver Bullets, The Motor City Horns, the sparkly backing vocalists, Rob McNelley rocking the guitar solos...everyone...fabulous. If the two songs he performed from his upcoming August release...All the Roads and California Stars...are any indication, it's sure to be a big seller. His voice is in fine form, his band is tight...all together a satisfying concert. Lone disappointment? There wasn't more happening on that timpani. I thought at least hot flames of fire should be bursting out of it at the end of The Fire Down Below if they weren't going to use it any more! Sadly, there were no pyrotechnics. I guess we'll just have to wait for the return of the Trans Siberian Orchestra for that.