LIVE – The Midwest Rock N Roll Express, April 21, 2013
Venue: Huntington Center
City: Toledo, OH
Date: April 21, 2013
Reviewer & Photographer: Todd Jolicoeur – www.toddstarphotography.com
REO Speedwagon is one of those bands that everyone seems to know some of their songs, but this night in Toledo, it seemed EVERYONE knew their songs. The crowd was on its feet from opening note to the closing wave and goodnight from front man Kevin Cronin. The band in it current incarnation – vocalist Kevin Cronin, guitarist Dave Amato, bassist Bruce Hall, keyboardist Neal Doughty, and drummer Bryan Hitt – has been together for some time now and have really crafted a great setlist from the bands catalog that kept people standing, cheering, and most importantly singing. amazingly, the band opened this show with the energy of a headliner and didn’t look back once the set kicked off. If you get a chance to see them on this tour or their headlining gigs later this summer do yourself a favor and make you way to the venue.
Setlist: Don’t Let Him Go – Take It On The Run – Keep Pushin’ – I Can’t Fight This Feeling – That Ain’t Love – Time For Me To Fly – Back On The Road Again – Roll With The Changes – Kepp On Lovin’ you – Ridin’ The Storm Out
Complete Set of Photos from REO Speedwagon’s Set
Next was Styx’s shot at pleasing the crowd. And please they did. Calling on classics from the band’s history, the guys kept the energy up and the music flowing. Everyone on stage seemed to click as they moved through the crowd favorites. Styx as we know them – Tommy Shaw (g/v), James Young (g/v), Ricky Phillips (b), Lawrence Gowan (k/v), and Todd Sucherman (d) – attacked the stage and setlist with a frenzy that was not lost on the crowd. Watching these guys, you would never knew they weren’t closing the show. They ran from their respective spots on the stage to points unknown and kept the show moving, literally. One minute Tommy would be signing and the next he was on the riser behind Todd’s drum kit. Lawrence did the same when his parts didn’t call for any keyboard – he was all over the place. The only thing missing from this show was a surprise appearance from original bassist Chuck Panozzo, who makes occasional appearances on stage with the band. These guys kept the show on the track and moving swiftly through the night.
Setlist: Blue Collar Man (Long Nights) – Grand Illusion – Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man) – Miss America – Lady – Too Much Time On My Hands – Come Sail Away – Rockin’ The Paradise – Renegade
Complete Set of Photos from Styx’s Set
Closer closer Ted Nugent hit the stage in a cloud of smoke and didn’t look back from the first twisted note he played. Tonight Toledo was to get another glimpse of why this man is no eloquently referred to as the Motor City Madman. The Nuge ran around on the limited stage, which was made smaller when his gear and band were hauled to the front of the stage, helping bring him closer to his minions. The setlist was classic Ted and included many snippets of the classic music that inspired Ted as a young man and apparently still lights his fires today. The rock flew from his fingertips and into the strings and frets of his guitar as he took aim at slaying his target tonight – an energetic audience that couldn’t get enough of him. The vocals were shared once again with longtime vocalist Derek St. Holmes and drums were handled by Wild Mick Brown. This band tore it up and the crowd was thankful when all was said and done. What a grand night for Rock N Roll in the Midwest… or at least Toledo, Ohio.
Setlist: Wango Tango – Just What The Doctor Ordered – Wang Dang Sweet Poontang – Turn It Up – Free For All – Stormtroopin’ – Medley – Hey Baby – Live It Up – Motor City Madhouse – Cat Scratch Fever – Stranglehold – Great White Buffalo – Fred Bear
Complete Set of Photos from Ted Nugent’s Set
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Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries