LIVE: TESLA – January 19, 2023

Venue: Hard Rock Event Center

City: Tampa, FL

Dates: January 19, 2023

Review and Photographs by: Todd “Toddstar” Jolicoeur (www.toddstarphotography.com)

It took a couple weeks (and more than a month since my last show in December) to get back into a venue with camera in hand to start my own 2023 concert season.  Tesla announced one of their closing shows on their current tour was landing at Seminole Hard Rock Event Center in Tampa with opener Kurt Deimer in tow.  Like clockwork, Deimer and his band featuring guitarist Phil X hit the stage on time and proceeded to rock out and tee the crowd up for Tesla.  With a rock vibe that has a bit harder edge than the headliner, Kurt gave his all in entertaining the sold out venue with songs from his Work Hard, Rock Hard EP as well as a track from his upcoming film.  There was energy, a shit load of riffs from X and thunderous bottom end anchored by drummer Dango throughout his set, as well as some stories and introductions to tracks from Deimer himself.

After the opening set, the stage was quickly turned over and the anticipation in the venue jumped to a fevered pitch as the time for Tesla to come on approached.  Queen’s “We Will Rock You” blasted through the sound system as the band less frontman made their way to the stage and proceeded to dial in their instruments and kick into the opening track of the evening with “Modern Day Cowboy,” much the way the song opened their career.  The stringed attack of guitarists Frank Hannon and Dave Rude alongside bassist Brian Wheat took control of the front of the stage bracing for the song to kick in full force with vocals.  Within moments, Jeff Keith took his spot up front with mic in hand and kicked off what would eventually be a night full of classics and killer tracks.  Another great rocker from the bands deep catalog, “Hang Tough,” helped open the show before the band launched into a new track aptly titled “Time to Rock.”  This song demonstrates that Tesla has kept the songwriting and rocking vibe alive more than 35 into their career.  From there we were off and running as the band ripped through hit after monster hit.  “Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)” set the pace for the next couple tracks as guitarists Hannon and Rude traded licks and added depth to the tracks live that seemed to pump a little something extra into the songs.  The tandem of “Changes” and “Song And Emotion” found the capacity crowd singing along word for word and note for note with Keith while the band played the songs with attitude just as they have for years, showing us ll they haven’t missed a step.  Touring drummer Steve Brown and bassist Wheat kept the setlist in time and gave the rest of the band the perfect musical landscape to paint with their licks, pings, squeals, and of course the all too familiar vocals we have come to know, love, and expect over the last 3+ decades.  After a couple more tunes from their early releases, the band closed out the show with arguably one of the chains of five songs I have ever witnessed live.  “What You Give” sounded as fresh and tight as the first time I heard it and was the perfect intro to “Edison’s Medicine (Man Out of Time).”  The crowd was on its feet and singing along as the band then tore into the power ballad “Love Song” creating an energy that washed from the stage, across the audience, and back again, invigorating the band as they closed out the set with “Little Suzi.”  After playing all their huge originals, there was only one thing left for Brian Wheat, Frank Hannon, Jeff Keith, Dave Rude, and Steve Brown to do… deliver an amazing rendition of their mega-hit and cover “Signs” and they delivered on every level.  While this show was followed days later by a festival date, this evening would have to hold over not only the fans, but the band as they rest and recharge until mid-March when they get back out there to promote their new material.

SETLIST: Modern Day Cowboy – Hang Tough – Time to Rock – Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out) – Miles Away – Changes – Song And Emotion – Call It What You Want – Lazy Days, Crazy Nights – What You Give – Edison’s Medicine (Man Out of Time) – Love Song – Little Suzi – Signs

[Show as slideshow]

TESLA PHOTOS

TESLA LINKS:

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TOUR DATES

[Show as slideshow]

KURT DEIMER PHOTOS

KURT DEIMER LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TOUR DATES

Tags: featured

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries