LIVE: THE WINERY DOGS – March 24, 2023

Venue: Jannus Live

City: St Petersburg, FL

Dates: March 24, 2023

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

Supergroup — a term thrown around a lot over the last few years, but when you pull together Richie Kotzen, Billy Sheehan, and Mike Portnoy, there is no other term that fits the bill. Having released their latest disc III, the trio hit the road to support the collection. Having missed their last couple tours due to timing or scheduling, I couldn’t wait to Jannus Live in St. Petersburg to check out their live show and all that that entails. The venue was packed front to back, side to side, and even the suites up top looked filled. We all waited patiently for the moment the three would take their respective places on stage and deliver new music and old. The guys came hard from the star with two new tracks “Gaslight” and “Xanadu” to set the pace for the evening. Not resting or showing any sign of slowing up, they rolled in “Captain Love” and title track “Hot Streak” from their second release. Watching and listening to Riche Kotzen play guitar is fun and when he opens his mouth and starts singing his talent multiplies. Even in the context of a band, his guitar work and vocals make everything take on a solo feel and sound. Dipping back to the self-titled first album, the band slipped into “Desire” and “Time Machine,” sandwiching them around another new track “Breakthrough” and bookending the coupe of tracks with one of my personal favorites on the new record “Stars.”  Watching Billy Sheehan take control off his bass on track after track, you realize immediately why he is noted as one of the best. He makes his instrument sign, growl, and match the drumming in order to lock in the cadence and pace of the songs and set. My favorite Winery Dogs track, “Damaged,” popped up next in the set and I couldn’t have been happier. The sound was as fresh and perfect as the first time I heard it and every time since. There is something about the song that draws me in every time I hear it. As the set peaked and started its downhill run toward the end of the show, it amazed me how full of energy the band was, especially drummer Mike Portnoy. The dude must have an Energizer Bunny gene in his DNA, as he kept the mood up and the sound furious with his thunderous drumming and time keeping. More comingling of old and new tracks took place as their time on stage dwindled, taking us to the last four tracks of the set, providing us with the perfect culmination of tracks with Hot Streak’s “Oblivion” shuffled between debut release tracks “I’m No Angel,” “Regret,” and arguably the biggest sing-a-long of the evening and set closer “Elevate.”  These guys have a TON of tour dates on the calendar and do not sleep on this one. Get your tickets and enjoy one of the best rock shows on the road today, put on by three of the best in their respective worlds. Supergroup almost seems like too small a term for these rock and roll monsters!

SETLIST: Gaslight – Xanadu – Captain Love – Hot Streak – Desire – Breakthrough – Time Machine – Stars – Damaged – Mad World – The Other Side – The Red Wine – I’m No Angel – Oblivion – Regret – Elevate

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Tags: featured

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries