LIVE: EXTREME – August 14, 2023

Venue: The Fillmore

City: Detroit, MI

Dates: August 14, 2023

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

Since their debut release, Extreme has been one of those bands I have loved more and more with each release.  Having seen them in clubs and arena through the year finally came full circle as my schedule aligned with their tour dates and I was finally able to attend a show with camera in hand.  The show opened with a cool set from rockers Living Colour, who ripped through a cool set of hits and peppered with a few covers.  Twisting in a great version of “Kick Out The Jams” and “Nothing Compares 2 U” alongside their own hits including “Glamour Boys” and set closer “Cult Of Personality” had them running the gamut of expectations and saw them deliver a fun set.  After their allotted time, the stage was converted and shifted for the headliner to take their places and give the packed venue exactly what they came for… a night of Extreme hits and classics as well as selections from their latest release Six, including set opener “BANSHEE.”  Singer Gary Cherone and guitarist Nuno Bettencourt led the charge and gave the crowd energy, excitement, and plenty of great songs as well as a ton of kick ass guitar work from the latter.  Rolling things back to their sophomore effort II: Pornograffitti, they ripped through “Decadence Dance” and “It (‘s a Monster)” and sounded as good to night live as they do on the recorded versions.  The set ran through their catalog with each release getting at some representation in the set.  One of the cooler moments in the bands set a medley of of tracks from the bands debut release that included “Teacher’s Pet,” “Wind Me Up,” and “Kid Ego” before launching into “Play With Me.” The tracks were perfectly anchored by bassist Pat Badger and drummer Kevin Figueiredo.  There were a few tracks from III Side To Every Story including a couple personal favorites “Rest In Peace,” “Warheads,” and “Cupid’s Dead” that kept the energy cranked up even when they tossed in arguably their two biggest tracks that are the perfect mellow moments – “Hole Hearted” and “More Than Words.”  The new tracks swirled in perfectly with the rest of the set helping demonstrate not only where these guys have been but where they are now sonically, 24 years after releasing their first album.  After a rambunctious version of “Get The Funk Out” along with the pairing of “Small Town Beautiful” and “Song For Love” the band finished the evening as strong as they started, and with another new track “Rise.”  There are a handful of dates left on this run before they head overseas.  Hopefully you have an opportunity to catch a show, if you haven’t already.

Extreme Setlist: Rest in Peace – Hip Today – Teacher’s Pet / Flesh ‘n’ Blood / Wind Me Up / Kid Ego – Play With Me – Tragic Comic – Hole Hearted – OTHER SIDE OF THE RAINBOW – Cupid’s Dead – Am I Ever Gonna Change – Midnight Express – More Than Words – Warheads – Take Us Alive – Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee – Get the Funk Out – SMALL TOWN BEAUTIFUL / Song for Love – RISE

[Show as slideshow]

EXTREME LINKS:

OFFICIAL SITE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

TOUR DATES

Tags: featured

Category: Live Reviews, Photo Galleries