London, Ontario’s Rock in the Park celebrated its 10 year anniversary with a three (3) day festival once again for 2013. This festival helps raise money for Bethany’s Hope (children who struggle with Leukodystophy) charity. BackstageAxxess was privileged to cover and review the middle day (Friday) of this event. The bands on the bill were Helix, Platinum Blonde, Whitesnake and Journey.
Helix, who have been around since 1974, opened things up for what was a beautiful sunny day in London. Led by founder of the group Brian Vollmer, the band played a short but impressive set that got everyone revved up for the rest of the evening’s festivities. The 80’s version of the band reunited in 2009 (minus deceased guitarist Paul Hackman) and were all present to give their fellow Canadian counterparts a good 40 minute set of rock and roll. They, of course, played the songs they are most known for in “Rock You” and “Heavy Metal Love.”
Up next was new wave Platinum Blonde. It was an odd choice to fit in with classic hard rock bands, but nevertheless I think Platinum Blonde won the crowd over with their 50 minute performance. The group disbanded but reformed in 2010. The band still consists of original members of Mark Holmes on vocals and Sergio Galli on guitar. Dressed in white outfits, the band took the stage and went into “Future Dance,” off of their 2012 effort “Now & Never.” Still with his good looks and charm, Holmes kept the women’s attention the entire night as the band went through five studio albums worth of material.
Third on Friday’s bill was Whitesnake. Proclaimed “the year of the snake,” lead singer and group founder David Coverdale looked every bit like rockstar he is. He also gave that vibe off to the audience to make middle age women shiver and young women, well? Let’s just stick with what the middle aged women were doing. Whitesnake has an assortment of great players in guitarists Doug Aldrich and Reb Beach along with bassist Michael Devin, keyboardist Brian Ruedy and last but not least, returning to the snake fold is drummer Tommy Aldridge.
Aldridge’s return made a good set a powerful set. The band opened up with the energetic “Give Me All Your Love.” Coverdale embraced the crowd the entire night and let his band do the talking. In fact, he did that a little too much. Too many solos were put into the already shortened set. Was this to preserve his voice? Who knows? But he did struggle at times to hit the high notes consistently. Coverdale made a nice gesture to some of his former bandmates Jon Lord, Mel Galley and Cozy Powell as he dedicated the old Whitesnake song “Gambler” to their memory.
Headliner Journey took the stage at 9:30 pm sharp as Jonathan Cain fingered his way through the opening of “Separate Ways.” Neal Schon (who in this reviewers opinion, is overwhelmingly Rock and Roll Hall of fame material) was magnificent the entire night. He was spot on all night and didn’t overplay the songs at all. The songs still sounded fresh and were given even more life by vocalist Arnel Pineda. Pineda has breathed new life into the band since joining them back in 2007. With one of the most hard hitting drummers on the circuit in Deen Castronovo, Journey still remains one of the bigger draws year in and year out.
What Journey realizes is the fans want to hear the hits. The band has had more than its fair share and the set is like a greatest hits set in reality. It was nice to see the band end with the ultimate crowd participating song in “Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin.”
Rock in the Park does it right year in and year out. The lineups remain consistently strong as does the attendance. This festival is a must on any concert enthusiast’s list.
Helix Set List:
Wild in the Streets
Vagabound Bones
Skin in the Game
Danger Zone
Make Em’ Dance
Gimme Gimme Good Lovin’ (Crazy Elephant cover)
Good to the Last Drop
Deep Cuts the Knife
Heavy Metal Love
Dirty Dog
Ain’t No High Like Rock n’ Roll
William Tell Overture
Rock You
Platinum Blonde Set List:
Future Dance
Take it From Me
Valentine
Hungry Eyes
Not in Love
Satellite
Beautiful
Standing in the Dark
Contact
Doesn’t Really Matter
Situation Critical
Whitesnake Set List:
Give Me All Your Love
Ready an’ Willing
Can You Hear the Wind Blow
Don’t Break My Heart Again
Is This Love
Gambler
Love Will Set You Free Pistols at Dawn (Guitar Duel by Doug Aldrich & Reb Beach and Michael Devin harmonica solo)
Steal Your Heart Away (with Drum Solo by Tommy Aldridge)
Forevermore
Slide it In / Slow n’ Easy
Bad Boys (with snippet of “Children of the Night”)
Fool for Your Loving
Here I Go Again
Still of the Night
Journey Set List:
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)
Any Way You Want It
Who’s Crying Now
O Canada (Calixa Lavallée cover)
Only the Young
Stone in Love
Edge of the Blade
Lights
Open Arms
Escape
Dead or Alive
Wheel in the Sky
Faithfully
Be Good to Yourself
Don’t Stop Believin’
Encore:
Lovin’, Touchin’, Squeezin’
We would like to thank Alycia McComb from Jones Entertainment Group for the credentials to review the show.
