Backstageaxxess.com is gearing up for the summer concert season, covering 3 to 4 shows a week, we can say our season officially opened up this past Wednesday at the beautiful Avalon Ballroom inside the Fallsview Casino. The band that took the stage was Boston.
More often than not when bands play casino shows they tend to be shorter in length so patrons can be out on the floor spending their hard earned cash. This was surely not the case with Boston as they delivered a high energy 1 hour and 55 minute set that included all of their hits and songs off of their latest disc “Life, Love & Hope.”
Tom Scholz, the guitarist who created and wrote Boston’s music, took to the stage wearing a shirt with “EH?” on it. Also there was a small Canadian flag in the corner of drummer Jeff Neal’s drum kit. There were other cues from the band that showed their love of Canada too, especially when vocalist Tommy DeCarlo came out waving a Canadian flag at the end of their set. Scholz squeezed in a quick guitar version of “O Canada” at the end of “Cool the Engines.” How can the band do any wrong after acknowledging a country they are not even native to? Well, the answer is none.
After opening up with 3 mega hits, “Rock n Roll Band,” Smokin’ and “Feelin’ Satisfied,” Scholz asked the crowd if they appreciated when bands like their’s made new music? After a resounding yes, the band went into the title track of their latest effort “Life, Love & Hope.” It was cool to see that Scholz organ was set up to emit smoke out of it when he took control for “Feelin’ Satisfied.” He also went back and forth between guitar and the organ for the entire show. In fact, he wasn’t the only one to play organ or keyboards during the show as guitarist Gary Pihl, DeCarlo and newcomer Beth Cohen all shared duties at one time or another. Besides playing keys, Cohen played rhythm guitar and took lead vocals on “Surrender” and “Walk On.” It really shows the bands diversity in being able to pull this off. It was also announced that Cohen was enjoying her birthday.
The entire show was a highlight but Scholz’ masterpiece “Foreplay/Longtime,” and my personal favorite, “Something About You,” really stood out. They performed each song true to its original form, nothing was cut. The entire band, including bassist Tracy Ferrie, was spot on all evening. Note for note, it equaled a true, classic Boston show. Scholz surrounded himself with a talented cast of characters and this maybe one of the “can’t miss” shows of the entire summer. Yes it was that good!
Setlist:
Rock n’ Roll Band
Smokin’
Feelin’ Satisfied
Life, Love & Hope
Don’t be Afraid
Cool the Engines
Surrender
Don’t Look Back
Something About You
Amanda
We’re Ready
The Launch
More Than a Feeling
I Need Your Love
Walk On
Foreplay/Longtime
Encore:
Hitch a Ride
Party
We would like to thank both Gail Parenteau from Parenteau Guidance PR and Samantha Hoodless from the Fallsview Casino for the credentials to review the show.
