Buffalo native Billy Sheehan’s latest project, Sons of Apollo, played the Town Ballroom last Friday and it was a grand homecoming. Sheehan’s connection with his hometown is a strong one. The packed house was a testament to his success. Years of playing bass in local bars with Talas groomed him to be a superstar. If you were a fan back then, you knew his playing was special and he had the chops to make it big. After leaving Buffalo for California, Sheehan played with David Lee Roth, Michael Schenker, UFO and his own projects, Mr. Big, Niacin and others. He won 5 Guitar magazine best bass player awards along the way. Like a long lost brother, he was coming home to play for friends and family.
Sons of Apollo is on a multi-city tour this year to support “Psychotic Symphony,” their latest album released last year. This is a band of superstar quality. Besides Sheehan on bass, the rest of the band includes Jeff Scott Soto on lead vocals, Derek Sherinian on keyboards, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal on guitar and Mike Portnoy on drums. The evening held great promise.
Opening with “God of the Sun,” the lead track on “Psychotic Symphony,” Sheehan and Thal traded leads as Soto belted the lyrics. The room came alive and the local fans seemed to push Sheehan to play with a controlled frenzy. The sound filled the Town Ballroom and seem to shake the whole block with a sound that hasn’t been heard in a long time. The album is full of technical playing and Thor-hammering thunder. The knot is tied by the playing of Portnoy. With Sheehan and Thal running the leads, Soto singing over the top, it’s Portnoy who’s drumming holds it all together. His beats are consistent and rhythmic.
Continuing with the album tracks, “Signs of the Times,” “Figaro’s Whore” and “Divine Addiction,” the band was in high form. This collection of musicians has a “wow” factor that can only get better the more they play together. “Just Let Me Breathe” (by Dream Theatre) was up next and saw Portnoy kicking the double bass drums into high gear. Sheehan stayed onstage following “Labyrinth” for an extended bass solo that brought the crowd to a frenzy. It was reminiscent of the great bass solos I witnessed when he was with Talas, but on a much higher level. His custom double-necked Yamaha bass is one of a kind and he has mastered the instrument like no other.
Soto took center stage and dedicated “Alive” to his brother and gave a heartfelt rendition to the the only slow song of the night. The band joined him halfway through and ramped up the tune to end the tribute in true rock n’ roll style. The night was just getting good. Thal had some fun with “The Pink Panther Theme” and the band followed with “Opus Maximus,” a long & soaring song with room for each band member to solo and show off a bit.
Sherenian had his time in the spotlight with a dazziling multi-keyboard solo. Another Dream Theatre song “Lines In The Sand” closed the show with a huge ovation from the crowd. Encores of “And The Cradle Will Rock” and “Coming Home” left ears ringing. The great vibe exhibited by seeing this band live brought back a flood of memories for everyone in attendance.
Great music, friends, and one lost lost brother in music made for an evening that will never be forgotten.
Setlist:
God of The Sun
Signs of the Times
Figaro’s Whore
Divine Addiction
Just Let Me Breathe (Dream Theater cover)
Labyrinth
-Sheehan Bass Solo-
Lost in Oblivion
The Prophet’s Song/Save Me (Queen cover)
Alive
The Pink Panther Theme (Henry Mancini cove)
Opus Maximus
-Sherinian keyboard solo-
Lines in the Sand
Encore:
And the Cradle Will Rock (Van Halen cover
Coming Home
We would like to thank Amanda Cagan from ABC PR for the credentials to review the show.
