Summer time and memories often go together. August 14th, 2012 at The Erie County Fair in Hamburg, NY, was one of those nights. The band BOSTON was performing to a packed fairgrounds. BOSTON is an American rock band that achieved its most notable successes during the 1970s and 1980s. The band is currently mid-way through their 2012 North American tour and has been receiving outstanding reviews regarding their recent performances.
Certain bands have an established sound that seems to carry them on forever and BOSTON is one of those bands. BOSTON not only creates memories, it solidifies them forever with their sound, which is distinctive and cannot be mistaken. The sound is characterized by multiple lead and blended harmonies and guitar work, often alternating between, and then mixing in electric and acoustic guitars. The driven guitar licks seem to last forever, the key board pumping away creates an uplifting sound that takes you along for the ride, and the drums are strong and furious, all tied in with the deep distinctive rhythm of the bass line.
The band is comprised of original member and lead & rhythm guitarist, keyboardist, percussionist, and backing vocalist Tom Scholz, longtime rhythm guitarist Gary Pihl, frontman Tommy DeCarlo and rhythm guitarist David Victor sharing lead vocals, drummer Curly Smith returning for the first time in over a decade, and former Stryper member Tracy Ferrie on bass.
Tuesday’s concert unveiled to Western New York fans the considerable talents of this band. DeCarlo and Victor sounded wonderful together. The bands vocal harmonies were flawless throughout the show. Enough cannot be said about the sound of this show. AMAZING!
The band made it presence known from the onset with “Rock& Roll Band” and continued to follow with one hit after another. The quality of the sound was impeccable, something the band worked hard to achieve for this tour. You could close your eyes in the middle of a song and see yourself at home listening to the album. The crowd was eager to sing along with each tune Boston played and let them know their appreciation with repeated applause after each song. The crowd was very diverse; there was a strong showing of older folks with nice mixture of younger fans. Smiles came to faces when such classics like ”Smokin’”and “Don’t Look Back” were played.
The band displayed enormous energy throughout the show, often running from one side of the stage to the other to entertain the fans. When the final noted ended the crowd erupted into applause and cheered for more. The band finished up with a 2 song encore “Used to Bad News” and “Party.” For the fans of BOSTON this was a must see show. In the end, no one left the Erie County Fair disappointed, except for wanting more Boston.
Setlist:
Rock-n-Roll Band
Smokin’
Feeling Satisfied
Peace of Mind
Cool the Engines
Musical Intro/Surrender to Me
Don’t Look Back
Something About You
Amanda
We’re Ready
The Launch
More Than a Feeling
My Destination
A New World
Walk On
Foreplay/Long Time
Encore:
Used To Bad News
Party
We would like to thank Gail Parenteau for allowing BackstageAxxess.com to review the show.
