On any given weekend night in Western New York there is a multitude of choices to consider when selecting your live music entertainment. This weekend I decided to choose Dokken. There’s a piece of my heart that still lives for ’80s metal. Sorry.
Dokken returned to Braun’s Concert Cove on Saturday, June, 22 for a night of rejuvenated rock memories. Singer Don Dokken is back on track, displaying strong vocals at tonight’s performance which also saw the return of original drummer and founding member “Wild” Mick Brown. The audience at Braun’s was quite diverse ranging from metal heads to the 60’s hippie. The outdoor venue itself has great acoustics but is a tad out of the way from the hustle and bustle of downtown Buffalo music ballrooms. No big deal – the place still rocks.
Dokken hit the stage at 9:30pm, opening the show with “Just Got Lucky.” The set list infused all of their classic hits including “Into The Fire” and “Breaking The Chains.” The audience seemed really into the set. There were many sing-alongs including their classic soulful ballad “Alone Again.” Don Dokken is also playing guitar again on a few of the classic hits including “Breaking The Chains,” which gave the band a fuller guitar sound. Don is a great storyteller and reminisced quite a bit on the making of each song, while hitting on the fact that he is aging. Don turns 60 this coming week. Happy Birthday Don!
Highlights of the set included the funky “It’s Not Love.” Former Great White bassist Sean McNabb showcased his excellent bass playing on this jam. They rocked hard on “Tooth And Nail.” The team of Levin and Dokken work well together onstage. Jon Levin displayed some mighty lead guitar riffs.
I had the opportunity to speak with Mick before the show and he seems really enthused about the summer tour, the “TNN” CD doing well and his strong return to the music scene. Don has quit smoking and is working out with a personal trainer. It is inspiring to see these aging ’80s rockers taking care of themselves. The scene is quite different from the heyday.
Today, it is all about maintaining quality music for the fans. It would have been great to hear some current songs from their “Broken Bones” CD; maybe next time around. All in all tonight’s performance was all about having a good time and a dose of nostalgia. The audience didn’t seem to mind rocking to the timeless hits.
Set List:
Just Got Lucky
The Hunter
Kiss Of Death
Dream Warriors
This Fire
Into The Fire
Breaking The Chains
Alone Again
Too High To Fly
It’s Not Love
Tooth And Nail
In My Dreams
We would like to thank Ross Catalino from Back 2 Back Entertainment for the credentials to review the show. Stay tuned for an exclusive interview with Mick Brown conducted before the show.
