Audience Tweeticipation - Paul Brandt Concert - 02/17/12

Local radio personality Shilo Bellis from XL96 kicks the night off with the introduction of Open Road Records “High Valley”.  The Rempel brothers are three young lads with a great skill set on their instruments, fantastic harmonies, and a great sense of fun onstage.  Having opened for the likes of Brad Paisley and Keith Urban these brothers from Northern Canada are really beginning to come into their own with the group having won the 2011 Country Radio Music Award for Best New Group / Solo Artist (Country) and in 2010 and 2011, they were nominated for the Rising Star Award at the Canadian Country Music Association Awards (CCMA).   To add to that list they were recently nominated for a JUNO award for “Best Country Album”.

The brothers are always appreciative of the crowd before them when they play here, and inject their show with humorous story telling and anecdotes from their life and travels.  They were even able to deal admirably with two rather ‘boisterous’ fellows that were rather raucous in their appreciation of the band (whom were later removed to applause from the crowd).  The guys rolled through all their hit singles from their self-titled debut album which had four singles in the top 25 on country radio, “I Will Stand By You”, “On The Combine”, “A Father’s Love” and “Call Me Old Fashioned”.  They also took the time to talk about a personal cause that had special meaning for them in regard to sponsoring children in impoverished countries.  The crowd was highly appreciative of the young group High Valley, who I highly (no pun intended) recommend that you check out.

High Valley - Capitol Theatre - 02/17/12

After a brief intermission it was time for our main act, Paul Brandt, to take the stage.  With a stage set up appropriate for the Capitol, featuring three large throw rugs, a multitude of candle lights, and three large ‘lava lamps’ the stage set an intimate mood for Brandt’s show.  Hitting the stage with little introduction, and launching right into the first songs, Brandt set us off on a night that would take us across decades and a worldly music career.   The “Now” tour kicked off with that very song from Brandt’s latest and sixth studio album “Give It Away” and took us all the way back to one of his biggest hits in “I Do” that he wrote for a co-worker’s wedding from his career, which came to a surprise to many, as a pediatric nurse.

Paul Brandt - Capitol Theatre - 02/17/12

He even regaled us with a few humorous stories from his time on the childrens ward, speaking of stories, that’s one thing I personally was very appreciative of, Brandt taking the time not to just play music for us; but to ‘interact’ with us.  Now some bands, all you want them to do is ‘play’, but most I’d like to ‘hear from them’, to me it makes for a more ‘complete’ show and experience…if we just wanted to hear the music, we could do that at home.

Paul Brandt - Capitol Theatre - 02/17/12

Brandt took us around the world with his stories, showed us how music is ‘universal’, how it and his guitar got him out of a tight spot in a militant country overseas.  How it has aided him in helping World Vision sponsor children, which he took some time in the middle of the show to speak about and encouraged people to check out in the lobby of the Capitol.    Taking us on a journey through his career with songs like “My Heart Has A History”, “I Do”, “Convoy” (which brought his merchandise guy on stage in a duck suit, and if you know the song you know why) and his latest single “Give It Away”.  Even joined by opening act HighValley members for a couple of his songs to the delight of the crowd.

Paul Brandt - Capitol Theatre - 02/17/12

I must remember to make a note to myself the next time I go see a performer that typically likes to wear a cowboy hat most of the time, don’t sit in the balcony or you won’t see their face much!  Brandt talked about how he loves what he does, and how he appreciates everything he has received over the years and how he’d still do it in his ‘living room’ if he couldn’t do it live anymore.  But he will have a chance to do it on a very large stage later this year when he gets the chance to celebrate on the main stage at the Calgary Stampede as the Stampede celebrates it’s centennial and Brandt get’s to fire off a million dollars in fireworks every night (who wouldn’t be excited about that!).  Closing out the night with an encore, Brandt asked the crowd what they wanted to hear, and many shouted out “Alberta Bound”, which was the final song of the night!

Thanks to High Valley, Paul Brandt, the Capitol Theatre, and Jones entertainment for another great show, and if you get to see either of these acts in your area I strongly urge you to, until next time!

We started the night off with an opening act of “Gloryhound” a rock band from Nova Scotia who comprised of Evan Meisner (lead vocal/rhythm guitar), David Casey (lead guitar/bg vocal), Shaun Hanlon (drums) and Jeremy MacPherson (bass), are a tight well rounded rock band that had my brain searching for 80′s similarities that were just out of reach.  Influenced by Alice Cooper and Iggy Pop, I can see why my mind went there, and their sound backs that up.  With solid tunes like “Electric Dusk”, which I really enjoyed, smooth vocals and musicianship these four high school band mates from Fall River have something good going here.   Graciously accepted by the crowd of Deep Purple fans Gloryhound is a band to watch out for as I’m sure we’ll hear from them again.

Opening Act "Gloryhound" - Deep Purple Concert - Casino NB

After a half our set by the opener and a thrity minute break it was time for our headliner to take the stage.  Ian Paice is the only member of British rockers Deep Purple who can claim to have been in the band since day one, but vocalist Ian Gillan and bassist Roger Glover have been there for most of the bands incarnations as well.  Glover and Gillan signed on beginning with “In Rock” and in 1994, former Dixie Dregs founder Steve Morse became a member of the band.  In 2002, founding member and keyboard player Jon Lord retired from the group and Don Airey stepped in to complete the current lineup.

Deep Purple - Casino NB - 02/04/12

The band blasted onto the stage playing “Highway Star” from 1972′s ‘Machine Head’ album, which was their most successful album, and the band highlighted this album with songs like “Lazy”, and “Space Truckin’”.  The band’s various members also took turns with blistering solos on this Saturday night, the crowd most appreciative of a lengthy Steve Morse guitar solo.  As I’ve mentioned in the past, the sound in the Center at Casino NB is top notch, and tonight was no exception, with the bands music transporting us back a few decades to the seventies and eighties where heavy rock and heavy metal were essentially born.  They effortlessly flew through songs like “Strange Kind of Woman” and “Rapture of The Deep”.

Deep Purple - Casino NB - 02/04/12 - Roger Glover & Steve Morse

An appreciative crowd greeted the band tonight, not surprisingly it was mostly male which I fully expected, with a smattering of ladies throughout.  The crowd knew the music, were fans of the music, ‘got’ the music, and they showed it with multiple standing ovations throughout the night.  I had a wonderful seat on the center aisle that afforded me a great view of the performance, it allowed me to see the appreciative crowd as they absorbed the sounds.

Deep Purple - Casino NB - 02/04/12 - Ian Gillan, Roger Glover & Steve Morse

Rolling Through multiple albums like “Machine Head”, “In Rock”, and “Deepest Purple” the guys of Deep Purple did not leave the crowd wanting.  When they launched into “Smoke on the Water” from back in 1972, every person who has picked up a guitar and plucked out those first few notes felt that connection that that song brings…’duh, duh, duh’…the small and vocal crowd was ecstatic.

The sold out show from Monday is in for a treat as the show is a great time machine trip back to those days when heavy metal rock was in it’s prime, when melodic vocals and wailing guitars joined in a cacophony of sound that blasts you to a different place.  If Deep Purple is rolling into your town I highly recommend the show for fans of the era, fans of Deep Purple, and rock music fans.

Deep Purple - Casino NB - 02/04/12 - Ian Gillan, Roger Glover & Ian Paice

Once again I want to thank Gloryhound, Deep Purple, Casino NB and Paul Mercs concerts for a great night of music…until next time!

Daughtry - Break The Spell

Five years ago we were all introduced to Chris Daughtry via American Idol, we were all shocked when he was evicted from the idol island way too soon, but soon were thankful that he was because then he could make the music he was meant to make not influenced by the ‘pop’ machine. He then released one of the biggest selling debut albums of all time, and now is back with his band ‘Daughtry’ with the release of their third studio album titled ‘Break The Spell’.

This album is a lot like the previous two albums that have both been commercially successful for Daughtry, tightroping between pop and hard rock, all the while feeling perfectly at home to the listener in either grouping.

This album starts a bit on the hard rock side of Daughtry with the rock single ‘Renegade,’ an up-tempo rocker that gets that fired up and ready for the rest of this record. As usual with a Daughtry album the songs run the rails with variety, with a well thought out plan of a little of something to satisfy every palate.

The pop single ‘Crawling Back to You,’ already a smash hit, picks up the gauntlet of previous Daughtry hits like ‘Home’, and ‘What About Now’ that everyone knows most of the words too, get heavy rotation on the radio, and most have sung at least a dozen times at the top of their lungs in the car while driving. A song that stuck out for me in a very ‘Summer of 69′ style sound was “Louder Than Ever” which I could picture driving alone with the top down, screaming out in the wind. This album covers everything lyrically, from memories, lost love, love to be found, and running away and coming back.

The album even has it’s heavy moments, with the thought provoking ‘Lullaby’, and the heavy hearted song written about the loss of an unborn child and it being ‘Gone Too Soon’. Two wildly opposing set of lyrics but that somehow connect in an odd way, a way that shows how the band is growing and touching on things they may not have ventured into earlier in their career.

I noted back when they released their debut album that it was the best true ‘rock’ album I’d heard in years, and they haven’t strayed away from that feeling, its a solid album with a great flow of speed and tempo, fun and thought provoking lyrics. I highly recommend getting the “deluxe” addition that have the aforementioned ‘Lullaby’ and three more great songs in ‘Who’s They’, ‘Maybe We’re Already Gone’, and ‘Everything But Me’.

Some would say it’s a formulaic Daughtry album, but Daughtry do change it up on this album and it does see the band expanding itself and flexing it’s writing muscles in ways we’ve not seen before. Daughtry have been one of the shining moments in rock music for me over the last few years and I believe they will have yet another hugely successful outing with ‘Break the Spell.’…definitely recommended! Until next time…!

01. Renegade
02. Crawling Back to You
03. Outta My Head
04. Start of Something Good
05. Crazy
06. Break The Spell
07. We’re Not Gonna Fall
08. Gone Too Soon
09. Losing My Mind
10. Rescue Me
11. Louder Than Ever
12. Spaceship

Bonus Tracks:
13. Who’s They
14. Maybe We’re Already Gone
15. Everything But Me
16. Lullaby

4.5 / 5

The Center (Casino NB) – New Years Eve Club Party Bash!

Moose’s Wild Pub (Casino NB) – Stars of Vegas

The Old Cosmo – Urban Myth

Plan B – Les Hostesses d’Hillaire

The Old Triangle – Byrdox County Ramblers

St. James Gate – Carey Beck

The Igloo – The Backyard Devils / Lisa Leblanc / Phil Flowers

Tide & Boar – The Tarantinos

The Oxygen – DJ Matty J

More to Come!

Involving a cast of over 200, the tree features music, dance and drama and the accompaniment of a live band, and this year had a special treat in an almost week long guest appearance by country star Jason McCoy!  This year it features improved stage effects, a snowflake filled auditorium, the pristine Wesleyan Celebration Center, and a guest country superstar!

Living Christmas Tree 2011

Moncton Wesleyan is Atlantic Canada’s largest church, with a congregation of over 3500 people averaging more than 1,700 persons in attendance each weekend and have had a presence of over 100 years in the City of Moncton.  The Wesleyan Celebration Center is a comfortable 1800 seat, two level auditorium that contains modern lighting, sound, and projection systems.  The Atrium acts as a large foyer to the Center and off the atrium there is a secondary Life Center with a 600 seat auditorium with stage.  Adding to all of this this year was the addition of Canadian country superstar Jason McCoy whom is a two time CCMA Male Vocalist of the Year and winner of the Global Artist Award in 2006 by the CMA’s in Nashville.  He is also well known for writing many great country hits for other artists like Doc Walker (Rocket Girl), and collaborating on many others.

The show always starts with a grand spectacle and this year it was music and lights and about 50 dancing Santas, that got the crowd into it right away, followed up by a local school choir which was a feature of the show all week, by having local schools participate in the show.  The show featured everything from choral performances, to individual songs, trios in sleighs, and it even had “the Grinch”!  The Grinch took us through some fantastical keyboard playing, playing music from the Phantom of the Opera, and being joined by kids of the church to do the “grinch rap” after a baritone choral member did an admiral job filling in for Boris Karloff in the Grinch song/narration.

Soon after the stage was taken by none other than the featured artist, who regaled us with great stories, songs, and an unexpected humor that had everyone enjoying themselves.  He spoke to what Christmas meant to him and his young family, and told stories of his youth intermingled with songs and jovial anecdotes.

Jason McCoy - Living Christmas Tree 2011

After a twenty minute intermission where you could buy refreshments in the Atrium, bake-sale cookies, and visit the “World Vision” table to get informed about adopting an needy child in a third world country, it was time to light the Living Christmas Tree.    With the auditorium filling with choral sounds of the season the ‘living’ Christmas Tree comes to life with it’s 35,000 multi-coloured bulbs undulating from top to bottom and side to side and it’s ‘choir ornaments’ adorning the tree.

The almost three hour event went on with more songs, a great live painting to music, an interview of Jason McCoy by lead pastor L.D. Buckingham about his work with World Vision and more performances by the country star.  Not wanting to give too much away I must say the show was a great event all around and lead right up to the grand finale complete with ‘flying’ angels that soared above the crowd.

Living Christmas Tree 2011

The Living Christmas tree is a spectacle of lights, sound, laughter, music and spiritual messages that many will take many different things from, but it is an all around top notch local production that next year with be celebrating it’s 40th Anniversary, for which, I expect they will pull out all of the stops!  I want the thank the LCT Director Pastor Don Ingersoll, The Moncton Wesleyan, and Jason McCoy for a humorous and fun musical evening and encourage you all to take in the show next year for their 40th anniversary!  Until next time!

Doc Walker - Capitol Theatre - 11/15/11

After an introduction by local radio personality Shilo Bellis from XL-96, the guys of Doc Walker hit the stage with the song “Are You With Me Tonight” the name of the current tour that is making it’s way across the country and started two nights ago in St. John’s, NFLD.  The small and enthusiastic crowd welcomed them to the stage with loud applause and whoops of joy, the Capitol Theatre, making for an almost ‘intimate’ setting for the band’s show on this night.  Lead vocalist, Chris Thorsteinson, even commented on how much he enjoyed it when he got to play in this great little theatre, one of his favorites before the band went into one of their biggest hits in “Driving With The Breaks On”.

Guitar player Murray Pulver showed why he was the CCMA guitar player of the year for 2008-2010 as my focus kept being drawn back to him at various points in the evening as his solos and smooth riffs pulled you in and enveloped you in electric guitar, I even heard some Rush thrown in at the end of one of their own songs which I thought was quite awesome.  The touring band this night also included Brent Pearen on Bass and drummer Steve Broadhurst that just finished another cross Canada tour with Dean Brody, Aaron Lines, and Deric Ruttan, both very good musicians and Brent’s bass playing stood out for me on both tours.

Doc Walker had humble beginnings back in 1991 in the Canadian prairie province of Manitoba.  Which is exactly where they recorded their new album 16 & 1 in an old school house that was attended by Thorsteinson, which he bought, and they eventually turned into a recording studio for their latest effort.  They scoured the internet looking for vintage recording gear to stock their acoustically fit house of childhood memories with and recorded the new album that appears to have a distinct rock edge to it.   Since beginning back in the day, the Open Road Recordings artists have been nominated and won numerous CCMA awards for songs off of albums like “Go”, won a Juno award for 2009 Country Recording of The Year (Beautiful Life), and show no signs of slowing down but simply getting more creative with their music which shows on 16 & 1.

Chris Thorsteinson - Doc Walker - Capitol Theatre - 11/15/11

Thorsteinson stepped away from the mic a few times this evening giving it up to his compatriots in Dave Wasyliw and Murray Pulver for a couple of songs just before their brief intermission…wait, did I just hear the ‘Black Eyed Peas’?  I seriously think these guys can play just about any kind of music and make it sound good…after the break, we found that out, as they went into their mini Christmas set.  As they tour across the country through the Christmas season they only thought it fitting to have a seasonal section mixed into their more regular fare which was alright with the crowd on this night.   Chris, took his mic at one point and journeyed into the crowd, bringing up the house lights, to lead a sing-along of jingle bells with a young girl from the crowd to much appreciation from the fans in attendance.

The guys finished off the night with some more of their best known songs like “If I Fall”, “Rocket Girl”, “Make You Love Me” (a personal favorite), and finished the night with a raucous “Get Up” before bidding the crowd farewell, or so they thought.  While a few of the fans made for the door to beat the rush, the majority stayed and pulled the band back out for a two song encore that caught some of the band members off guard.  They played one song with the full band and then the three guys of Doc Walker stepped even further forward and played one more for the very appreciative crowd.

Dave Wasyliw,Chris Thorsteinson, Murray Pulver - Doc Walker - Capitol Theatre -11/15/11

I highly recommend getting out to see Doc Walker as they make their way across the country on this tour, they provide an evening of high quality entertainment mixed with great stories, laughter, and fun filled music…check www.DocWalker.ca for tour details and to get tickets.  I look forward to the next time the guys of Doc Walker bring their music and fun to our city and thank the band, the Capitol Theatre, Sonic Concerts, and RGK Entertainment for a great night of music.  Until next time!

Ian Fowler:

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/1453901

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/1453959

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/1453912

http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/news/article/1453894

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - 10/19/2011

The night started with all three acts taking the stage together to sing “Hey Good Lookin’” and work the, smaller than expected, crowd into a lather for what was to come.  After the first song the two “D’s” of the show (Dean and Deric) left the stage and Aaron Lines maintained center stage singing some of his bigger hit’s like “Turn It Up” and “Can’t Hide Beautiful” telling the story that the latter song was written for his wife and now he feels applies to both his wife and young daughter.  Aaron Lines, has been on the music scene since 2001, from Fort McMurray, Alberta, he has had success on both sides of the border with the aforementioned ‘Can’t Hide Beautiful’ rising to number four on the Billboard Country Charts in 2003 and opened that year for Martina McBride.  Lines finished his set that evening with his only ever #1 country single “Cheaper To Keep Her”, off his fourth album Moments That Matter, to much appreciation from the crowd and it turned into a ‘sing-a-long’ song.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Aaron Lines

Next up with no pause was hit songwriter and singer Deric Ruttan, bursting on to the stage styled more like a rock star than a country star (no cowboy hats and plaid shirts here, like the other two acts), Ruttan started his set with his hit song “Sing That Song Again”.  I found Ruttan to be the most ‘talkative/interactive’ with the crowd of the three acts on this night as I normally find the singer from Bracebridge, Ontario to be extremely personable and very in touch with his fans.   A noted songwriter Ruttan has has a score of hit songs both himself and with others, winning the Canadian Country Music Award for Songwriter of the year in 2007 (Aaron Pritchett – Hold My Beer).  He’s written hit songs for Dierks Bentley (What Was I Thinkin’), Aaron Pritchett (Hold My Beer/My Way), Eric Church (Guys Like Me), and many more artists like Paul Brandt, Doc Walker, and Jason Blaine.  An accomplished songwriter he’s also had a slew of his own hits like his next song “Feel Alright For The First Time, and as he noted his most successful single “How I Wanna Go Out”.  Telling a story to the crowd about the local ‘legion’, Ruttan then jumped into a song that most of the crowd seemed to know the words too (made me think this would have been a great ‘bar show’) in “Up All Night” and this turned into a crowd participation sing-a-long song.  He then finished up his set with another great Ruttan song “Good Time” and made way for the next part of the trio of acts.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Deric Ruttan

Dean Brody took to the stage playing his hit from 2010, “Roll That Barrel Out” to much appreciation from the crowd. Brody, appears, the most ‘country’ of the three acts tonight being the only one of the three that sports a cowboy hat, but somehow it fits his style and his sound (not really picturing the other two in cowboy hats).  Brody, another Canadian boy like the first two acts was born in British Columbia and grew up in the true country blue collar style of working in places like a sawmill before moving to Nashville in 2004.  Now calling Nova Scotia home after a bad accident and some extensive recovery time, he released his second album on his current label, Open Road Recordings, the album “Trail of Life”.  He went into a series of songs off that album to top out his set playing songs like “Little Yellow Blanket”, “Wildflowers”, and “People Know You By Your First Name”.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Dean Brody

Next up the three acts took the stage together once again, taking the opportunity to sit together on stools with acoustic guitars, tell some more stories and alternate back and forth singing their songs in turn for the crowd.  Playing songs like “What Was I Thinkin’” (Deric), “Haven’t Heard You Cry” (Aaron), and the first hit single by Brody, “Brothers”.  They each played two songs, alternating back and forth in this ‘intimate & interactive’ portion of the show before cranking it back up again for the final portion of the night, the ‘cover songs’.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Aaron Lines

As I referred too previously, prior to the shows the fans could vote on CMT.ca from a list of ‘cover’ songs they wanted to hear in their city, of which, the guys would take the top three vote getters and perform at the show. Of which they kicked it off with the Eagles classic “Take It Easy”, and then taking an opportunity to introduce the band which featured CCMA guitar player of the year Jason Barry from Derby Junction, New Brunswick.   They also played country favorite Keith Whitley’s, “I’m Over You, and classic crossover hit “Copperhead Road” by Steve Earle.

CMT Hitlist Tour - Casino NB - Deric Ruttan (thanks for the smile Deric!)

The finished the night being pulled back for a one song encore by the crowd to complete a great show, with a variety of different paced music, some hits, some new songs, some covers, and a whole lot of fun.  The CMT Hitlist Tour is an interesting concept, three acts, different styles, all playing to each others fans separately and together and potentially increasing their own fan base a bit.  It’s a tour style that I could very much see repeated and hope there is a “Hitlist part deux”!  I want to thank CMT, Casino NB, Strut Entertainment, Sonic Entertainment, Open Road Recordings, Aaron, Dean, and Deric for a great night of entertainment!  Until next time!

Tyler Bryant hit the stage right on time, and it was visible that this lad was young, and he stated in the show that he was only 20 years old.  But his youth did not effect his skill, he was simply put an incredible guitar player, and at the tender age of twenty he’s already been playing guitar for fourteen years, having gotten his first guitar at the age of six!  Bryant made his acoustic guitar sing, saying he normally didn’t play acoustic that much, rarely live, but it surely didn’t show on this night.  He played some blues and slide guitar that would have made some players three times his age envious.  He rattled through some of his own tunes, stripped to their core on the acoustic, songs like “Kick The Habit” and “Good Life” off of his first full CD ‘From The Sand Castle’.   Bryant is from a little town called Honey Grove, Texas but now calls Nashville, TN home and you can see him featured in the film ‘Rock Prophecies’ that features guitarists like Jeff Beck, Carlos Santana, and Slash.  He’s played at Eric Clapton’s ‘Crossroads’ guitar festival in Chicago by the time he was 15, and has opened up for many great acts like BB King, Aerosmith, Heart & Vince Gill.  On this night he was a treat to watch perform and listen too, in person he is a very nice young fellow (signing autographs in the merch area) and I highly recommend his music.

Opener Tyler Bryant - Jeff Beck Concert - Casino NB - 10/13/2011

Then it was time for the headliner, Mr. Jeff Beck to take the stage, and the crowd was buzzing in anticipation as for many, this would very likely be their only chance to ever see him live.  Beck is considered one of the best guitar players of all time, being one of three of the greatest to play in the band The Yardbirds (Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page being the other two).  With a career spanning almost five decades Beck has played with a plethora of artists, a list that reads like the who’s who of the music industry, and is in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame twice both with the Yardbirds and as a solo artist.

The concert this evening also featured some fantastic musicians in his band, the drummer tonight (and vocals) was Narada Michael Walden, drummer, producer, singer/songwriter who has a yard long list of achievements, from gold, platinum, multi-platinum records, Grammy awards, and has worked with some of the biggest names in music like Whitney Houston, Maria Carey, and Aretha Franklin.  On Bass, was Halifax born (and Montreal raised) bass player Rhonda Smith, who is most notably know for her work with Prince and has worked with many others like Justin Timberlake, Beyonce, Patti Labelle, T.I., and George Clinton to name a few.  On Keyboards and vocals was Jason Rebello, who has worked with Sting in both the studion and on live performances since 1998 and has toured with Jeff Beck since 2006.  This ensemble of fantastic musicians combined with Beck led to some of the tightest most complete sounds I’ve ever been privileged enough to hear, with amazing percussion, funky bass, smooth transitions and chaotic keys.

Beck went through a wide range of music from funky jazz, to smooth blues, and back to classic Rock & Roll, even playing his classic rendition of “Over the Rainbow” which is amazing to see how he plays this song.  Playing songs like “A Day In The Life” and “You Never Know”, he took the crowd on a roller coaster of melodic and sometimes almost symphonic sounds for almost and hour and a half, receiving a standing ovation at the end of almost every song from the crowd.  The crowd ‘head nodded’ and rocked, ranging in age from their twenties to their late sixties, and absorbed all the band had to offer.

Pulled out for for one encore at the end of the night by the crowd, Beck did an amazing tribute to some great artists starting off with one of his big influences in Les Paul (whom he had the chance to play with) playing a sleek black Les Paul custom, hitting us with Jimi Hendrix’s “Little Wing” (sung by drummer Walden), and a tribute to Sly & The Family Stone (also sung by Walden, who looked like he was having a blast all night) and even played a beautiful Nessun Dorma.

Definitely earning a spot in my top twenty list of favorite concerts of all time this was one that lived up to the anticipation and left the crowd with huge smiles and great rock memories.  Thanks to the band, the casino, and Paul Mercs Concerts for bring this great concert to us.

Jeff Beck - Casino NB - 10/13/2011