By Adam Waldman
The calendar has finally flipped to 2017, but the scars of 2016 remain. 2016 may be remembered for the deaths of several musical icons, but there were some truly memorable live performances that proved that rock and roll is very much alive and well, most notably, Joe Lynn Turner’s stellar solo show.
As rumors swirled that Ritchie Blackmore was ready to step back into the rock arena for a “Rainbow reunion,” JLT seemed like a slam dunk to take center stage once again. Not only was he the frontman featured on some of the band’s biggest hits, but he also is the only singer to have also fronted Deep Purple. If Blackmore was ready to rock again, the first call should have gone to JLT. Inexplicably, it didn’t.
JLT didn’t let Blackmore’s misguided decision stop him from giving the people what they wanted. His show at Revolution on Long Island is everything that you could have asked for in a Rainbow show (even without the enigmatic guitarist present). Not only did JLT deliver brilliant performances of the songs that he made famous with Rainbow, he also did so with the songs that pre-dated him joining the band (while throwing in Deep Purple and Yngwie Malmsteen classics for good measure).
JLT didn’t get nearly the hype that Blackmore got for his Rainbow/Deep Purple live performances, but he deserved it. Amazingly, JLT’s vocals are as strong today as they were over three decades ago when he rose to fame.
CLICK HERE to read the full concert review.
HONORABLE MENTIONS:
SOTO
Jeff Scott Soto has a tremendous resume, but he still manages to fly under the radar. In an intimate show on a cold winter night, JSS and his band SOTO delivered an inspired performance, showcasing chemistry that you usually find in bands that have been together for decades.
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SONS OF TEXAS
The first time that I heard “Baptized In The Rio Grande” on SiriusXM’s Octane, I was instantly hooked. With a seasoned sound that goes well beyond their years, the boys from a small Texas town near the Mexican border live up to the saying…“everything’s bigger in Texas.” One of the best newcomers onto the hard rock music scene, Sons Of Texas showed that they are going to be a force to be reckoned with for many years to come.
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ANTHRAX*
Anthrax’s inclusion on this list comes with an asterisk because it wasn’t actually a concert, rather a four-song, show-stealing performance at the recent Epiphone Revolver Music Awards. It’s a testament to the band’s greatness that the crowd was as enthusiastic about the two new songs (“Breathing Lightning” and “Monster At The End”) as they were about the classics (“Caught In The Mosh” and “Indians”).
CLICK HERE to read a full recap of the event.
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