Fare Thee Well Done

Take a bow, boys. You earned it.

Beautiful. Liberating. Spiritual. Divine. Epic.

It all fits in describing the second, and final, Grateful Dead show at Levi’s Stadium Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.

Surprising also fits.

Given the mixed reviews of the 1960s-leaning, jam-heavy Saturday show, the average age of the group’s core four, the idea Trey Anastasio – you know, that guy from Phish – was “filling in” for Jerry Garcia on lead guitar and the fact the seven main players hadn’t played on such a large stage in decades, there was no reason to expect greatness.

Yet, just like the Dead did so many nights during an often-magical and occasionally maddening 35-year run, magic happened. And by magic, we’re talking about the type of magic that can only happen at a Dead show. We’re talking a strike of lightning flashing above Three Rivers Stadium moments before the Dead opened the second set of a June 30, 1995 show with their Rain set – Rain, Box of Rain, Looks Like Rain and Samba in the Rain. That made an an otherwise snoozer of a show a special one. We’re talking a post-diabetic coma Jerry giving thumbs up during “Touch of Grey.”

Despite its warts, 6/28/15 was three-plus hours of cathartic bliss – and two sets with a heavy Jerry Garcia influence – for Deadheads.

Setlist – Set I: Feel Like a Stranger, New Minglewood Blues, Brown-Eyed Women, Loose Lucy, Loser, Row Jimmy, Alabama Getaway, Black Peter, Hell in Bucket; Set II: Mississippi Half-Step Uptown Toodeloo, Wharf Rat, Eyes of the World, He’s Gone, Drum, Space, I Need a Miracle, Death Don’t Have No Mercy, Sugar Magnolia; Encore: Brokedown Palace.

While no Dead show is perfect, this setlist helped offer moments of pure inspiration, and it showed that, in its 50th year, the Grateful Dead are capable of achieving great heights, even during some slightly sloppy moments.

Bob Weir started strong and never relented. He was playful and inspired, hitting vocal high notes during “He’s Gone” and the beautiful “Brokedown Palace.”

Ace was strong Sunday in Santa Clara, Calif.

Phil Lesh played a thunderous bass, working a wonderful back beat with the Rhythm Devils – the ever-steady Bill Kreutzmann and Mickey Hart. On lead vocals, Lesh wasn’t strong during “Eyes of the World” but I didn’t mind it as much as many other Deadhead friends did. The moments when Lesh spoke to the 70,000 in attendance and countless others watching from home about the liver transplant he needed to stay alive. Again, just another moment to bond the Dead and those die-hard fans.

Bruce Hornsby and the piano and Jeff Chimenti on the keyboards, those two couldn’t get enough of each other. Their dynamic interplay showcased the joys the band experiences during a good show, which, make no mistake, this was.

And Trey. Well, he entered guitar royalty Sunday night. For those Deadhands who never got into Phish (my hand is raised), Anastasio’s inclusion was reason for slight concern. Would he Phish-up beloved Dead classics? Would he simply mimic Garcia? Would he lead on all Garcia songs?

Thankfully, the answers are no, no and no.

Trey worked wonders Sunday night. He played inspired, and, during “Wharf Rat,” it truly looked like he and Garcia were communicating. As one friend put it, “Trey was practically genuflecting. Heavy shit, man!”

The Grateful Dead conclude their all-too-brief Fare Thee Well tour with three shows in Chicago, starting tonight. That’s three more opportunities for magic moments.

Whether you’re in attendance like several of my friends or couch touring like myself, expect a miracle or two.

Tribute to TM

In the newspaper business, reporters form an unusual bond. We’re driven, perfectionists and, in most cases, weird and quirky. That bond is even stronger for those of us who make a living working at night in the hectic, deadline-driven world.

And when Tim Menees arrived at the Observer-Reporter as a night cops reporter a little more than a decade ago, I immediately knew he’d fit right in. He was quick with a smile, easy-going and we became immediate friends.

Tim, whose father Tim Menees was a well-known political cartoonist for decades at the Post-Gazette in Pittsburgh, cut his teeth in sports. Before the O-R, he worked for the Pirates, and he followed sports closely. At the time, I was a sports writer, but Tim and I shared more in common than a knowledge of Jason Kendall’s batting average or Jack Wilson’s range. We were the same age. We both lived in the South Hills, and neither of us turned down a good time.

It wasn’t long before TM, as we often called him at the O-R, and I worked Carson Street together or the bars along Route 19, whether it was in Washington County following a shift or some haunts in the South Hills. We even formed a bit of a routine. TM was the starter, the fearless guy capable of starting a conversation with anyone. I was the closer, the one who came in and added energy and humor to keep things moving. For a couple guys trying to make a living working nights and weekends at a newspaper, it was a pretty good tandem.

TM and I hit concerts together. He crashed on my couch multiple occasions. I placed bets for him. He helped me move from South Park to Bethel Park on a muggy, Western Pennsylvania summer day with no convincing needed. He came to house parties after I began co-habiting with Erin, who later became my wife. He was at my bachelor party and our wedding.

Most importantly, TM was a good friend, a person I could sit at my dining room table with until 3:30 a.m. talking about anything and everything. I’ve met precious few people in my 40 years I was as comfortable talking to as TM.

And after that wedding reception wound down, TM was right there at the hotel, hanging out and providing those of us there who knew him with another classic Menees story – a story I still share now that I’m back at the O-R.

Sadly, it was the next to last time I saw Tim, who, according to information on Facebook and provided by co-workers, was found dead Monday by his girlfriend. I got the news about an hour ago, right after I got back inside my house from walking the dog. Even if I hadn’t seen Tim in some time after job changes, moves and life created distance, it hit me like a sledgehammer.

TM had fallen and hit his head on ice. A supposed minor injury somehow turned fatal. It’s the first TM story I’ve heard that doesn’t put a smile on my face.

Doesn’t seem real.

Good guys, and believe me when I say he was the dictionary definition of good guy, aren’t supposed to leave us early.

Rest easy, TM.

We had a great day; It was a super way to spend some time together

Anna and I looked forward to Dec. 10 for weeks. That night, we headed to the Benedum Center in the Cultural District of Pittsburgh for one of the premier events on the kids’ calendar – a Fresh Beat Band concert.

For those not in the know, the Fresh Beat Band are one of those made-for-television kids groups. It consists of four members – Twist (rapper/DJ), Shout (vocals/keyboards), Kiki (vocals/guitar/violin) and Marina (vocals/drums) – and airs regularly on Nick Jr. The tour, hailed as Fresh Beat Band Greatest Hits Live, might be a farewell of sorts. While a Fresh Beat Band-based cartoon is in the works, original episodes of the show stopped production in 2013. Who knows if the group plans to tour again. Here’s hoping they do.

It’s positive. It’s fun. And, most importantly, it helps draw children to music.

That’s extremely important in my world.

Anna perfectly executing the Fresh Beat Band’s “Freeze Dance” in an aisle at the Bendum Center,

Tickets for daughter and dad were purchased after Anna went an entire week earning green flags for behavior in her kindergarten class, which is no easy feat given her propensities for talking and talking with volume. Plans, which included her first trip to University of Pittsburgh landmark The O, were made.

It marked our second kids concert at the Benedum, where we’d once seen the Imagination Movers. It also marked our second Fresh Beat Band concert of 2014. We’d caught their act at IUP back in January.

So, after The O, we made our way downtown, parked in a garage and hustled across the street to the show., A light-up tambourine was purchased. So was a bag of cinnamon-coated walnuts. Added a bottle of water, and we were ready to rock.

Anna’s favorite Fresh Beat Band member is Kiki. Mine is the Real MC, Twist.

Now, unlike some dads, I have zero problem attending these shows. I’ll get up and dance, sing along and act a fool – all in the name of fun and celebrating music that makes Anna happy. And we definitely had fun watching the Fresh Beat Band.

For me, the event also held some nostalgia. Anna is nearing the age of 6, and her tastes are rapidly changing. On the rare occasion she sits and watches television, she prefers tweener shows like “Dog With a Blog” and “Austin and Ally” to cartoons like “Word World” and “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse” her and I watched during daylight hours before I’d head to work. Anna’s days of kids concerts are nearing an end. She’s asking to see acts like Katy Perry and KISS. My little best buddy is evolving. It is what it is. I’ll always hold these early years close to my heart.

You’d be happy to after filling your belly with O fries before a concert,

On Sunday, Anna drew a fever and she’s home from school today. I’m off work after a six-day stretch, that included a fatal apartment fire Friday night less than two hours from deadline. It’s like old times, except my bouncy, bubbly buddy isn’t chattering nonstop.

We’re even watching some of our old favorites like “Olivia” and “Wonder Pets.” It’s like a portal to the not-so-distant past, when we jammed out to groups like the Fresh Beat Band.

In some weird ways, it’s been wonderful. Just hope she’s back to full health in time for Christmas Eve, and, when she is, I’ll be right here, watching tweener shows, reading an endless string of books together and going to see Katy Perry.

Concert review: Ace Frehley invades Greensburg

Ace Frehley’s reputation as a rock and roll wildman is well-deserved. The former lead guitarist of KISS is as heralded for his exploits away from the stage as the RnR Hall of Fame-caliber licks he delivers on it.

But that reputation is in need of a makeover.

There’s still something magical about an Ace Frehley guitar solo.

It’s been years since Frehley lost his sobriety, and, as he and his backing band hit Greensburg’s Palce Theater Saturday night for the third gig on his Space Invader tour, which backs an album of the same name, it’s apparent Frehley takes his business seriously. Granted, he didn’t hit the stage until about 10 p.m., but it didn’t take long for the original Spaceman to captivate the crowd his high-decibel rock.

Frehley’s set list at the Palace Theater (11/15/14): Lost in Limbo, Gimme a Feelin’, Toys, Parasite, Snowblind, Love Gun, Breakout, Space Invader, King of the Night Time World, Strutter, Bass solo, Strange Ways, Rock Soldiers, New York Groove, Shock Me, Guitar solo, Rocket Ride, 2 Young 2 Die, Shot Full of Rock. Encore: Detroit Rock City, Cold Gin, Deuce.

One thing is certain at a Frehley concert – volume. Chances are your ears will still be ringing the next morning. But the blasts of volume aren’t disguising anything with Ace’s outfit, which includes drummer Scot Coogan, bassist Chris Wyse and guitarist Richie Scarlett. It’s an outstanding group, particularly the talented Coogan, who handled vocals on multiple KISS songs.

Ace Frehley’s rock soldiers at the Palace Theater in Greensburg,

And Frehley doesn’t shy away from his past. The setlist is loaded with KISS classics, some of which Frehley had a hand in writing. Love Gun, with Coogan’s searing Stanleyesque vocals, was a highlight. King of the Night Time World, an underplayed KISS classic, was a pleasant surprise. Strutter rocked hard. And the encore, a triple-shot of KISS classics, including Cold Gin, the first song Frehley wrote for the band, left the crowd satisfied.

Frehley ran through songs from his solo work and Frehley’s Comet. The epic Rock Soldiers stood tall.

And so did Frehley.

His playing his sharp. No doubt years of sobriety are treating him well. His confidence is evident, and his new material stands up well with the songs that keep people turning out to see the 63-year-old, who entered the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame earlier this year along with the other original members of KISS. During the induction ceremony, Frehley drew the loudest cheers from the audience. His popularity has rarely waned whether he’s playing in KISS or not.

No doubt, Frehley has another tour or two left in him. Chances are his rock soldiers will demand it.

Throwback Thursday: Anna tackles bluegrass

My daughter, Anna, isn’t particularly shy, especially around adults. One of the more grand displays of her outgoing nature happened late July 2012 at the annual Coleman Station Bluegrass Festival.

If you’re unfamiliar with the festival, that’s OK, just know it’s easily one of the better bluegrass events thrown in Western Pennsylvania. It happens every July in rural Somerset County, and it’s thrown and organized by my brother-in-laws father, Tim Custer, who is an extraordinary banjo player. The festival attracts nationally recognized bluegrass acts in addition to local musicians. It’s an excellent time for family and bluegrass fans.

Two years ago, we were lucky enough to attend, and it coincided with my mother’s birthday. Tim, with the help of my brother-in-law, Tim, and nieces, Teresa and Abby, planned to sing her Happy Birthday. Anna was coaxed into going on stage with her cousins, and it didn’t take long for her to command the attention of the few hundred people in attendance.

Thanks, Billy Corgan

“I’ve been afraid of changin’ cause I built my life around you.”

That haunting line, delivered with perfection by Fleetwood Mac’s Stevie Nicks, hit me like a punch to the gut during a recent drive on Interstate 70. Crazy thing is it wasn’t the original version of “Landslide” blaring through the car speakers (Life advice: Always listen to music loud. Don’t be selfish. Share it.). It was a near spot-on cover by Smashing Pumpkin being played on Sirius XM’s Lithium channel.

The soaring vocal worked wonders with Billy Corgan’s unique voice. It’s one of those moments when music hits so hard, the world grows silent. No phone checking. No outside noise. Nothing but you and the song. A feeling that washes over and doesn’t let go right away. Pure freedom.

And it opened my eyes to something I’ve ignored for years.

Namely Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac.

Never considered myself much of a Mac fan. Sure, if “The Chain” or “Tusk” came across the airwaves, the channel wouldn’t change, but seeking out Fleetwood Mac’s music wasn’t a priority.

That all changed, thanks to Billy Corgan.

The day after hearing Pumpkin’s “Landslide,” I logged onto the Google machine and delved into Fleetwood Mac’s original. Nicks transfixed me with her impeccable vocal, and Lindsay Buckingham, a seriously underrated guitarist, delivered the perfect backdrop to one of the best songs I’ve heard in recent years.

Yes, “Landslide” debuted in 1975 and I’ve heard it several times before hearing the Pumpkins cover it. But I finally discovered the song, and it led me into acquainting myself with the music of Fleetwood Mac and Stevie Nicks.

An open ear can connect you with new music, even if the music is 40 years old.

It happened to me on multiple occasions, most notably in the summer of 2006. Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were celebrating its 30th anniversary by touring with the recently retired Allman Brothers Band. Now, I love the Allmans. Seen them multiple times, and catching them open for Petty sounded like a great way to spend a summer night. So, a former co-worker from the Observer-Reporter and I hit Star Lake Amphitheater. I was geeked to see the Allmans. Petty was an afterthought.

An afterthought until Petty and the Heartbreakers took the stage. The sold-out crowd exuded an intense energy, intent on delivering every line in time with Petty. The band cranked out every hit imaginable. The sound was epic. Petty was grateful. A connection was made.

Four songs into Petty’s set, I forgot the Allmans opened.

And, just like that, Tom Petty became a legend, a guy I put on my Mount Rushmore of music with Jerry Garcia, Bob Marley and Bob Weir. Petty’s music still hits me hard every time I hear it. I haven’t missed one of his Pittsburgh shows since.

Hopefully, Fleetwood Mac’s music can come close to doing the same.

Mistaken for Melvin Seals

Melvin Seals, left, and Bradley Rhea of Terrapin Flyer get ready for Monday’s gig in Cleveland.

“Excuse me, are you Melvin Seals?”

That was the question posed by a young tech in the downstairs green room at Beachland Ballroom Monday night. Oddly enough, the tech directed the question to me, as I sat on a couch talking to good friend and bassist extraordinaire Bradley Rhea and his uncle, Frank Rhea, before Terrapin Flyer took the stage for the final gig of a seven-day fall tour.

I immediately looked at Brad, eyes wide open in surprise.

Brad tried to hold in his laughter, but the odd hilarity of the moment couldn’t contain it.

Now, I was once told I looked like David Spade. A couple people approached me for autographs several years ago, thinking I was former Penguins fan favorite Colby Armstrong. A few others believe I bear a strong resemblance to Brian Hackett, one of the primary characters of the 1990s NBC comedy “Wings.” (That remains my favorite lookalike comparison.)

But this … this was different.

See, I’m 5-foot-8 on a good day, 5-7 most days. Not to brag, but I’m in good shape for a 40-year-old. I’m mostly known as a sports writer, which I no longer am,  in parts of Western Pennsylvania. I’m also white.

Melvin Seals is recognized by some as the best Hammond B-3 organ player on the planet, and he couldn’t differ more in terms of physical appearance. He’s tall. He’s large.

And he’s black.

The rest of Terrapin Flyer feeds off another signature jam by Hammond B-3 organist Melvin Seals.

Of course, Grateful Dead fans know Seals well. He joined Jerry Garcia Band in 1980 and remained with the popular side-project of the Dead’s frontman until Garcia’s death in 1995. After that, Seals played with JGB and many others. He’s beloved by many members of the community, and his name is the biggest of Terrapin Flyer, a top-notch Dead tribute band. which also includes Ratdog guitarist Mark Karan. My friend, Brad, is a bassist, vocalist and the main reason for my weekday road trip, as I was giving him a ride back to Westmoreland County after the show. (Later on that night, when Doug Hagman introduced Brad to the crowd, the fellas up front loudly let him know he was the man. A few even bowed. A few others sought out his autograph after the show. Yep, he’s that good, and parts of the country outside our neck of the woods are finding that out.)

Bradley Rhea, right, signs autographs after Monday’s gig.

In the techie’s defense, he obviously doesn’t follow the Dead, and, I was the new guy in the green room at the time, though Seals was sitting on the other side of a coffee table, fresh off telling me about his fear of hitting deer when he drives in certain areas of the country at night. Seals didn’t look up when the tech asked me if I was him, he continued to sign his name to Terrapin Flyer prints, which would be sold at the merchandise table outside the ballroom at Beachland, located in Cleveland’s Collinwood neighborhood.

Seals simply said, “You ready for me?”

The techie answered affirmatively, and, a few minutes later, Terrapin Flyer was on its way upstairs to perform for the seventh time in seven days in a seventh different city, earning fans at every venue.

A print autographed by members of Terrapin Flyer.

Terrapin Flyer soars into Pittsburgh

Terrapin Flyer opened a brief tour Tuesday in Pittsburgh at Rex Theater.

Need a quick way to lose three to five pounds? Get your dance on with Terrapin Flyer.

Terrapin Flyer hails itself as “Chicago’s premier Grateful Dead tribute band.” Given the outfit’s lineup, which includes Melvin Seals of the Jerry Garcia Band and Mark Karan of Ratdog, it’s safe to say Terrapin Flyer is a hot ticket outside the reaches of the Midwest.

Like Tuesday in Pittsburgh.

Deadheads packed Rex Theater on the South Side for the start of a brief Terrapin Flyer tour, which runs through Monday, when the band plays Cleveland’s Beachland Ballroom.

It marked Terrapin Flyer’s first Pittsburgh appearance, and it was a memorable one for fans and a pair of band members (bass player and founding member of Grinning Mob Bradley Rhea and vocalist Kara Cavanaugh) from Western Pennsylvania .

Terrapin Flyer lineup: Melvin Seals (Hammond B3 organ), Mark Karan (lead guitar, vocals), Doug Hagman (rhythm guitar, vocals), Bradley Rhea (bass, vocals), Jim Farmer (drums), Kara Cavanaugh (vocals). 

From left, Kara Cavanugh, Bradley Rhea and Doug Hagman doing work.

With the exception of a quick soundcheck, Terrapin Flyer did not rehearse before kicking off its fall tour. And Melvin Seals didn’t arrive until about 7:30 p.m., just 30 minutes before the scheduled start.

No rehearsal. No problem. Terrapin Flyer sounded tight through a sweaty, energetic first set, which quickly had the Pittsburgh crowd getting down. By the time the band kicked into “Mister Charlie,” there weren’t many sets of stationary feet. “China Cat Sunflower” paired with “I Know You Rider” hit the right spots, but the highlight of the opening set may have been the final song, “Deal.”

Pittsburgh setlist: (Set 1) The Harder They Come, Sugaree, Mister Charlie, They Love Each Other, Friend of the Devil, My Sisters and Brothers, Walking the Dog, Big River, China Cat Sunflower > I Know You Rider, Deal; (Set 2) How Sweet It Is, Don’t Let Go, I Second That Emotion, Good Morning Little Schoolgirl, Catfish John, Highway 61 Revisited, Tangled Up in Blue, That’s What Love Will Make You Do.

The second set opened with the James Taylor classic, “How Sweet It Is” and Terrapin Flyer added depth and power to the song. “I Second That Emotion” was the highlight of a show, a perfect showcase for Doug Hagman’s vocals and Seals’ electric playing. Seals was explosive, and his play erupted during the Bob Dylan classic “Highway 61 Revisited.” If the Pittsburgh show is any indication, Seals is at the top of his game. There’s a lot of ways to define badass. For some, it might mean The Undertaker’s unbeaten streak at WrestleMania. For others, it could signify former Steelers linebacker Greg Lloyd. To me, badass is Melvin Seals flailing away to the delight of the crowd and bandmates.

But for all the chops this band possesses, and those chops are extraordinary, the four-part harmonies may be more impressive. For confirmation, check out the recording at archive.org/details/TerrapinFlyer2014-10-21.

Go ahead, listen and dance. Drop a few pounds.

Joining the KISS Army

Anything can trigger a romance with rock. And the great thing about jumping into something serious with the art form is that love never dies. The flame may flicker, but it will always burn.

And it’s impossible to forget the thing that made you falls head over heels with it.

It can start with something simple. Maybe it’s holding a hard copy of KISS’ “Destroyer” on vinyl. At least that’s how the romance blossomed for me.

It happened along Water Street in West Brownsville, a sleepy, little community just inside the Washington County border and across the Monongahela River from Brownsville in Fayette County. West Brownsville’s inhabitants are hard-working people. Some worked on the railroads, or at least had a father or uncle who did. By the time I was six, my mother’s parents lived on Water Street, and my Uncle Jimmy occupied one of the upstairs bedrooms. Inside that bedroom was one kickin’ record collection.

Elton John. Little River Band. Loggins & Messina. Hall & Oates. Just some of the records that caught my attention at an impressionable age.

But nothing, and I mean nothing, made an impact like “Destroyer” did. The cover – the four members of KISS in their full kabuki regalia, rock poses struck, an ominous skyline possibly from another planet – remains one of the best on rock history and easily ranks among the best KISS created, with “Dressed To Kill” right there.

I had to know more.

I had to hear this band.

And what I heard wasn’t anything like I had heard before. This wasn’t Michael Jackson or Kenny Rogers or Neil Diamond (all amazing acts). This was rock. I was hooked. It wasn’t long before I was on a mission to own every KISS recording on cassette.

And, 34 years later, KISS still makes a giant impact, not only on me, but the music of theirs I share with my 5-year-old daughter, Anna, who wants to be a certified card-carrying member of the KISS Army. See, KISS isn’t the devil’s music, like some wanted people to believe in the 1970s and 80s. Paul Stanley, aka the Starchild, is Walt Disney and Cal Ripken rolled into one package of 60-and-over awesomeness. Listen to the Starchild and, you too, will believe hard work and rock can change the world. That’s the Walt Disney in him. Watch Stanley bring it every single night on stage and it’s easy to realize he brings it every single night, never taking a night off. That’s the Cal Ripken in him.

Stanley sure brought it Sunday night at First Niagara Pavillion (so hard not calling it Star Lake). So did the rest of KISS, particularly guitarist Tommy Thayer, who are co-headlining a tour with Def Leppard.  It’s the 40th anniversary of the New York band, and they weren’t lacking for energy or volume.

Indeed, it was another outstanding show, albeit a short setlist. No “Strutter” or “Firehouse” or “God Gave Rock’n’Roll to You II” or “Cold Gin” or “I was Made For Lovin’ You”  or “Shock Me” – all KISS live staples. That’s about the only complaint to be had from the show. Unlike Motley Crue, who are stuggling through a farewell tour, KISS seem to be getting stronger.

They can’t get back to Pittsburgh soon enough. Hopefully, it’s not with another headliner.

 

 

Tesla still gots the chops

More Aerosmith than Def Leppard, more swagger than glam, Tesla continues to fly under the radar as rock’s most underrated band despite yearly touring and an impressive output of new music the past decade.

Tesla’s Dave Rude, left, and Frank Hannon form a formidable 1-2 guitar punch.

The Sacramento, Calif.-group’s chops were on full display last Thursday at Stage AE, an indoor/outdoor venue just across from Heinz Field along Pittburgh’s North Shore. Tesla played indoors, and overwhelmed an appreciated audience with a mix of new tunes off the band’s latest release, “Simplicity,” and timeless Tesla classics. And, yes, many of Tesla’s older tunes have more than stood the test of time. “Modern Day Cowboy” sounds as fresh and urgent today as it did when the group dropped its debut album, “Mechanical Resonance” back in 1986.

Tesla’s setlist went as follows: MP3, Edison’s Medicine, I Wanna Live, Hang Tough, So Divine, Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out), Mama’s Fool, Life is a River, The Way It Is, Burnout to Fade, What You Give, Signs, Love Song, Gettin’ Better, Modern Day Cowboy, Little Suzi.

Lead singer Jeff Keith delivers whether it’s a rocker like “Hang Tough” or a ballad like “Love Song.”

Hard to believe the band had only two top-10 hits during its peak (Love Song and Signs), but that’s part of Tesla’s appeal and that appeal is a reason why the band can tour every year and still pack people into smaller- to mid-size venues. The guys in Tesla – lead singer Jeff Keith, lead guitartist Frank Hannon, guitarist Dave Rude, bassist Brian Wheat and drummer Troy Lucketta – have an every-man appeal. They come across as the guys you might be living down the street from and can hang out with while slamming beers at a backyard barbeque.

Tesla truly plays like a band that wants to be on tour, not one that needs to tour.

Frank Hannon. Enough said.

And with a guitar player as strong as Hannon, a criminally undervalued axmaster who blends expertly with Rude whether the song is electric or acoustic, and a solid rhythm section, Tesla brings energy and raw power to its shows. Even if Keith’s voice isn’t as strong as it was when the band supported its “Twisted Wires & The Acoustic Sessions” album two tours ago, it’s still got plenty of mileage left. And Keith’s voice is one of rock’s best – part Mick Jagger, part Steven Tyler, part Joe Elliott, 100 percent awesome.