Train and REO Speedwagon with Yacht Rock Revue
PNC Bank Arts Center -Holmdel, NJ – August 1, 2024
Review & Photos – Rebecca Wolf
https://www.instagram.com/rebeccawolfconcertphotos/
When multiple bands tour together there’s typically a connection between the bands, often the same musical genre and from the same era. The goal is to draw an audience that can relate to all of the music and are enthused to see the multiple bands. With heightened enthusiasm for classic rock in the past 10 to 15 years and number of 70s and 80s classic rock bands have been joining forces for big summer tours, drawing crowds of fans looking back on their youth with increased nostalgia (now more than four decades ago.) However, there’s another group of fans who are beginning to see their youth in the rearview mirror…. older millennials who’ve now entered their 40’s. Suddenly, the music from their youth and teenage years is 25 or 30 years old and is starting to border on “classic.” They may even have young children who even think their music is “old.” So, when planning a tour of classic rock artists it’s now possible to make a connection between bands from the 80s and those from the 90s and early 2000’s. And, on August 1st at PNC Bank Art Center, when REO Speedwagon, a high energy rock band from the 80s, was paired with Train, who’s debut album of spirited, pop rock hits was released in 1998, the result was an electrifying night of music that went beyond the boundaries of generations.
If traveling to the 1980s and 90s wasn’t enough of a journey back in time, the evening began on a musical voyage through the seas of the late ’70s and early ‘80s with Yacht Rock Revue, showcasing the light, spirited music that personifies the era’s soft rock sound. Forming in 2007, this band of skilled vocalists and musicians captivated the NJ crowd with phenomenal renditions of beloved 70s and 80s classics, from a range of artists, including Michael McDonald’s “Sweet Freedom,” Exile’s “Kiss You All Over, Kenny Loggins’ “Heart to Heart” and Toto’s “Africa.” Additional fan favorites included Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street,” with David B. Freeman passionately performing the number’s incredible sax solo and Fleetwood Mac’s “You Make Loving Fun,” with beautiful lead vocals by Kourtney Jackson. Nicholas Niespodziani, who sang lead for the majority of the set, not only displayed wonderful vocal abilities but along with Peter Olson, on guitar, percussion, keys and vocals, brought eye-catching 70s flare to the front of the stage.
Equally as impassioned on their instruments were Greg Lee on bass and vocals, his hair flying in the breeze as he traversed the stage and Mark Darnell’s on guitar and vocals, jamming with fellow guitarists at centerstage. Being behind their instruments did not stop Mark Bencuya on keyboards nor Ganesh Giri Jaya on drums from
making themselves seen and heard, as Bencuya stood up to jam on the keys and Jaya’s expressions matched the passion with which he pounded with his drumsticks. A further display of the band’s talents was the performance of one of their newly released original singles, “Tropical Illusion,” a song with a breezy, groovy, 70s vibe. Audience members were not shy to sing along throughout the 40 minute set, but especially during the song universally known as “The Pina Colada Song,” Rupert Holmes’ song officially titled “Escape (The Pina Colada Song) as well as during the final song of the set, Boston’s “More Than a Feeling.”
Having travelled through the end of the 70s and into the 80s, the audience was set for something beyond soft rock. They were ready for the powerful energy and spirit of REO Speedwagon. Kevin Cronin, lead singer and band frontman since 1972 burst onto the stage with the vitality of a man half his age. No one would’ve known that two days prior the band had been forced to cancel a performance due to Cronin becoming ill and being vocally unable to perform. Joining Cronin on stage were guitarist Dave Amato and drummer Bryan Hitt, band members since 1989, newest member, Derek Hilland, touring keyboardist since founding member and keyboardist Neal Doughty retired from touring in 2023, and bass player, Matt Bissonette, filling in for Bruce Hall, REO’s bassist since 1977, who’s recovering from back surgery since November 2023. I have to admit I missed seeing Hall jamming on his bass, with his broad, mischievous smile and his mane of white rocker hair. However, Bissonette, former bassist for Elton John, wearing a black fedora, sunglasses and faded black, ripped jeans, fit right in with the dynamic vibe of the band.
Having attended REO Speedwagon performances a number of times in the past several years I’ve never seen a show that does not electrify the crowd, inspiring fans to sing along, wave their arms in the air, and rise to their feet. The joy emanating from the musicians is consistently multiplied by the thousands in the audience and reflected back to the band. That must have been what kept Cronin going as he announced to the crowd, “I’m struggling tonight with my voice and these men are helping me, taking things over for me,” lovingly referring to his band members. However, as Cronin raced about the stage, singing and performing the band’s hits, there was little indication that he was “struggling.” The hour-long set opened with “Don’t Let Him Go,” and included “Keep Pushing,” “Son of a Poor Man,” “Live Every Moment,” and of course their hits “Take It on the Run,” “Can’t Fight This Feeling” and “Time for Me to Fly.” As the band returned for their encore Cronin announce to the eager crowd, “Forty years ago this song changed everything for me,” as the band began to play “Keep on Loving You” and cheers rang out through the audience of more than 10,000 fans. The band’s last number, “Roll With the Changes,” seemed a fitting title to end a performance, as don’t we all have to roll with the changes even though we love to look and listen to the past.
Rolling ahead we moved to the end of the 90s and into the new millennium with Train. How fitting that Train’s stage props were enormous suitcases adorned with travel destinations. Singer and founding band member Patrick Monahan is the only original member remaining in the band. For the past 16 years he’s been accompanied by Hector Maldonado, bass and vocals and Jerry Becker, keyboards and guitar. In 2019, Matt Musty joined on drums and in 2021 Taylor Locke on guitar and vocals.
Opening with the band’s hit “Calling All Angels,” the crowd was instantly engaged and enthralled, those in the front rows on their feet, clamoring to get as close to the stage as possible. Fans familiar with Monahan’s openness to taking selfies with their cellphones tossed their phones onstage during the first few songs of the set and Monahan obviously accustomed to this occurrence graciously took the photos as he sang, before tossing the phones back to his adoring fans. While there were five band members onstage, Monahan displayed tremendous presence and was the obvious focal point of the band. It was hard to take your eyes off him as he swiftly moved back and forth across the stage, sang with powerful energy, dramatically lifted his arms in the air and showcased dynamic facial expressions.
Becker, at his keyboards perched atop an enormous prop suitcase, occasionally switched to guitar and descended the stairs, while Locke and Maldonado periodically traveled towards Musty and his drum kit to jam along him in his passionate, rhythmic performance. After performing several numbers including “If It’s Love,” “Get to Me” and “Save Me, San Francisco,” the band began to play several bars of what sounded like Led Zeppelin. Low and behold it was Led Zeppelin, as Monahan invited his 12 year old son Rock to the stage to sing “Over the Hills and Far Away,” while he played the drums. And, boy could this young man rock! What powerful, intentional vocals, with abilities that belied his 12 years.
Although this was the third band of the evening the energy and size of the crowd did not diminish while the performed for an hour and forty-five minutes. Additional songs in the set included, “Play That Song,” AM Gold,” “50 Ways to Say Goodbye” and “Mississippi,” with David B. Freeman from Yacht Rock Revue joining on sax. Playing their hit “Soul Sister,” the crowd sang along with the gusto of 10,000 voices and as the band transitioned to Redbone’s “Come and Get Your Love” all in attendance passionately sang along to the refrain. The electricity onstage and in the crowd continued with “Drive By,” as well as when the band performed the Eagles’ “Hotel California,” joined onstage by Yacht Rock Revue. Ending the night with their hit “Drops of Jupiter,” Monahan’s shout to the crowd, “ Do you feel the love out there NJ?” was met with a resounding cacophony of cheers, as was his question, “Did you have a good time tonight?”
It was a night of nostalgia for all, from Yacht Rock Revue, to REO Speedwagon to Train, taking audience members from the 70s through the early 2000s. It’s hard to believe that a band that started in 1998 is now a quarter of a century old. When multiple bands tour together there’s typically a connection between the bands. It seems that’s how these bands all connect. They bring the generations together to hear a range of rock music….now music that’s all moving towards that title of “classic.”
