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REVIEW
Boston provides 'more than a feeling' at Fraze
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Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I have this memory.
It's November 1975. I've just turned 16, and it's the evening after I've passed my driver's test. I take the family station wagon out for my first solo drive, cruising the side streets of Huber Heights. Talk about cool. I roll down my window and crank up the heat and the radio. Boston's "Long Time" is playing loud enough for everyone in the plat to hear.
Problem is, as many Boston fans will readily know, the group didn't put out it first album for another eight months, and "Long Time" wasn't a radio hit until 1977.
It's a sweet and powerful memory, nonetheless.
And undoubtedly, similarly sweet and powerful memories — many of them even accurate — are what filled the Fraze Pavilion Tuesday night, July 22, when classic rock outfit Boston brought the big, arena-style sound of the late 1970s to the Kettering outdoor amphitheater.
The group, founded by multi-instrumentalist, producer and musical engineering wizard Tom Scholz, who continues to helm the operation, took the Fraze stage about 9:20 p.m., following an energetic opening set by former glam-rock, turned pop-rock band Nelson. That's Nelson as in Matthew and Gunnar Nelson, twin sons of the late Rick Nelson, and grandsons of Ozzie and Harriet.
Big guitar solos and distinctive bass and organ passages were hallmarks of the Boston sound, and the current band members, including Jeff Neal, Kimberley Dahme and Gary Pihl, rolled out one classic song after another — many of which have been kept alive on classic rock radio. They closed out the 90-plus-minute show with "Long Time," followed by a two-song encore featuring "Smokin," off the 1976 "Boston" album, and "Party," from 1978's "Don't Look Back" LP.
Taking the place of original lead singer Brad Delp, who committed suicide last year, were veteran Stryper frontman Michael Sweet and newcomer Tommy DeCarlo. Together, the two produced a close approximation of Delp's infamous vocal range, though a certain fullness was missing, at least compared to my memory of the original tunes.
Then again, my memory isn't the most reliable.
Comments
By Craig S
July 25, 2008 2:53 AM | Link to this
I’m only 23, boston is by far my favorite band, music from that era has so much more feel to it powerful vocals mixed with powerful music, music isn’t really made like that anymore. My dad and i had 2nd row seats to this concert, it was flat out amazing DeCarlo and Sweet are both great vocalists and the guitar harmonies live are better than anything i have ever heard before. People who knock Boston saying they need to retire obviously have never been to a concert of theirs.
By Ray K
July 24, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this
I think that this group can retire whenever they want!With Micheal Sweet and Tommy DeCalo were great together not brad delp but camon who is? if they came back tommoro id go!
By Ray K
July 24, 2008 12:06 AM | Link to this
I think that this group can retire whenever they want!With Micheal Sweet and Tommy DeCalo were great together not brad delp but camon who is? if they came back tommoro id go!
By LISA
July 23, 2008 4:45 PM | Link to this
Was on the class of 1980’ and Boston was my favorite band from my Junior year to now—-wow—I’m old——but anyhow—-Their concerts were to die for in the 70’s—maybe more smoke clouds in the air then—and now it’s funny 30 years later and you look around and see the crowd and they are all in their mid 40’s and 50’s—that’s cool to have fans like that!
By Aaron
July 23, 2008 4:33 PM | Link to this
I have been a huge BOSTON fan my whole life and that was the first time that I had seen them live. That was the most incredible concert that I have ever seen. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the loss of Brad Delp but….Michael Sweet was incredible and Kimberly Dahme was spectacular on bass - The drums were solid , the guitar harmonizing was perfect and the ‘man from Home Depot’ ‘s vocals were fantastic. My only regret was that they didn’t play for two more hours!
By becky
July 23, 2008 4:30 PM | Link to this
It was my first time seeing Boston, although I grew up listening to all the Boston classics and have a lot of summer memories that go along with so many of the songs. I was totally impressed with the band and the vocals, as well as the full packed house. It was a great show!
By Pete
July 23, 2008 3:11 PM | Link to this
Good show, great sound. The only knock that I have was when Tom Schultz intro’d his new singer as “straight from Home Depot.” Anyone who’s familiar w/ this guy’s story may agree that what’s happened to him is great turn of events in his life. However, I thought it was a bit tacky for TS to say what he did.
By Sharon
July 23, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
I never heard Boston in person back in the day either. BUT I graduated in 1977 and they were one of THE bands to listen to. I had a great evening, missed the high notes, but great MUSIC.
By Sharon
July 23, 2008 2:18 PM | Link to this
I never heard Boston in person back in the day either. BUT I graduated in 1977 and they were one of THE bands to listen to. I had a great evening, missed the high notes, but great MUSIC.
By Marblehead
July 23, 2008 1:52 PM | Link to this
I’m in partial agreement with JohnF. Most “classic rock” acts are so overplayed that their music has lost all meaning and relevance. It’s become the background hum to commercials and is heard in almost every retail setting (e.g., Led Zep playing at Kroger) which makes it appear stale and lifeless.
By Tim Bilbrey
July 23, 2008 12:47 PM | Link to this
Well, my friends and I had a great time at the concert. The vocals were good, but not quite the same, and I didn’t exspect them to be. The human voice is very hard to duplicate. Still very good. Being a child of the 70’s I have to make a coment on John F’s review. If a new band would come out that could hold a candle to the GREAT bands of the 60’s, 70’s, and 80’s maybe the old groups could retire, but it would seem there is a market for them. So let them Rock on!
By greg
July 23, 2008 11:44 AM | Link to this
It has been over 30 years since I last saw Boston here in Dayton and believe me, this latest band reincarnation is the best.The show started off with a searing guitar version of the Star Spangled Banner and then ripped into one after another Boston classic. The new vocalist was spot on as well as the back up harmonies and Tom Scholz’s guitar work was even better than I remember from past performances. The entire band worked extremely well together and yes it was worth the 30 year wait.
By glus
July 23, 2008 9:57 AM | Link to this
it was a nice evening to sit out and listen to good music.
By Jeff
July 23, 2008 9:32 AM | Link to this
Boston performed very well. I never saw them back in the day, so it was nice to get a chance to final see them live. Albeit missing Brad Delp. The replacements were decent enough, but only Brad could hit those high notes. To the guy that says the older bands should retire….we’ll buddy, it’s still good quality music. Better than most new stuff today.
By Tips
July 23, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this
To JohnF: I am so sick of modern rock acts trying to emulate the bands of the 70’s and 80’s. Real rock was created by the bands you want to retire. Good music is ageless. Why do you suppose many of these modern rock acts are sampling music from the 70’s and 80’s. They don’t have the ability to write anything creative on their own. There are some fine rock acts coming out all the time, but it’s every musician’s right and responsibility to use their talents as long as they can.
By arniez
July 23, 2008 9:06 AM | Link to this
Sitting in the lawn outside the Lincoln Park Grill, I was astounded at how many OLD people there were last night!!! Boston is for teenagers and young adults, not old people! (oh, wait… I guess I was one of those “old people,” wasn’t I???) But, while the vocals may have missed a little, the memories were still there (I am just glad I did not have to be drinking 3.2 beer while listening to them this time!)
By JohnF
July 23, 2008 8:40 AM | Link to this
I am sooo sick of the 70’s and 80’s bands trying to claw their way back to the top. The music is stale, and it wasn’t that great to begin with. For the love of God, please retire gracefully!!!!
By william
July 23, 2008 8:19 AM | Link to this
I live about a mile from the Fraze and heard Boston from my house. Even from that distance, they sounded fantastic.