By: Robert Cavuoto
The Winery Dogs performed at the Playstation Theater [formerly the Best Buy Theater] in New York on Saturday October 10th for the start of their Double Down World Tour 2015/2016.
Poised on the cusp of greatness, the Winery Dogs are a powerhouse musical trio featuring three of the rock world’s most talented musicians – Richie Kotzen a guitar phenom, Mike Portnoy drummer extraordinaire [formerly of Dream Theater], and Billy Sheehan the master bassist [Mr. Big]. Three legendary musicians whose star wattage could illuminate Broadway with their presence and chemistry.
The band is touring to promote their latest CD, Hot Streak. Released October 9th, that’s already been met with critical acclaim and skyrocketed to #30 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums Chart.
At 9:15 p.m. the band appeared on stage with their minimalistic stage set up; one Hartke bass rig and one Cornell guitar rig stacked neatly on either side of the drum riser, with a backdrop of the band’s logo. No videos, no effects and no smoke screens were needed to dramatize their performance. The band clearly wanted the audience to pay attention to what they were doing – it was all the music.
When I spoke with guitarist, Richie Kotzen, about what fans can expect at a Winery Dog show, he likened it to an NBA All Star Game – “There isn’t a lot of defense played, but the score is going to be high with some amazing slam dunks!”
Blazing through the perfect combination of songs from their debut CD and Hot Steak, the band played “Oblivion,” “Captain Love,” “Time Machine,” “I’m no Angel” “Ghost Town,” and “Elevate”, to name just a few of the seventeen songs performed.
The songs were played with a level of perfection that left fans either in awe of the musicians’ abilities. Richie’s soulfully voice enhanced the ballads and drove the rock songs home with an edgy bite. Armed with his signature tobacco burst Fender Telecaster, his playing was superb and masterful; everything was done with touch of his fingers. The only time Richie held a pick was for the acoustic version of “Fire” – a hauntingly powerful ballad.
Billy Sheehan is a master of the bass, all ten fingers constantly moving at break neck speed for every beat and measure. Done in a tasteful way to balance the guitar and yet playing in the pocket of the drums. The only way to describe it was the marriage of fury and grace.
Mike Portnoy is a powerhouse drummer, dazzling the crowd with complex drumming techniques, pounding out the rhythms and and displaying some acrobatic tricks with sticks, that always ended in applause and laughter.
Like a well oiled machine, members worked in perfect lockstep harmony. All parts equally important and intricate to the sum of the whole. Somehow they made their style of playing look easy. But, being a guitar player I knew it wasn’t and that was part of the magic. It is a level of playing that’s out of reach for most of us!
Tonight was a mind altering and eye opening experience for everyone who had the good luck to join the gathering of fans.
GALLERY
