STILL SMOKIN…..While it might not be the highest grossing tour, with top ticket priced at $65, or exhibit the most elaborate of stages one of the most celebrated tours to date this year is BOB SEGER and the Silver Bullet Band. It’s hard to believe that it’s been thirty-one years since the release of “Live Bullet”, but the “Travelin’ Man” from Detroit is back and ready to “Turn the Page” on another chapter of his extraordinary career.
    The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has dedicated much of the last ten years to enjoying his family especially fatherhood, raising his two children Samantha (11) and Cole (14). While he may have been sidetracked from the road the past decade nothing could ever snuff out “The Fire Inside” one of America’s greatest songwriters, as he continues to pen songs of enduring strength. One thing is for certain you can take the man off the road, but you can’t take the road out of the man as SEGER and the Silver Bullet Band are once again ready to “Lock and Load” and take to the road.
  NIGHTLIFE Magazine took the Rock and Roll road trip to Cleveland to check out the silver haired SEGER (61) and his Silver Bullet Band, as they pull the trigger on a full scale tour in support of his new album “Face the Promise”. This new collection of songs hit the streets this past fall and has been ramblin’ throughout the Billboard charts ever since peaking at #4.
    As expected the anticipation of the capacity crowd was feverish, as SEGER and his band wasted no time emptying out the chamber, opening the set with the euphoric tune “Roll Me Away”. From that point on it was nothing but smiles from the stage to the very last seat in the venue. The two plus hour set was customized with the vintage songs that put SEGER and his band in their rightful place at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. SEGER’S rich raspy vocals soared to the rafters on such classics as “Beautiful Loser”, “Main Street”, and “Sunspot Baby”, just to name a few, while the jubilant crowd sang along.
  While father time has changed some things one thing that is “Still the Same” is the raw power and the passion that the SILVER BULLET Band still brandishes. Led by stately saxophonist ALTO REED whose sensual playing seasons the already stalwart songs, he is also accompanied by a talented four-piece horn section. Back in the barrel are longtime members CHRIS CAMPBELL on bass, CRAIG FROST on keyboards and SHAUN MURPHY supplying the heavenly harmonies. Last but not least hammering away on drums is GRAND FUNK RAILROAD great DON BREWER.
  BOB SEGER and the Silver Bullet Band came out guns blazing and went full-throttle right to the end of the show. The two encores may have been the best this journalist has ever seen. The first encore included “Night Moves” and “Hollywood Nights”, while the last curtain call contained the classics, “Against the Wind” and “Rock and Roll Never Forgets”.
    The second leg of the tour will be making its way into Toronto on Tuesday night at the Air Canada Centre.  The New Year also looks like a busy one for the veteran rocker as there is talk of some summer tour dates, and a possible DVD release from the four sold out shows recorded in his hometown of Detroit over the holidays.  After that SEGER says, “I never say never, I really don’t know what’s in store for me after this tour.  It’s been really great playing with the band again, what’s been even more amazing is going out and playing for the people again.  I do know that I’m looking forward to getting back to my family life for awhile.”
    If this is in fact the “Famous Final Scene” for SEGER it was an honor to share some of that “Old Time Rock and Roll” one last time.

  CLUB PARADISE passes the concert club venue test: great sound, size, and suds, remember you don’t have to hop on a plane to find a little Paradise this winter.

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  STILL THEY RIDE…..It really comes as no surprise that JOURNEY has officially announced a line-up change at lead vocals. Fans at Darien Lake and across the country have been giving rave reviews to new lead singer JEFF SCOTT SOTO.

  SOTO took over just a few shows into the summer tour with DEF LEPPARD as AUGERI was suffering from throat problems. Fans immediately accepted the singer with “Open Arms” as he “Captured” the hearts of even the hardcore STEVE PERRY fans. JSS states; “With delight and pleasure, I have accepted the offer to continue my tenure as vocalist for JOURNEY. It’s been an amazing few months that we’ve spent together on this tour. I also pay high respect to STEVE AUGERI for helping JOURNEY continue their tradition of excellence the past decade, and to STEVE PERRY for co-creating this legacy. I hope to now add and help drive JOURNEY into the next stage of their future.”