Dio concert review; April 20th, 1997 by Steve Mignardi

The following is a review of a Dio show of the third North American leg of the Angry Machines tour, originally e-mailed to me.

From: hlydiver@netcom.ca
Subject: DIO@STATE THEATER DETROIT
Date: Mon, 16 Jun 1997 15:29:28 -0400

IT HAS BEEN 5 YEARS SINCE I LAST SAW RONNIE AND VINNIE PLAYING AND THAT WAS WITH BLACK SABBATH IN TORONTO.SO I'M THINKING SEEING DIO BACK TOGETHER AGAIN IS WORTH THE 4 HOUR DRIVE FROM TORONTO,EVEN THOUGH THEY WILL BE IN TORONTO IN 2 DAYS. I ARRIVED AT THE THEATER AROUND 6:00 P.M AND WAITED OUTSIDE UNTIL THE DOORS OPENED AT 7:30 P.M

I PERSONALLY THINK THAT DETROIT IS THE BEST PLACE IN THE WORLD TO SEE A CONCERT.WHY ELSE WOULD THEY CALL IT "DETROIT ROCK CITY?" DURING MY YOUNGER DAYS THERE WERE MANY BUS TRIPS FROM TORONTO TO DETROIT AND EVERYTIME IT WAS WORTH IT.

MY DYING BRIDE OPENED THE SHOW (ACTUALLY SOME VERY FREAKY SHITTY BAND WAS ON STAGE FIRST BUT THEY REALLY SUCKED) LOUD...BASSY...DISTORTED... NOT REALLY WHAT I EXPECTED CONSIDERING THAT THEY HAVE BEEN OPENING THE WHOLE TOUR.ANYWAY 5 OUT OF 10.

NOW COMES THE MOMENT OF TRUTH. DIO TAKES THE STAGE AND ME AND THE REST OF THIS CRAZY DETROIT CROWD GO UP A FEW DECIBLES(QUITE A FEW). RONNIE COMES OUT AND FROM THE SECOND I SAW HIM I KNEW THE TRIP WAS WORTH IT. RONNIE'S ON STAGE PRESENCE HAS NOT CHANGED. HE GREETS THE CROWD,HE INTERACTS WITH THE CROWD AND HE LOOKS LIKE HE ENJOYS BEING THERE.THERES NO FALSE BULLSHIT COMING FROM HIM.

HIS VOICE SOUNDS AS GOOD IF NOT A LITTLE STRONGER THAN THE LAST TIME I SAW HIM.HE COVERS SONGS FROM ALL HIS PAST PROJECTS(EXCEPT ELF)AND WHILE I DID NOT WRITE THEM DOWN I WILL HAVE A SET LIST FROM THE TORONTO SHOW. TRACY G. WAS HAVING A GOOD NIGHT UNTIL HIS SOLO. HE WAS GOING STRONG BUT HE MISSED A CHORD OR DID SOMETHING THAT THREW HIM OFF ABOUT HALF WAY THROUGH AND HE NEVER REALLY RECOVERED(DURING THE SOLO) BUT STILL HE IS A GREAT PLAYER AND WILL DEVELOP MUCH STRONGER AS HE KEEPS UP THIS HECTIC TOURING SCHEDULE.

VINNY IS ALWAYS A GREAT PERFORMER AND I'VE ALWAYS LOVED LISTENG TO HIM.HE REALLY KNOWS HOW TO KEEP THE CROWD WAVING THEIR FISTS AND WANTING SOME MORE.THE ONE THING I DID MISS WAS RONNIE BELTING OUT "VINNNNNNY APPPPPPICCCCCCE"WARRIOR SCREAM AFTER VINNY'S SOLO.IT WAS A HIGH LITE FOR ME DURING MANY A SACRED HEART SHOW.

LARRY "BONES" HAS REPLACED JEFF PILSON ON THE TOUR AS BASS GUITARIST AND MAYBE THATS A GOOD THING. I'VE NEVER HEARD PILSON LIVE BUT THIS YOUNG BUCK "BONES" HANDLES HIS DUTIES PERFECTLY AND SEEMS TO BE HAVING A LOT OF FUN UP THERE ON STAGE.

I WAS STANDING OFF TO THE SIDE FOR A LOT OF THE SHOW BUT ENDED UP WANDERING TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STAGE DURING ONE OF MY TRIPS TO THE REFRESHMENT(READ BEER)STAND.I CAUGHT A GLIMPSE OF SCOTT WARREN PLAYING KEYBOARDS,AND WHILE HE ISN'T HIDDEN HE IS SET BACK A BIT,BUT WHEN HE'S PLAYING HE DOES SHOW A LOT OF ENERGY.

IT WAS REALLY WORTH THE DRIVE TO SEE THE BAND THAT I CONSIDER MY ALL TIME FAVE.AND IT WILL BE WORTH THE DRIVE BACK TO TORONTO TO SEE THEM AGAIN.

CHEERS!!!
STEVE MIGNARDI(TORONTO)