Dio concert review; June 17th, 1997 by Chris Janx

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


From: cjanx (cjanx@deep-purple.com)
Subject: Review of DIO in Scranton, PA
Date: Wed, 18 Jun 1997 20:07:07 -0400

DIO
Tink's ~ Scranton, PA
June 17, 1997

Dio is playing a bar?!?! This was my friend Jeffro's reaction when I told him that I had won two tickets to see Dio at Tink's in Scranton. As longtime Dio fans, we both had the pleasure of seeing Dio on the 'Last In Line' and 'Sacred Heart' tours, but this one would be different. No stage props, lasers, pyro and most of all, no Vivian Campbell. :'(

The bar was filled to capacity and spirits were high. The opening band scheduled to play canceled, leaving a bit a spot to fill before Ronnie would take the stage. The crowd started to grow uneasy, chanting 'Ronnie' and 'DIO', in hopes that the person every came to see would emerge onto the small stage. Suddenly around 10:45 p.m., the lights dimmed and demonic howl roared from the PA system. It was time for the metal master to bring down the house.

The band sounded great as they opened with Jesus, Mary & The Holy Ghost. Ronnie's voice was superb and Vinnie Appice held the back beat in fine DIO tradition. As they raced through the older material I noticed something missing though. Guitar solos! Oh, they were there, but Tracy G. didn't play one signature solo lick from the older stuff. He did an adequate job on the power chords and main riffs, but every solo was butchered with whammy bars screams and delayed effects. [Dio should have taken notes from Ozzy on how to replace a great axe slinger.]

In spite of the aforementioned gripe, it was great to hear the songs Dio chose to play. I enjoyed RJD once again.

Cheers

Chris Janx

Here's the setlist.


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