Rogers, AR. Walmart AMP – The dog days of summer gave a bit of a reprieve as a cooling breeze swept across the waiting crowd as the Whitesnake tour bus pulled into the backstage area. We were not only waiting to see one of the most iconic rock bands of all time, but also to listen to the songs that inspired music lovers for over five decades.
Whitesnake is not simply a band from the 80’s or some “hair metal” band. This is a band that help shape a generation of musicians and singers, songwriters, drummers, bassists, bands, metalheads, headbangers, lovers, fighters, groupies and wanna-be’s. I’ve been lucky enough to see them several times throughout my career in music and was excited as the next concert goer to see if the band lived up to the hype I had created from the memories in my head. And, I wanted to see if the new lineup was as potent as it has always been.
I was led backstage for a preplanned interview with the newest guitarist Joel Hoekstra and had an honestly great time talking to him. He was a down to earth and very open about coming together and joining up with David Coverdale and Whitesnake. I finished up the interview and made my way to the sound area (that’s where they put the photographers on this night) and staked out my seats nearby. The Walmart AMP or Arkansas Music Pavilion is a beautiful 9,500 seat
open air arena that is equipped with covered seats on front half, closest to the stage and the rest are on a grassy bowl shaped “lawn”. There’s not really a bad seat in the house. Just imagine any amphitheater anywhere, it’s shaped like that, but really, really nice. It’s sponsored by Walmart and is located only a few miles from the retail giant’s home offices. So it’s nice!
The anticipation was building through the killer set by opening band, The Dead Daisies. With each song they played, the sun was getting lower, the crowd was getting bigger and the air became a little more electric. As soon as the Dead Daisies wrapped up their set, and the roadies began to finish their ballet of moving amps and guitars on and off the stage at breakneck speed while occasionally tossing extra picks to waiting fans, we knew it was getting closer to show time. The day was giving way to night and the moon was on the rise, so when the purple lights came on, the band came out and it was Whitesnake time.
David Coverdale took the stage like a returning hero and owned it from the first note of the first song on the first set, to the final curtain call of the band. Mr. Coverdale is not only the vocalist of the band he is THE founding member.
The first song of the set was the Deep Purple classic, “Burn”, (re-recorded for the new Whitesnake Purple Album), and it was a spectacularly good version. David was clear in his words, his voice was strong and the backing harmonies were very, very good. Not “good” as in, “I’ll stand at the mic and look like I am singing” type of “good”, but “good” as in, really good: a little human effort in an increasingly plastic musical world. Don’t get me wrong the world is run with compressors, reverb, pitch correction and sleight of voice, but what I am saying is it’s good to have a great work ethic, talent and also an in-house vocal coach in new keyboardist, Michele Luppi (prounounced MÉ™-kay-lay Loo-pe).
The Whitesnake classic “Slide it In”, (one of my personal favs), was second on the night and I will be frank, it sounded as good as it did on the “Slide it in” tour. Sure, I admit David’s voice is getting a little older and also on again/off again drummer Tommy Aldridge’s hair is getting greyer, but there is NO denying these elder denizens of metal can still throw it down and rock. It’s always an added plus to have such amazing talent in longtime guitarist and “band leader” Reb Beach along with new guitarist Joel Hoekstra to help make the night metal.
Whitesnake then launched into another hit from the same 1984 release in the form of “Love ain’t no Stranger”. The reaction of the crowd was as expected, with screams, yells and two fingered devil horns as far as the eye could see. The median age of fan may have changed with the group itself but the crowd was loud, ready for music, having many beers and I will say amazingly well dressed.
The band swapped between playing hits from the past Whitesnake albums like “Give me all your Love”, “Here I go Again”, “Bad Boys” (Personal Fav) and the ballad, “Is This Love” and the Deep Purple/David Coverdale songs like, “The Gypsy”, “You keep On Moving”, “You Fool no One” and “The Gypsy” all off the 2015 Frontier Records Release, Purple Album.
But the boys saved one of their biggest hit for the encore as they came out to a huge roar for the final song, “Still of the Night” off the 1987 8x platinum (8,000,000) selling album, Whitesnake.
This was a true rock and roll show by every measure you could use. If you like Whitesnake you had a great night, If you didn’t, you were at the wrong place. Let’s take a look at the band itself on how it lived up to the hype in my head!
The sound engineers should be thanked as well for the awesome job they did making this band sound great. The vocals were clear, both lead and backing, and David Coverdale was as good of a showman as he has ever been. His vocals have kept up with time and the man can still belt out even after an almost complete North American tour. He was as audacious and charming on stage as ever, as he held the crowd in the palm of his hand. So I say, Cheers, Sir, you have done an amazing job at your craft and in keeping your status as one of rock’s greatest frontmen. Not everyone from that era can STILL say that. I listened intently all night and the man can hang on stage with anyone, past or present, and it’s awesome to have something be as good as it is in your head!
Now onto the rest of the members. The tone of Joel Hoekstra’s guitar was hard and fat and awesome, as would be
expected from his guitar choice, and his stage presence was classic metal from his poses to his solos. The dude is one heck of a guitarist, and he works perfectly for this band. Perfect! The lead axe man, Reb Beach, brought his Suhr guitar and black hat and has cut his way through the mix like a buzz saw through butter. He looks like he has a somewhat laidback style very rockin style on stage,
and is great to watch. He makes it a great time because he looks like is having a great time. Also, It’s gotta be nice when David Coverdale introduces you as the “band leader”. Mr. Beach brings nasty solos, some excellent guitar work and his workman like attitude to the party and that is nowhere more apparent than onstage with Whitesnake. He is really good. Both individually and as a team, these two guitar virtuosos work just as well as any of the amazing guitar pairings that this band has taken out on the road during their long and storied career.
Since guitar solos are mandatory at these types of events, both of these guys laid it down and gave the fans a chance to peer into what the guitarists are like, who they like and where they’ve come from. Both Joel and Reb shelled out exactly what the fans wanted and they did it brilliantly. The tone, quality and separation of the sound they achieved were great. Everyone got it right that night.
The bassist is Michael Devin, and this bearded one laid down the low sound all night long. He was great on stage, his presence and interaction with the rest of the members kept the fans watching and he worked as a glue for the whole show. His head banging, skilled intensity and his throw down mad harmonica skills, showed why he is one bass player that completely owns his piece of the stage. It was fun to watch him go.
Okay, Tommy Aldridge, hummmm, what can you say about one of the greatest drummers to have ever played the game that hasn’t been used ad nauseam? He’s good, great, awesome, badas*, Â a super celestial beatatronic metronome like humanoid from the drum kit galaxy sent to keep the human bands in time? What else can be said? Tommy is a great drummer, Period! One of the all-time best drummers of any genre ever, type great. I can keep using superlatives, but they’re are all just fluff words used to make writers sound interesting and keep readers reading. I mean, Tommy gave a drum solo that was as ferocious in 2015, as the one I saw on Ozzy’s “Bark At The Moon” tour back in 19, well, back in 19 a long, long time ago, at the old Kansas Coliseum. Complete with the no drumstick, bare hand drum solo. So again, Tommy Aldridge is one of the greatest drummers of all-time.
In my summation, I will plainly state that on this perfect August concert night, in Rogers, Arkansas at the Walmart AMP, I sang, banged my head, I photographed and laughed with some friends from a lifetime and remembered those who have sadly already gone. Also, we got to have a night where time stood still for a bit, where the band really outdid my expectations, and I created memories mixing the
present with the past. I will also state, if you get the chance to see Whitesnake Live, you really REALLY should. Because if you like Whitesnake or metal or 80’s rock or lotsa hair, or say you like fun or great music, excellent musicians, life, beer, food, air or just things that are cool, then you will have a great time. If you don’t like any of those things, you might just stay home and watch TV or something. Peace & Great Harmonies ~Ferg The Reporter~
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