Survivor in Charlotte

[kgdjpubs]

just got back, so a couple of quick thoughts. With an 11:00 curfew, and a 9:45 start time, it didn't give the headlining band much of a window to work with, but a free concert mainly for the Nascar fans (with a race tomorrow) isn't a bad thing.

Either way, for those that haven't heard yet, the current Survivor lineup features both Jimi Jamison and Dave Bickler on lead vocals. This is pretty cool, but there are inherent difficulties. The way things are playing is that the original singer for the song will take it through the first chorus, then the other singer will take the next verse, then do backing vocals and stuff from there on out. This was done on several songs, and several songs are simply one singer for the duration.

That being said, Jamison can be hit and miss these days (he was pretty...aloof tonight), and Bickler has lost a large part of his upper range, although he sounded better tonight and had a little more upper end available tonight than the youtube recordings from this year. Maybe Dave's just getting into the swing of things again after being basically inactive since 1999. With the trading back and forth though, it takes longer to warm up, so both singers sounded the best towards the end of the show. Must say the show was probably slightly weighted towards Bickler on lead vox over Jamison. Some of the earlier reviews had mentioned some nervousness/umcomfortability with the switching singers, but this has mostly been ironed out by now, and should only get better once the European tour starts.

Speaking of vocals, the main issue is that Jim Peterik's backing vocals are sorely misssed. You had the lead vocals ok, and Frankie Sullivan's high pitched backing vocals, but there really isn't anybody in the band to provide that mid-range backing vocal. Jamison would be the closest, but it doesn't quite work and Dave Bickler on backing vox pretty much sounds like Dave Bickler. What they really need is for one of the other band members to be able to carry that 3rd harmony part for the Survivor vocal sound.

The big point here is setlist. Survivor has a very large back catalog, and with the fairly recent addition of the lost Survivor song (aka 38 Special's Rockin' Into the Night, which was recorded for the debut Survivor album and not included), they have a pretty rocking set at the moment. What is hurting them is an extended jam on Rockin' Into the Night (ok, but it was pushing the limits), a long keyboard solo, and this extended guitar instrumental/solo/blues jam....in a 75 minute set filled with a bunch of rare/older material and missing several of the hits. If you have 2+hrs to play with, that's find and you have time to do this type of thing. On a fairly short set, this whole thing took the place of 3 songs that could have been added in, and they pretty much lost the crowd by the time the guitar thing happened.

So in the end, I guess you can call it a mixed bag. For the longtime Survivor fan, it's really cool to have both singers on stage at the same time swapping parts. If you can trim the fat off the more self-indulgent parts of the setlist, there is the potential for a really good show, but it does need some work at the moment.

Feels Like Love (Dave Bickler lead, Jimi Jamison lead verse 2)
Can't Give It Up (JJ lead, DB lead verse 2)
Take You On a Saturday (DB)
High on You (JJ)
Rockin' into the Night (DB, JJ lead verse 2)
It's the Singer Not the Song (JJ, DB lead verse 2)
Rebel Girl (DB)
Keyboard solo --> The Search is Over (JJ)
Guitar Instrumental, solo, blues song (with a bit of JJ lead vox)
I Can't Hold Back (JJ)
Somewhere in America (DB)
Eye of the Tiger (DB, JJ lead verse 2)

[Seven Wishes]

This was the most self-indulgent performance ever by Sullivan - who, by the way, sounds like Woody Allen on helium these days. What a huge disappointment. I have no idea who the new keyboard player is, but I thought he/she was Mona Gnader with a beard. It wasn't quite as awkward as I had worried it might be - although it wouldn't hurt Jimi or Dave to pick up a tambourine or some maracas. However, I've had quite enough of Frankie's endless guitar solos. I was literally the only person cheering after Rebel Girl.

Bottom line - without Peterik to reel him in, this has just become the Frankie Sullivan band. I won't go to a Survivor show again - free or not, unless hell freezes over and JP gets back in the fold.

[RyanHippFTW]

Even though it wasn't bad (I think), this was easily the worst concert I've ever been to.

I thought Jimi and Dave sounded great, and as individual players everybody sounded fine, but they didn't sound like a band at some points. It seemed like there were no rehearsals. Also, I think the mix didn't help things. But I was right up in front so I don't know if where I was did anything.

Jimi had mic issues, which I think is the reason that keyboard solo was so long. The keyboard player sounded like he was wrapping things up, looks to the side of the stage, then starts again. This happened like 5 or 6 times. It was really awkward.

"Rockin' Into The Night" was twice as long, the second half was Frankie drawing it out. It got exhausting and boring (I think those are the right words) after a while.

The most frustrating thing for me was that fucking stupid 10-15 minute instrumental thing. Has that been a regular thing at the recent shows? If not, I got this feeling it had something to do with stalling for Dave or the bassist or something. Jimi was wandering around off to the side during the thing, occasionally singing some freestyled something or chatting with the keyboard player, but I didn't see the bassist till they started the next song and Dave rushed out like 2/3 into "Can't Hold Back." Like one of y'all said, that coulda been 3-4 other songs. Someone next to me said something about expecting an encore cuz they didn't do "Burning Heart." Maybe if they didn't waste time...

Jimi did have some amusing moments during the show. Struggling to fix the mic stand, folding his arms looking at Frankie during that jam BS, and some great lines...

- the first thing said at the start of the show - "this mic stand crooked?"
- after stepping back on stage with a Coke - "they only got 2 Cokes on the Coca-Cola Stage..."
- after a song where Frankie dragged things out - "we always try and get the last lick in a song... YEAH!... there, I got it"
- Frankie says something like "see a lot of y'all got beers... what's that chick got, a double something...", Jimi says "oh, she's got double something alright"
- "Dave Bickler's back in the band... thank god"
- "we don't play that song as good as we used to"

Well, I thought they were amusing.

There was one moment that I thought was awesome though, when Dave and Jimi stepped on the catwalk to sing the chorus of "Tiger" together. It gave me chills.

But yeah, Survivor is my favorite band, and this show was pretty disappointing.

[mrsromek]

Thanks for these recaps!

[Eyeof]

Well here is my recap -

First I'll preface by saying that my experience was much better. Of course, I'm sure it had a lot to do with having front-row access and the speaker right in my ear, so I was blasted anyways.

My family and I attended and me and my nine year old son was able to meet the band before hand. Dave was a great guy and spent the longest time just chatting with us. Marc was also very friendly and JJ posed for a pic with my son as well.

As for the show, it was real treat to get to hear Bickler with the band again. I honestly never thought I would hear that again and I loved it. (I will post video later of the Tiger duet with the guys walking about that Ryan spoke of).

Honestly I loved the show. Dave sounds better and better and JJ and Dave together is perfect.

The negative is the same negative as always - FS and that ego.

They could have easily played three more songs without his 25 minute 'blues' jam. And yes, that is when he (AGAIN) lost the crowd (and the band for that matter). You can still literally see the guys in the band roll their eyes during it!

Damn, I wish FS would go away and JP had this band.

At any rate, it was my best experience with Survivor since '99 (Wonder why?) and my son and I had a blast!

I'll post more later and send a link to pics and video.

[Eyeof]

Here are some videos and pics from last night's show, via my G+ page...

https://plus.google.com/?utm_source=chrome_ntp_icon&utm_medium=chrome_app&utm_campaign=chrome

[Eyeof]

Here is the video from "Eye of the Tiger." It's pretty cool when they walk out the stage together.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQO4E-WyJVg

[RyanHippFTW]

First I'll preface by saying that my experience was much better.

I think I made it sound like I hated the show, when I didn't. Except when Frankie drew out "Rockin'" and did the instrumental, and the keyboard player's awkward solo, I had a great time. I loved Jimi and Dave.

BTW about the keyboard solo did any of y'all notice how he kept rapping it up, leaning over to look to the side of the stage, and started again? I felt sorry for the guy.

[RyanHippFTW]

My family and I attended and me and my nine year old son was able to meet the band before hand. Dave was a great guy and spent the longest time just chatting with us. Marc was also very friendly and JJ posed for a pic with my son as well.

Apparently, if I went to the band entrance right before the show I coulda met Jimi. Some guy there said he knew him and was able to get him to come out before the show and tried to get him to come out afterward but everybody jumped in the vans and drove off.

[Eyeof]

We were fortunate to have access to backstage and a meet and greet before the show. Marc was the only one I saw that came back out afterwards. Both he, Dave and Jimi seemed like good guys. We talked with Dave the most and was impressed with his genuine demeanor.

[Eyeof]

I have went back and listed to the recording I made and it is just sick in a way. Between the 7 minute extended "Rockin" jam, the 5 minute useless keyboard solo and Frankie's 10 minute (yes, 10 minute!) blues 'jam', they could have easily of played three and probably four more songs.

There we are with two of the most classic lead singers in AOR history and FS pisses away 25 minutes of an 1:15 show!

We could have heard Caught in the Game, Summer Nights, Jackie Don't Go and Every Since the World Began in that time...Think about it!

Ahhhhhh

Still guys, to see Bickler hit that stage one more time belting out "Feels Like Love"....it was a dream come true and something I never thought I'd see again. Took me straight back to 1982. And to have my son there with me, it was a pretty special night and I thank them for that.

[kgdjpubs]

yea, seeing Bickler live was something I figured I would never get a chance to do. Having both Dave and Jimi on the same stage was really cool.

p.s. I'd love to get a chance to listen to that recording....

[bulldog]

Jimi has a better setlist and song selection when he perfoms solo than with Frankie. Too bad Jimi didn't do more with Peterik ! I think a Jimi Jamison / Pride Of Lions set would have been killer. You have to play Burning Heart & Caught In The Game ! Glad though at least they are out there palying live. Like many I am not happy with the setlist .

[Eyeof]

Just for the record, I didn't mind a single song on the setlist. What I minded was over 20 minutes of useless solos that NOBODY wants to hear, when you could add in four more songs...

[kgdjpubs]

Just for the record, I didn't mind a single song on the setlist. What I minded was over 20 minutes of useless solos that NOBODY wants to hear, when you could add in four more songs...

exactly. That's what lost the crowd.

[Andrew]

Crappy set list really.

[kgdjpubs]

Crappy set list really.

go to the setlist thread and follow the rules. What would you pick under the constraints?

[Eyeof]

I don't really get your beef with that setlist Andrew, other than too much solo.

I mean if it were me, I'd kill "It's the Singer", but it was actually pretty good and a neat twist with them both singing it.

I enjoyed "Rockin"..I could do without "High On You", but for the regulars in the crowd, it should be in there.

Other than that, what is so bad about it? Rebel Girl is a great addition and I love when they start with "Feels Like Love."

I would prefer Broken Promises to Can't Get Enough, but not enough to call it crappy.

You have to play Search and I Can't Hold Back. And I liked Take You and Somewhere In America.

This breaks down:

3 songs from Survivor (era) - Rebel Girl, Rockin Into the Night and Somewhere in America (I'm really missing "Nothing Can Shake Me" but I don't know that either of them have the pipes left for that.

1 song Premonition - Take You - Missing Summer Nights and Poor Man's Son (could easily be added for a solo or two)

2 song Eye of the Tiger - Feels Like Love and Tiger - Play some Silver Girl

0 songs Caught in the Game - This is a damn shame

4 songs Vital Signs (I guess that's just the way it needs to be, but give me Broken Promises then)

0 songs When Seconds Count - I can live with this, as they are not going to play the good songs from this anyways

1 song Too Hot to Sleep - Missing Burning Bridges for me

0 songs Reach - Thank God

[Red13JoePa]

Were it not for the lyrics and staccato guitar stabs the open the song, Eye Of The Tiger would be unrecognizable thanks to Frankie's incessant noodling throughout and general refusal to stick to any facsimile of the record. Eye's album guitar parts are minimal but with maximum impact. Now he dominates the song and not in a good way.

[Journey/Survivor]

Were it not for the lyrics and staccato guitar stabs the open the song, Eye Of The Tiger would be unrecognizable thanks to Frankie's incessant noodling throughout and general refusal to stick to any facsimile of the record. Eye's album guitar parts are minimal but with maximum impact. Now he dominates the song and not in a good way.

Hey Red13, it's great to see you post on here again! It's been too long since your last post.

[ForceInfinity]

For those wondering about the guitar thing... Sullivan has always done that over-long guitar solo thing at any Survivor set that I've ever seen, only in the cases I've seen involved "I See you in Everyone". About the only band I could stand to hear an extended solo from is maybe Dream Theater. At least with the guitar solos, I feel like the song is going somewhere.

[Eyeof]

Red! How the hell you been my man!