Classic rockers heat up the Zoo

[oakley_reef]

http://newsok.com/classic-rockers-heat- ... 1216880542


A potent brew of crowd-pleasing hits, dynamic showmanship and bone-rattlingly loud rock ‘n’ roll cast a spell on the Zoo Wednesday night.
The triple-threat of Journey, Heart and Cheap Trick — all rock bands that have been making music for more than three decades — attracted a sell-out crowd of 10,000 sweat-saturated, sun-scorched rock fans to the Zoo Amphitheatre. Near 100-degree temperatures didn’t dissuade the masses from waving their arms, bobbing their heads and shouting along with the classic rockers.

The packed venue was not for the claustrophobic or faint of heart, particularly once headliners Journey and the consummate rocker chicks of Heart commanded the stage.

As Journey started its set at dusk, local fans got the chance to see if new front man Arnel Pineda could match the vocal prowess former vocalist Steve Perry. From the opening lines of “Only the Young,” the Filipino singer, whom the band discovered on YouTube, proved not only a worthy successor but a virtual vocal doppelganger.

Most fans seemed to welcome Pineda with open arms, and his wide smile, indefatigable stage presence and passionate performances seemed to win over any detractors. One female fan even snuck onto the stage to steal a quick embrace before security guards hauled her away, leaving the grinning Pineda to quip, “Anyone else?”

By the time the band played favorites such as "Don’t Stop Believin’,” “Lights” and “Anyway You Want It,” most everyone was singing along, with Pineda’s voice soaring above all others and original guitarist Neal Schon burning up the solos.

The highlights of the set — apart from Pineda’s continual leaping, spinning and microphone flipping — were an extended version of “Wheel in the Sky” and the new and appropriate track “A Change for the Better.”

Heart may have been playing in the second slot, but the ever-impressive Wilson sisters and their band proved they are second to none, not even the night’s headliners.

Through their hits “Crazy on You,” “Never” and “Straight On,” Ann Wilson belted out vocals with seemingly effortless power, while Nancy Wilson’s fleet fingers kept coaxing heady rock out of her guitar as she bounced tirelessly around the stage. Ann’s tuneful wailing on “Magic Man” elicited goosebumps even in the heat, and she proved she is one of the only vocalists worthy to cover Led Zeppelin with her achingly lovely “Going to California.”

The band wowed the crowd with a heady cover of The Who’s “Love Reign O’er Me” leading into a scorching rendition of “Barracuda.”

Although the concert was set to start at 6 p.m., many fans were still lined up around the neighboring Science Museum Oklahoma waiting to get in at show time. When opening act Cheap Trick took the stage at 6:30, the rock quartet truly took over the stage.

Despite some issues with the sound mix and balance, the band, whose lineup has remained largely unchanged since 1968, warmed up the overheated crowd with rowdy rockers such as “I Want You to Want Me,” “Surrender” and “Dream Police.”

Tuxedoed guitarist Rick Nielsen punctuated the performance with his energetic showmanship, cracking wise, tossing picks into the crowd to playing an array of outlandish guitars, including a double-necked axe shaped like a man.

— Brandy McDonnell, Entertainment Writer

[Michigan Girl]

Nice Review.....really nice for HEART!!!

[Deb]

Most fans seemed to welcome Pineda with open arms, and his wide smile

He DOES have a very infectious smile! Such a happy little camper!