One thing that music has been for me over the years is a way to escape the everyday hustle and bustle and often times take me to different places. Whether far away or ones I’ve been to before but may have seemed like such a distance memory. Last Friday Whitesnake took me back to a place in time when the only things on my mind were music and baseball - my senior year of high school.
This summer the Snake have just embarked on their Greatest Hits Tour and slid into Dallas on the second date of what will surely be one of the hottest tours to makes its way across the country. Less than a year since “The Purple Tour” made a stop in nearby Grand Prairie the Whitesnake faithful came out in droves to The Bomb Factory to relive the magic of a band who, behind one of the most charismatic, vocally captivating and titillating front-men in music - David Coverdale - have created some of the biggest arena rockers and sultry ballads to come out an era where hair was king.
My introduction to Whitesnake came in the form of 1984’s Slide It In, but it wasn’t until my senior year of high school that the band made the biggest impact with their release of their self-title here in the states, or 1987, as it is appropriately known. I saw the band 3 times on that tour: travelling to Dallas for the Texxas Jam, then a few months later when they supported Motley Crue who on the Girls, Girls, Girls Tour, before finally coming making their way back as the main act. I couldn’t get enough of them that year. “Still Of The Night” was a staple in my game day mix that I played every morning on the way to school during baseball season (you know, pitchers and their superstitions). “Here I Go Again” was voted our class song, so what does that say about the power of the Snake?
Two songs I was not expecting to hear and I might not have heard live since 1989 were “Sailing Ships” and “Judgement Day” from Slip Of The Tongue. Hoekstra handled the acoustic duties beautifully but that’s not a shock as he’s one the premier guitarists in music today and master of 8-finger tapping, which he would be more than happy to demonstrate moments later when he and co-hort Reb Beach take turns wowing the crowd with their six-string exploits in the much needed guitar solo portion of the show that’s missing from way to many concerts these days. While Hoekstra dabbled on both electric & acoustic Mr. Beach let his Suhr do the talking along with a little tremolo bar action for good measure.
After the shred-fest of epic proportions one we’re treated to my other all-time favorite Snake song - “Slow An’ Easy.” This is just one of the baddest songs on the planet to this day. I mean that intro; the slide guitar, the infectious beat and Coverdale’s delivery bring that song home. A real crowd pleaser when you have a couple thousand people joining in on the line: “Rock me 'til I’m burned to the bone…..to the bone” Yes! Follow that up with some Michael Devin action on the bass. He’s been handling the low end steadily all night so it’s good to see him get a little love before breaking into another heavy hitter like “Crying In The Rain.” This is where you get the crowd fired up. What can do that you ask? Tommy Aldridge behind the drum kit, that’s what. Probably one of the hardest hitters in the game but what takes his solo over the top is when he tosses the sticks into the crowd and finishes the solo with his bare hands. And not just playing the bongos but going all out. Say what you want about spinning drum kits and all that noise but I’ll take this Tommy any day of the week.
One Snake that doesn’t get all the fanfare of a fancy solo but is a huge part of what makes the band tick is keyboard player Michele Luppi. He’s a joy to watch throughout the evening as he cranks out the tunes from his high-rise perch overlooking the stage. Luppi make his presence felt when you hear the opening notes to one the biggest songs of the 80’s - “Here I Go Again.” Honestly Coverdale could probably hand over vocal duties to the crowd for this one because everyone in the room is belting this one out. After a brief exit the band returns for an encore and delivers the song I’ve been waiting for all night and that’s “Still Of The Night.” Just like that I’m 17 again, cruising to school in my old Honda, stereo cranked up and getting pumped up for another baseball game. The power and beauty of music.