Words/Photos: Chris Rugowski
https://www.chickenortheeggphotography.com/
The Winery Dogs – Mike Portnoy (drums and vocals), Billy Sheehan (bass and vocals), Richie Kotzen (guitar, lead vocals, keys) – haven’t played Green Bay, WI, USA in seven years. The first time they were here, I didn’t know who they were. This time around, I had only heard about the band a few weeks before this show. Members I had heard of in their projects, and main bands.
There’s no other way to say it, besides I was blown away by the performance, a true convert to the music and the musicians. It’s one thing to hear it on an album, it’s another thing to watch it on a crappy YouTube quality video, but to see it live in the flesh – a whole different ball game. While the venue was only a quarter/third of the way packed, they played like it was a full house. Those who weren’t there missed out on an opportunity no doubt. There was so much energy in the room. From the moment they walked out to the moment they left the stage, roughly 1 hour and 45 minutes later, it was a pure rock n roll show. No crazy effects on instruments, no backing tracks, and no voice dub on Kotzen’s voice to give him that “sound” you hear on the album. Just three guys who love what they do, playing music, and playing it like there’s no tomorrow. These guys were ON POINT!
Before the show I listened to the entire new album, III to get a sense of what I might be in store for, then I went through and listened to bits and pieces of the other available albums. I was not ready for what I was about to experience. Without repeating myself, it was a great experience, and anyone who can see this tour, really ought to. This is not a tour to be missed if you know anything about the band and the members.
While the group itself may only have three albums out, the setlist was packed full of songs from each album. Playing six tunes from III, three from 2015’s Hot Streak, and seven from their 2013 self-titled album.
There were a few notable moments that stuck out to me, such as the solo in “Desire” Kotzen was on fire, the drum intro to “The Other Side”, and Sheehan’s bass solo that was like the energizer bunny and it kept going and going. Ending the night with Elevate was a great choice!
The setlist:
Gaslight
Xanadu
Captain cook
Hot Streak
Desire
Breakthrough
Time Machine
Stars
Damaged
Mad World
The Other Side (with Drum Solo Intro)
Sheehan Bass Solo
The Red Wine (note: Sheehan used a clear red acrylic bass with red lights on the guitar)
I’m No Angel
Oblivion
Regret
Elevate
The current tour dates:
The Winery Dogs 2023 Tour Dates
Feb. 15 – Greensburg, Pa. @ Palace Theatre
Feb. 16 – Jim Thorpe, Pa. @ Penn’s PeakF
Feb. 17 – Glenside, Pa. @ The Keswick Theatre
Feb. 18 – Patchogue, N.Y. @ Patchogue Theatre
Feb. 21 – New York, N.Y. @ Sony Hall
Feb. 22 – Baltimore, Md. @ Rams Head Live!
Feb. 23 – Sayreville, N.J. @ Starland Ballroom
Feb. 25 – Ridgefield, Ct. @ The Ridgefield Playhouse
Feb. 26 – Derry, N.H. @ Tupelo Music Hall
March 1 – Columbus, Ohio @ King of Clubs
March 2 – Cleveland, Ohio @ Agora Theatre
March 5 – Green Bay, Wis. @ Epic Event Center
March 6 – Minneapolis, Minn. @ Fine Line Music Café
March 9 – Milwaukee, Wis. @ Pabst Theater
March 10 – St. Charles, Ill. @ The Arcada Theatre
March 11 – Westland, Mich. @ The Token Lounge
March 13 – Grand Rapids, Mich. @ DeVos Hall
March 14 – Harrison, Ohio @ Blue Note
March 17 – Dallas, Texas @ Amplified Live
March 18 – Cedar Park, Texas @ The Haute Spot
March 19 – Houston, Texas @ Warehouse Live Ballroom
March 21 – New Orleans, La. @ House of Blues
March 22 – Birmingham, Ala. @ Iron City
March 24 – St. Petersburg, Fla. @ Jannus Live
March 25 – Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. @ Culture Room
March 26 – Orlando, Fla. @ The Plaza Live
March 30 – Virginia Beach, Va. @ Elevation 27
March 31 – Hopewell, Va. @ Hopewell Theatre
April 1 – Leesburg, Va. @ Tally Ho Theatre
April 2 – Charlotte, N.C. @ The Underground
April 4 – Asheville, N.C. @ Orange Peel
April 5 – Knoxville, Tenn. @ The Mill & Mine
April 6 – Nashville, Tenn. @ Brooklyn Bowl
April 27 – Rio de Janeiro, Brazil @ Vivo Rio (with Stone Temple Pilots)
April 28 – Curitiba, Brazil @ Tork n Roll (with Skid Row)
April 30 – São Paulo, Brazil @ Summer Breeze Festival
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