DIO-Inspired Lineup Rocks Warehouse Live On February 16th

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All Photos By Larry Petro/Petrofyed Photography

2019 had arrived and now almost 2 months into the new year I still hadn't attended a concert yet. It wasn't that there haven't been any, there just weren't any that particularly piqued my interest, that is, until the middle of February when the first of a back-to-back show schedule came up, the first of which was LAST IN LINE.

LAST IN LINE, the band originally featuring the initial DIO recording lineup of guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Jimmy Bain and drummer Vinnie Appice, fronted by journeyman vocalist Andrew Freeman (THE OFFSPRING, LYNCH MOB), started off as a way to pay tribute to the DIO music they recorded and performed on, that being the band's first three records: Holy Diver, Last In Line (from which the band name originated) and Sacred Heart. The band soon evolved and created original music which resulted in the band's debut release, Heavy Crown in 2016. Tragedy would strike the band barely a week before the album's release when Bain passed away while the band was on DEF LEPPARD's Hysteria On The High Seas Cruise. The band would soldier on though, enlisting the services of another legendary bassist, Phil Soussan (ex-OZZY OSBOURNE) and recording their sophomore opus, II, which hit shelves just last week. Out in support of the album the band hit Houston for a show at Warehouse Live on February 16th.

Support for the evening came from local act TAME FURY and former SKID ROW vocalist Johnny Solinger. TAME FURY was up first and fresh off their debut full length release, A New Reason, the band hit the stage with energy. The revamped lineup of the band, featuring new bassist Erick Villarreal and second guitarist Brandon Todd (the son of drummer Phred Williams), is a sight to behold in a live setting. Between the swagger of vocalist Michael McVey belting out the lyrics to songs like "Masquerade" and "When Hate Buries Love", the drumming of wildman Williams, who is re-energized thanks to a recent heart transplant, the dueling guitar solos of Todd and longtime axe slinger Mark Bankston and the pounding low end of Villarreal, the band is firing on all cylinders. Set inclusions of "Black As The Fire", "Hell No" and the swing-along "Diva", they got the night started with a bang.

Johnny Solinger is no stranger to the concert scene in Houston, having relocated to the northern suburb of The Woodlands just prior to his unceremonious ouster from SKID ROW, a band he fronted for over 15 years. Now more relaxed and contented than ever while running his School of Rock, he and his band of school miscreants have provided opening support for numerous acts the past few years. Solinger was up next and they cranked things up with a juiced-up version of the SKID's classic "I Remember You". The version they played was so much more up-tempo than the original I almost didn't recognize it until I listened to the lyrics. The band plays a set of mostly cover tunes and kept the crowd's enthusiasm up with selections like "Strutter", "Live Wire", "Man In The Box" and set closer "Crazy Train".

LAST IN LINE was up next and as one might expect, the set was heavy on classic DIO songs, comprising nearly two-thirds of the band's 14 song set. They launched their set with the first single and video from the new album, "Landslide", and vocalist Andrew Freeman took the bull by the horns early on, proving that he was a more than capable candidate of the lead role in the band. His vocal range shined through on DIO classics like "Stand Up And Shout", "Holy Diver", "Evil Eyes" and closer "We Rock" as well as LAST IN LINE tunes "Blackout The Sun", "Starmaker" and "Devil In Me". Guitarist Vivian Campbell was in top form throughout the show and showed zero residual effects of the cancer scare he went through in recent years as he playfully interacted with Soussan several times during the set. Of course Soussan and Appice, who've definitely been around the touring block a few times, kept the backbone of the show going solidly.

The band was taking a short break following this show but dates kick back up in late March so be sure to check out http://www.lastinlineofficial.com for all the latest news and touring information, including the VIP packages available. I did the meet and greet and at $99, you got to watch the soundcheck, meet the band and get a photo, a set of guitar picks and the opportunity to get a couple of things signed. Well worth the money and the guys were hospitable and in great spirits throughout.

Setlist:

• "Landslide"
• "Stand Up And Shout"
• "Straight Through The Heart"
• "Year Of The Gun"
• "Holy Diver"
• "Blackout The Sun"
• "The Last In Line"
• "Starmaker"
• "Evil Eyes"
• "Egypt (The Chains Are On)"
• "Rainbow In The Dark"