WHITESNAKE – JUNE 28, 2016, ART PARK, LEWISTON, NY

Written By: Scott Brown

To continue on in the summer concert series, Art Park, based in the upscale sophistication that is Lewiston, NY, Whitford/St Holmes warmed up the crowd of nearly five thousand for 1980’s radio sensation Whitesnake. Breaking out with their new single, “Shapes”, fans who made the trip early to catch this duo, tipped their beverages in salute to the two rock icon in one super group. Bringing influences from both their iconic roots of Aerosmith and Nugent, the bluesy rock-based duo tore through a thirty minute set climaxing with a medley that closed out with a highly anticipated classic, “Stranglehold” in which the crowd sand back up. Very reminiscent of 1980’s concerts, severe attendees lit the dusk sky with their pocket lighters making Art Park appear as a grand rock and roll vigil perched high above the mighty Niagara River.

Immediately following the performance, Whitford/St Holmes made a very public appearance at the merchandise table. With the purchase of the newly released “Reunion”, fans not only got the album signed, but some lucky fans were able to snag a quick picture with the duo to truly commemorate the evening. The pair stayed at the merchandise booth until every fan had their moment. It’s these intimate times spent with the fans that can truly influence the next generation of rock and rollers who I witnessed in a line of a couple hundred strong to meet Whitford and St Holmes. Many smiles left that line, and undoubtedly a future rocker in some form as a result.

Whitford/St Holmes Set list –

Shapes
Rock All Day
Hell Is On Fire
Gotta Keep On Moving
Shake It
Hot for You
Last Child/Train Kept A – Rollin/Stranglehold

The time was not 8:00 pm, every one of the nearly six thousand strong in attendance went silent, even before the cue music to alert the crowd that Whitesnake was about to take the stage. To just know that it was time for the headlining act without a cue told me this batch of fans truly cared for what they were about to witness on stage, to truly care about the music that would be presented to them, and to have a good time as one body. To get the crowd’s attention like this, it goes without saying, the band was good enough to garner the crowd’s initial silence to appreciate the entrance of the performers and take in the music untainted. That quiet didn’t last long. This group of special fans on this June 28 was special not because they wore the shirts of Whitesnake, the bandanas, or wristbands, but because they exhibited a true love for the music that was about to be bestowed upon them.

Ripping open the set with “Bad Boys”, Whitesnakes David Coverdale demonstrated to the crowd why rock and roll will never die. Fans sang just as loud and although not in tune with rock legend Coverdale, did remain in perfect sync turning Art Park in one of the largest chorus’s I have witnessed in my lifetime. No easy feat to get that many people, of such different age ranges to do something in unison. Again, the special nature of this band was demonstrated to bring this many different people together in such camaraderie.

Coverdale, a rock icon in his own right deservingly so, was not the only talented musician to grace the audience on this brightly lit summer day. Guitar virtuosos Joel Hoekstra of Night Ranger fame and Reb Beach from Winger, shared their gifts of the guitar (much to fans delight), providing vocalist Coverdale with legendary musical support that the fans ate up as though it were their last supper. Hit after hit the fans became louder, crying out for their favorite songs. Most of these requests must have been accommodated as with each intro, the fans hugged and cheered.

Normally fifteen songs would be satisfying enough to the crowd. This crowd, not so much. They wanted more from the band that they waited hours in line to see. Between the high energy of Coverdale covering the stage corner to corner, pointing out fans, using the microphone to demonstrate the masculinity that is whitesanke, it is little surprise that fans demands for the band on tour is so high. Surviving more line up changes than a grey hound bus has stops, numerous hiatus’s, the epitome of Coverdale’s life’s work is in this current line up. Be sure to catch Whitesnake on tour coming to a city near you.

Whitesnake Set list –