Concert a lesson in classic rock

BANGOR – An instructional class was taught last Friday night at the Bangor Auditorium and the topic was “Classic Rock Concerts 101.” The guest “instructors” were some of the field’s foremost experts: Survivor, REO Speedwagon, and Styx.

Survivor found its way out onstage just after 7 p.m., kicking into tight renditions of “High on You” and “I Can’t Hold Back.” Guitarist Frankie Sullivan gave a simple interpretation of the basic rock ‘n’ roll pose, closing his eyes, biting his bottom lip while wrenching powerful and familiar chords from his guitar.

Vocalist Jimi Jamison gave a crash course in attire, reminding the packed auditorium that it’s still cool for rock stars to wear black. More noticeable than Jamison’s monochromatic wardrobe were the singer’s dulcet melodies interspersed with forceful refrains.

Although 20 years removed from songs such as “The Search Is Over,” Jamison was on-key, matching harmonies with his bandmates and even allowing the audience to sing the refrain to the band’s most popular song, “The Eye of the Tiger.”

While youth was not on the side of the night’s second act, REO Speedwagon, energy was. Between their numerous trips to each end of the stage and their nonstop smiling, the band epitomized the core of any good rock show. Vocalist and guitarist Kevin Cronin enchanted fans with the twang of his acoustic-electric guitar and stiff-lipped lyrics, slowing down just long enough to make lighters appear and the ladies swoon with a slow and deliberate performance of “Can’t Fight This Feeling.”

Those hoping for some technical wizardry found satisfaction just after REO completed its set. After a minute of thunderclaps over the loudspeakers and the image of lightning on the stage backdrop, guitarist Dave Amato re-emerged in a growing cloud of smoke – the perfect lead-in to the band’s one-song encore of “Ridin’ the Storm Out.”

The final performance of the evening gave Styx the chance to showcase a strong talent in addition to making music: showboating. Keyboardist and vocalist Lawrence Gowan spent more time playing his instrument behind his back than he did looking at the keys. Singer-guitarist James Young upped crowd involvement, pointing to fans during songs, inciting cheers. And like many of the evening’s stringed wonders, Young and bassist Glen Burtnick even took to shaking the sound out of their instruments while pointing their guitars toward the rafters.

Musically, Styx made use of newer songs as well as old favorites, leaving little to be desired. Diminutive singer and guitarist Tommy Shaw gave his enthralling voice on “Brave New World” and “Lorelei,” while the audience wondered if stage microphones really do him justice. Thumping rock tunes eventually gave way to one of the band’s stronger suits: heartwarming ballads. Gowan inadvertently reached the mark of any good concert: a singalong. As Gowan echoed the lyrics to “Lady,” the vocal accompaniment of almost everyone in the packed house was evident.

While the bands may have aged since their last appearance in the area, Survivor, REO Speedwagon and Styx enlightened the audience to the belief that rock ‘n’ roll will remain a show for the ageless.