“Midwest Rock and Roll Express Tour”
Ted Nugent, Reo Speedwagon, Styx
Date: Friday, July 6th 2012
Venue: Tag’s Summer Stage, Big Flats, NY
Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars
The “Midwest Rock and Roll Express Tour” rolled into Tag’s Summer Stage in the Upstate NY town of Big Flats on July 17th and put on a show that was overflowing with classic rock hits. Local musician Brian Hughes kicked off the night performing a brief solo set of acoustic cover tunes. Hughes was able to put an interesting spin on several classic songs to which the crowd responded with heavy applause.
The always loud and outspoken Ted Nugent would follow and though performing hits like “Strangle Hold” and the always popular “Cat Scratch Fever” Nugent did not perform his staple of shooting his guitar with a flaming arrow. That aside the band performed flawlessly and sounded great.
Reo Speedwagon would take the stage next coming right out of the gate with “Don’t Let
Him Go” and “Take It on The Run” before settling in to acknowledge the crowd. The band played all of their hits and closed out the night just as the sun was setting with the song “Ridin’ The Storm Out”. Reo played at the top of their game and the sound crew continued to shine with crystal clear sound which only added to the bands always upbeat performance.
Styx would close out the night as the near capacity crowd was on their feet from the opening notes of “Blue Collar Man” to the last notes of “Renegade” closed out the show. Tommy Shaw though appearing to be a bit under the weather still put on stellar performance. The band was full of energy interacting with each other and the crowd. The always animated Lawrence Gowan danced and spun around on his keyboard stand at dizzying speeds all without missing a beat.
The lineup, production and sound are top notch on this tour and if it’s making a stop in your area or nearby I highly recommend checking it out as the show is worth way more than the price of admission.
Ted Nugent :
1.) Wango Tango
2.) Just What the Doctor Ordered
3.) Free For All
4.) Stormtroopin’
5.) Wang Dang Sweet Poontang
6.) I Can’t Quite You Babe
7.) Hey Baby
8.) Cat Scratch Fever
9.) Strangle Hold
Reo Speedwagon:
1.) Don’t Let Him Go
2.) Take It on The Run
3.) Keep Pushin’
4.) Golden Country
5.) Can’t Fight This Feeling
6.) That Ain’t Love
7.) Like You Do
8.) Time For Me To Fly
9.) Back on the Road Again
10.) Roll With The Changes
11.) Keep on Loving You
12.) Ridin’ The Storm Out
Styx:
1.) Blue Color Man
2.) The Grand Illusion
3.) Too Much Time On My Hands
5.) Lorelei
6.) Man in the Wilderness
7.) Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
8.) Miss America
9.) Come Sail Away
10.) Rockin’ the Paradise
11.) Renegade