The classic rock group Boston is back! Well, sorta…
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Boston has always been one of rock’s most elusive bands by touring very infrequently, so when they announced a tour this year (just a year after the original lead singer, Brad Delp, committed suicide), it smelled as if someone may need some money. Following the lead of some other classic rock acts, Boston turned to the internet to find their new lead singer and found Tommy DeCarlo, a former (and future) Home Depot employee who sounds eerily like Delp. Well, after attending last week’s show in Chicago, I can tell you that that’s where the similarities end.
More after the clicky thingie…
As the band opened with some song I didn’t recognize (hopefully, there’s not a new album coming with crap like this song), here comes Tommy DeCarlo looking like a fan that managed to make it up on stage. First of all, he was wearing a Boston t-shirt and not one from a tour back in the seventies, but a 2008 tour shirt that they were selling at the merchandise kiosk. Just wrong. Then, while the older members, Tom Sholz included, rocked about the stage, Tommy spent most of the show just planted in place behind the microphone. Now I know he has no previous rock experience, but did he never play rock star when the store was closed with either a rake or a shovel?
Of course, they played all the hits, which was entertaining, but no more than if it was just a cover band. There was a 15-minute keyboard/guitar/drum solo, which actually showed that these guys were seasoned rock musicians, but I found the setlist a bit confusing…before the show was over, we had already heard “More Than a Feeling”, “Foreplay/Long Time”, and “Piece of Mind”, so what’s left for the encore? “Smokin’”. Let’s make it to the car.
The best part of the show was actually Styx, who played for an hour before, and like Boston, there was a soundalike lead singer taking the place of Dennis De Young. It made no difference. There was so much energy and fun on the stage, that I wanted them to go on another hour.
August 13th, 2008 at 8:15 am
Thanks for the review! 🙂
August 18th, 2008 at 7:31 pm
I saw both shows in Roanoke Rapids NC. I felt exactly the same. Styx was fantastic. Boston seems like more of a rehersal for some future show. And the same 15 minute solo sets that showed off their individual talents. Not a waste of my time, but I’d pass on free tickets to their next show.
November 21st, 2008 at 10:20 pm
🙄 Critic:
I saw Boston in Bloomington Ill.A few months ago..THEY WERE ROCKIN and FANTASTIC!!!!!I got to go Backstage and meet them..they were professional and greated us very nicely…They also put on a KICK ASS show,Tom sang quite a bit. To me they sounded just like the Boston of the Late 70’s and 80’s.Just with Different faces ,so ,boo to you ,maybe ,they were haveing an “off” nite????
Hoping for a return show..ROCK ON BOSTON!!!!!!!!!!
December 23rd, 2008 at 8:40 am
“As the band opened with some song I didn’t recognize (hopefully, there’s not a new album coming with crap like this song), here comes Tommy DeCarlo looking like a fan that managed to make it up on stage. First of all, he was wearing a Boston t-shirt and not one from a tour back in the seventies, but a 2008 tour shirt that they were selling at the merchandise kiosk. Just wrong”
OBVIOUSLY…you’re not a BOSTON fan otherwise you WOULD have recognized the opening song! Tommy wearing a BOSTON shirt…I guess you didn’t see Tommy Shaw of STYX wearing the same BOSTON T-Shirt during one of their shows…was that JUST WRONG also! AND YES…we’ve all played wanna be ROCK STARS at some point in our lives but come’on dude…walking out on the floor of a home improvment store and walking out on stage with your all time favorite rock-n-roll band as their NEW lead singer is a totally different ballgame! Tommy did a great job as did the entire band…you won’t sway this BOSTON fan!!!