Few things are more likely to whip a crowd into a frenzy than a Loverboy show and that's exactly what they did to a packed Hudson Gardens in Colorado.
They've got it all - charisma, energy, voice and stye! They sound exactly like themselves, cutting loose with
more energy and more fun than other bands. No pompous gestures or fancy come ons, just a fun celebration,
a party if you will as they blazed through their massive arsenal of hits. The timeless classics still sounded fresh, and frequent smiles revealed that they still have a lot of fun playing it. The band reaffirms for me that the music is still alive and well!
Playing live, loud and loose we were treated to almost two hours of thrills, chills and at times massive audience sing–a-longs.The bands solid set list made for a fun evening filled with some fantastic old-time rock arena moments. It was a fresh, high-energy love fest!
Opening up with "Notorious" set the tone for what would be a terrific set. The chorus to that song is so
infectious and the beat so primed for fist pumping. The crowd was ready to party! Another highlight of the night, "Lady of the 80's" showed Paul Dean and Ken "Spider" Sinnaeve's true love for guitar rock - giving us an over-the-top rock ‘n’ roll performance, to say nothing of their skills. It also proved the song’s power to move the audience and keep that party going! But it was the opening notes to "Turn Me Loose" and "Working For The Weekend" that brought the crowd to their feet.
Both songs cascaded into massive cheers and iPhone wielding manic snapshots. I'm telling you, when you hear those first four notes or the sound of the cowbell you pass go and head straight into the zone. There's so much power in those songs, with their incredible hooks, memorable lyrics and a beat that just reaches out and grabs you. For me, it's that ability - that groove - that feeling they give you which sets them apart from other bands.
Back at the show the crowd never lost momentum the entire night as Loverboy continued to belt out hit after
hit. They played fast and furious and sounded great with strong vocals and mesmerizing guitar grooves. They were explosive!
One of the nights real scene stealer was Doug's scorching sax solo to "Take Me To The Top". He truly is a
gifted musician who had the crowd swooning to the tempo. Another show stopper showcased Spider on bass and Matt Frenette playing some very complex percussion parts and 'WOW' they delivered 100% on the money. "It's
Your Life" (another fan favorite), was one of lead singer, Mike Reno's best performances of the night and got the crowd rockin' while guitar players Paul and Spider had the floor hopping.
“This Could Be The Night” has always been my favorite Loverboy song and tonight was no exception. For me, the power of the music from this song comes down to Reno's voice, it's absolutely beautiful. Emotionally it always tears me up and I can NEVER get tired of listening to it. He has this incredible natural charisma and a powerful rock voice. It's amazing how after all these years his voice still oozes superstar! "This Could Be The Night" is a song that provokes inner thought and at the same time uplifts with a beautiful melody and a little bit of groove. I loved everything about that performance making it my favorite moment of the night...
... that was until the encore.
OMG THE ENCORE... The encore featured their newest song "Heartbreaker".
It's a brilliant addition to their cannon of hits. The melody will linger in your head for days - it's super catchy,
super fantastic and classic Loverboy. It is so upbeat. A mighty foot stomper for sure. It's one of those songs
that makes you want to open the windows of your car and drive down the highway blasting it at full volume.
It's a must have for your iPod - You can buy it HERE.
"Heartbreaker" was without a doubt THE BEST performance of the night. They totally rocked it! I hope it becomes a permanent addition to their line-up. It
adds a lot of flavor to the set list and besides I want to hear it again! "Heartbreaker" was certainly one of the most memorable moments
of the evening. These guys are outstanding live performers who have loads of fun on stage but unfortunately the party had to come to an end. The band closed out the show with an
amazing crowd sing-a-long version of "Lovin' Every Minute Of It" and lovin' every minute of it we did!
I want to give a big shout out to Mr. Paul Dean.... Thanks for your time, and see you at the next show!
My favorite moment...All of it, from start to finish! My favorite performance...Heartbreaker & This Could Be The NIght...
It just doesn't get any better than that.
Loverboy is one helluva performer and a band that needs to be seen as well as heard. They are a band that refuses to be boring. if you get the opportunity to see hem live then by all means DO IT! It is one show you don't want to miss. No doubt you too will be saying "OMG...Oh What A Show!"