And so it unofficially ends. The summer rock concert season of 2009 saw enough package tours, solo tours, and surprise tours to keep just about any fan happy. The Whitesnake and Judas Priest match-up got off to a great start, but became somewhat derailed in August when snake singer and showman extraordinaire David Coverdale was forced to temporarily abandon singing after being diagnosed with a vocal ailment. Aerosmith suffered a similar fate when Steven Tyler fell off the stage at the Buffalo Chip in Sturgis. Unlike Judas Priest, ZZ Top was unable to forge on without the boys from Boston.
Asia and Yes were paired for the first time ever, although it was surely a long time coming. Can’t Stop Rockin’ saw Styx, REO Speedwagon, and 38 Special as a touring unit – the crowds were electrified with not one or two, but three powerhouse shows in one evening. Demand was such that although the tour reached an end in mid-July, it will briefly resume this weekend for two more shows in the Midwest.
The paths of Journey, Heart, and Night Ranger crossed often during the summer’s second half, and will continue to cross for more shows this fall. By all accounts, “Crue Fest 2″ was another rousing success as Motley Crue played Dr. Feelgood in its entirety while touring with Godsmack, Theory of a Deadman, Drowning Pool, and Charm City Devils. It seems that for some bands, the rock ‘n’ roll attitude will never die – and who’s to say that’s a bad thing.
There’s nothing quite like an impeccably tight group of musicians playing songs like “Lonely Is the Night” for the better part of an evening. Indeed, Billy Squier was an incredibly pleasant surprise and the perfect example of an artist who knows how to make a comeback. His guitar solos left crowds stammering, and his voice left crowds wondering if it was 1982.
Throughout the summer, we have been feeding you the reader a steady supply of concert photos and reviews from some of the year’s hottest tours. If you missed any of our coverage, the sidebar gives a complete listing, and this link will provide you with access to all of our photo galleries. It’s been exhausting, but also fun every step of the way – and we hope that you enjoyed it just as much.
Have a concert memory to share? Bands you missed or want to see next year? Shows you’d like to see here at Melodic Rock Concerts? Share it all by leaving a comment. And don’t forget to keep checking back this fall – with KISS and AC/DC still out on the road, you never know what you might find.
