When Kurt Cobain killed the golden era of the 80’s metal and hard rock scene, it was good riddance to all the Warrants, Trixters, Wingers, Poisons and Slaughters. However, some artists were lumped in with the Traci’s, Jani’s and Bobbi’s, even though they never donned makeup and strayed from singing about "unskinny bops" and "cherry pies." Count Sacramento’s Tesla amongst those hard rock survivors.
Playing the casino circuit is about the equivalent of the county fair tour, but with cars lined up on the side of the "Beeline" highway, and about eight thousand fans in attendance for the twin billing of Skid Row/Tesla at the Fort McDowell Casino, you’d think it was 1991.
Openers Skid Row have been playing without the flamboyant Sebastian Bach since 1997, when he was booted for his "diva" behavior. In case you haven’t been watching VH1’s reality show Super Group, you’ll notice that he’s still the same flame-thrower.
With or without Bach and with a revamped sound, style and attitude, Skid Row was unable to recapture the magic of their MTV hey day. Comprised of three original members, Dave "The Snake" Sabo, Rachel Bolan and Scotti Hill, Skid Row is just another Quiet Riot, Firehouse, Dokken and Ratt hoping to keep the flame alive.
Front-man Johhny Solinger appeared to be relishing his front-man role in his borderline cheesy Skid Row ripped tank top and stars & stripes bandana. Pulling out some of the band’s old nuggets, -"Monkey Business" and "Youth Gone Wild," the crowd was eating up anything that would rekindle an "18 and life" high school memory.
However, leave it to Tesla’s brand of blue collar hard rock to give the Tommys and Ginas something real to raise their lighter up to. Lead singer Jeff Keith, sporting his throwback rock and roll "David Cassidy" hair do, still sounds like a young Steven Tyler with his scratchy blues vocals, while working the stage in a simple blue tank top and tight blue jeans. Lead guitarist Frank Hannon can lay down serious "guitar pyrotechnics," filling the void of departed original guitarist Tommy Skeoch. Bassist Brian Wheat thunders his Paul McCartney famed violin bass in the mix and new guitarist Dave Rude did an admirable job adding his own voice to the classics.
Throughout their two plus hour performance, Tesla played one of those rock shows that provide a give and take between audience and band and sing-alongs that would make any " I got dragged into this" bystander agree they had a good time. Even with a few cheesy "we love you Arizona’s" thrown in, Keith even was proud to admit, "we really do mean it."
Opening with a few tracks off 2004’s comeback studio album Into The Now, Tesla’s fans appeared to be enjoying the new material almost as much as the old bandana wrapped favorites. However it was the tried and true classics – "Getting’ Better," "Little Suzi,’ "Signs," and "Modern Day Cowboy" that had the crowd gleeming.
Tesla will soon be releasing an album of 70’s cover songs, as they hammered through versions of of "War Pigs," "Purple Haze" and even a little Foghat – "I Just Want To Make Love To You." However, it was Tesla’s versions of two power ballad/rockers from 1991’s Psychotic Supper – "Song & Emotion" and "What You Give" – which proved the timelessness of their catalog, as the crowd sang along "can’t think about nothin’ but your good, good love, and what you give.". Just In case Tesla’s greatest hits don’t do it for you, their shows do make for damn good people watching.
