The Winery Dogs debut was a breath of fresh air uniquely combining strong songsmith with virtuoso playing. The combination of Billy Sheehan on bass, Richie Kotzen on guitar/lead vocals and Mike Portnoy on drums provided dynamic songs that stretched into multiple genres all while keeping the consistency and integrity of the playing all three are noted. Kotzen is probably the least known having come up originally as a solo artist and shredder as well as joining bands like Mr. Big and Poison after both of their prime years. In the Winery Dogs he’s getting the attention he so strongly deserves. As lead singer he brings an intensity and R & B chops that enrich the bands songs. He also provides a unique guitar tone and style that blends fast melodic runs with tasty sustain and leaving space between the notes. The space between the notes is one of the most unique things this band does very cleverly rather than overplay which is usually the errors band like this fall into.
This tour with their show at Warehouse Live is in support of their sophomore album Hot Streak. Though not nearly as flawless as their debut it continues their blend of hard rock and R&B styles with a smattering of virtuosity. Sheehan and Portnoy are world re-known heavy weights on their instruments. For those that have been living under a rock for several years Sheehan has played with David Lee Roth, Mr. Big and others as one of the best bass players in the land. Portnoy is most known for his years with Dream Theatre but has also played with multiple other outfits and known for being one of the very best in his occupation.
The band got things kicked off with quite possibly their strongest song to date in Elevation. Can’t get much better than that for a rousing start to the evening. They combined songs from both albums in the early part of the set with highlights including Time Machine and The Other Side. Richie performed one of his solo songs called The Road midway which of course showcased his skills. They finished the set with the Elvin Bishop cover from the 70’s, Fooled Around and Fell in Love as well as Desire. This band does a great job of controlling and using tempo to set the moods and pacing for the show. This time around the band played a much larger venue at Warehouse Live compared to the Scout Bar on the previous tour. The band and crowd were both into it and they’re definitely building a fanbase. Hopefully they can get back in the studio and put out a third album that’s closer to their first. Below is the setlist.
Elevate
Captain Love
Hot Streak
Time Machine
Damaged
The Lamb
The Other Side
Bass Solo
Ghost Town
The Road
Regret
Devil You Know
I’m No Angel
The Dying
Oblivion
Fooled Around and Fell in Love
Desire
