Photos + Review by David Molnar – Promoted by MGM Springfield, the night at Symphony Hall delivered a double shot of hard rock nostalgia as the Tom Keifer Band and Buckcherry turned the historic venue into a roaring arena of pumping fists and black leather jackets. Buckcherry opened the cool May evening, but the California hard rock veterans wasted no time igniting the packed house. Fronted by the energetic lead-singer Josh Todd, the band ripped through a loud and unapologetic set that reminded fans why the group has remained a staple of modern hard rock since forming in 1995. “Lit Up” exploded with Sunset Strip energy while “Gluttony” released on their 2012 album Confessions, pounded with rock and roll attitude. The emotional ballad “Sorry” gave the audience a breather before Buckcherry closed their set with the raucous 2006 hit “Crazy Bitch,” turning Symphony Hall into a full-throttle party as fans shouted every lyric back at the stage.
When the Tom Keifer Band finally emerged under the hot lights, the atmosphere shifted into high-gear as Keifer, the legendary lead vocalist, rhythm guitarist and songwriter who co-founded Cinderella in Philadelphia in 1983, still carried the same raspy, unmistakable voice that helped define an era of glam metal and blues rock. Early in the set, Keifer addressed the standing, sweaty crowd and pointed to a lone microphone positioned on stage. He explained it was for his wife, singer Savannah Keifer, who was recovering from recent leg surgery after an injury. With only one backing vocalist, Tanya Davis, who handled vocals, piano, and percussion throughout the evening Keifer warmly asked the crowd to help out Davis and sing along with her during “Heartbreak Station (Last Train).” The audience enthusiastically obliged.
“Nobody’s Fool” and “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” were massive crowd favorites, with fans lifting phones and voices together with Keifer’s raspy voice. Keifer has struggled with his voice in the past, as he endured severe vocal cord paralysis in the 1990s nearly ending his career, but this evening his voice had no trouble filling the ornate hall. Multiple surgeries and years of vocal retraining helped Keifer regain his signature voice.Tracks like “Coming Home” and “Shelter Me” is voice blended perfectly with the talented five-piece band.
By the encore, Symphony Hall had become a sea of raised hands and swaying middle-aged bodies. Keifer, emerging from the backstage shadows, stepped to the front of the stage and shouted, “I got one question for you! Do you want to keep rolling tonight?” The audience roared back in approval as the band launched into a fiery version of “Tumbling Dice” by The Rolling Stones. It was the perfect exclamation point on a night that celebrated swagger and timeless hard rock. Between Buckcherry’s explosive opening set and Keifer’s explosive performance, the concert proved that classic hard rock still sounds best loud, live and in front of a devoted, screaming crowd.
