Still in
support of their debut Nuclear Blast
release, Poets and Madmen, Savatage recently pulled off a few more dates as one act of many trying to move on and do their jobs while they look at
the tragedy and devastation across their country. Luckily for their fans,
the band has been able to pick up the pieces and move on to deliver
uninhibited performances spanning over the greater part of two hours.
Now that they have had the opportunity to break in the newest members of
the band since they first hit the road last
April, it is even more evident
that the strength behind the duo of Jon Oliva and newcomer Damon Jiniya
has ignited a great fuel behind the band’s stage show.
Though they are sharing
leads through most of the set, it is even more entertaining to watch how
dynamically the stage presence of Jiniya can reflect the vigorous vocals
of his counterpart before he even utters a word.
While he mostly lurks behind the
shadows and his keyboards during the show, it is clear that Oliva has no
desire to again leave his throne, as he announces that he hopes to share
the microphone with newcomer Damon Jiniya forever. A declaration
that seemed to please fans both new and old.
Since the strength behind the rhythm
section of Johnny Lee Middleton and Jeff Plate has been displayed through
the band’s past few releases, it is more noteworthy to mention that time
has brought forth yet another unique duo in this band -- the adrenalized
Jack Frost, who romps around the stage with the energy of a child
(especially during "Morphine Child" AKA the nasty), and the talented and
once underestimated Chris Caffery, who has finally come to lead the guitar
force behind the band after years of dedication.
Again, the band made their
entrance with the “Commisar” and “Surrender,” two new tracks from their
Poets & Madmen album, and resurrected older favorites like “Sirens,”
"Gutter Ballet," and of course “Hall of the Mountain King.”
But this time, they were offered the opportunity to show their blatant
disapproval of the events that hit close to the band's adopted home and
the base of their management (New York City).
Savatage proudly displayed a photograph of New York’s Statue of Liberty
and American Flags on the stage, and pulled a song out of the ruins
entitled “Of Rage and War,” a eerily appropriate addition in light of the
events on September 11. For a more detailed account
of tracks performed during this tour, be sure to read our review from last
April at
www.tprs.com/reviews/savatage.htm.
 You can also read more about the band
in our most recent interview with guitarist Chris Caffery at
www.tprs.com/interviews/tso2000.htm
and also an article from the previous year, which includes interviews with
Caffery and producer Paul O'Neill at
www.tprs.com/interviews/tso.htm.
For more information about
Poets and Madmen, be sure to check out the band's official site at
www.savatage.com.
Savatage has completed their tour for the time being, but you can catch
some of the guys on the road with Trans-Siberian Orchestra this November.
Visit www.trans-siberian.com for the latest news. |
