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SURVIVOR
Summerfest,Milwaukee, 1 July 2005
Despite a recent appearance at the Dutch Arrow Rock Festival in Holland, the
chances of Survivor playing the UK are as remote as ever so I was delighted
when they were added to the Summerfest line-up late on.
Summerfest, incidentally, is a long established, and dirt cheap, ELEVEN DAY
festival in a downtown riverside location. It covers all genres of popular
music on about ten stages, and in a bid to attract the more mature
clientele, a stage is now dedicated to Classic Rock where Survivor headlined
the second night of the festival.
With genius songwriter Jim Peterik long departed, guitarist Frankie Sullivan
is clearly the dominant force in present day Survivor (though drummer Marc
Droubay is still on board). It was him, rather than Jimi Jamison, who
introduced the songs and he wastes no opportunity in showing off his
rapid-fire guitar prowess, extending the songs well beyond their four
minutes or so on record. However a solo instrumental lasting 20 odd minutes
was pushing it, even if it allowed Jimi to catch his breath. The voice has
lost some of its power and range and seeing him have a crafty smoke before
coming on did not inspire my confidence in him.
Interestingly the set included three numbers from the Bickler-era
Premonition- Poor man’s son, Summer Nights and Take you on a Saturday- but
it was the Vital Signs US hit singles- The Search is Over, High on You and a
storming Can’t hold back- that brought the biggest cheers and still bring a
shiver to excitement to me when I hear them. Predicatbly, Eye of the Tiger,
with Frankie’s son Ryan pounding the drum kit, ended the set though Caught
in the game- albeit once again a showcase for frankie’s jamming, was a
surprise encore.
Survivor are one of the legends of AOR but I’m afraid live they are not a
patch on the likes of Journey, Styx or REO Speedwagon.
***
Review: Andy Nathan
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