Dokken-Firehouse |Live Music Review

Dokken 2/20/10 Dubuque, IA

Hard Rock from the 80′s invaded the Mississippi Moon Bar in Dubuque, IA when Firehouse opened for Dokken. More than twenty years later people are still trying to slam bands like these. Some people never liked the music, some think they have out grown it…until the music starts.

I have to admit I was kind of hoping Dokken was the opening band so I could leave if I felt like it during Firehouse…until the music started. Firehouse opened the show sounding just like they would on CD. These guys are so clear you may think they are playing with a backing track…except they are from the era when live shows were all about playing the music live and not choreography.

The band made a point more than once during the show to thank the crowd for still coming out after all these years. They pointed out that September 11th of this year will mark the 20th anniversary of when their first album was released.

“All She Wrote” got people’s toes tapping. “Shake and Tumble” got some fists in the air. “Reach for the Sky” got a good reception. There was an on stage marriage proposal and slow dance to “Love of a Lifetime.” The crowd was in 100% by the time “Don’t Treat Me Bad” was belted out to close the set.

Another successful stop in Dubuque for Firehouse.

I really didn’t know what to expect from Dokken. I have seen them several times over the years. In fact, next month will be 25 years since I seen them just a 1/2 mile from where this show is open for KISS. Things change over the years. One time they left after four songs opening for Aerosmith. The last time I had seen them with the original members when they reunited for the Dysfunctional tour Don stormed off the stage for two songs right at the start of the show.One thing I did know was that my two favorite members, George Lynch and Jeff Pilson were not going to be there as they are no longer with the band.

They opened with the “Unchain the Night” intro and then kicked it into “Just Got Lucky.”  Don may as well have pulled up a chair for the first couple of songs. He looked pretty bored and at this point I’m still wondering how the show is going to go.

We were a few songs in before the guy behind me that had been yelling “GEORGE! GEEEOOOOORGE!” finally realized George Lynch was not on stage. The new guitarist is Jon Levin and I have to say if you are not looking at him you may not notice it is him instead of George playing. He stepped in really well and was really a high point of the show.

Moving through more classics like “The Hunter” and “Into the Fire” you can see Don is lightening up. He says that they can play “Dream Warriors” for us since they are taking a couple weeks off….because it isn’t easy to sing. He said it playful but you can tell the guy doesn’t have the chops he used to. Understandable. There have been a lot of screeching high notes come out over the years, it has to catch up some time. The band played this tune pretty tight.

My fears of listening to what might sound like a Dokken cover band have vanished for the most part by the time they hit tunes like “Breaking the Chains” and “It’s Not Love.” Don is having fun now. A playful story leads into “Too High to Fly” and a Jon Levin guitar solo. A good old fashioned guitar solo! By the way, he did some justice to “Kiss of Death” as well!

They did play a new tune that rocked but I can’t say I caught the name of it. I will be looking for it though. “When Heaven Comes Down” and “Tooth and Nail” rocked the die hard Dokken fans. Everyone got in on the closer, “In My Dreams.”

Often when going to one of these shows there will be memories that come back with each song. Remember back to the parties and the time you bought a certain tape. This show was different though. Both of these bands have significant places edged in my memory along with one of my oldest friends who passed away recently.

Jammie Dodds and I used to pound out those Dokken songs for hours in his bedroom on guitars in High School. When we were 19 we took off  to Daytona Beach, Florida. Somewhere along the way in Alabama he bought the first Firehouse cassette and it never left the tape deck in the car. It became the sound track to our trip.

At the start of the song “Alone Again” Don Dokken says, “It’s like being in High School, huh? When Mom and Dad paid all the bills…” I remember Jammie telling his Dad once… “I don’t want to work hard now and have fun when I’m old. I want to have fun now.” He did have fun.

Both of these bands thanked the audience several times for giving them a chance to still be doing this 20 plus years later. I would like to thank both bands for giving me three hours of good memories of my late friend Jammie.