Photos By Jacob Striewski

Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to witness a number of historic rock and metal acts grace the stage at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, FL; a reunited Black Sabbath and Judas Priest at Ozzfest in 2004. STP/GN’R offshoot Velvet Revolver along with grunge masters Alice In Chains in 2007. And the mighty KISS and Motley Crue together on the same bill in 2012 (just to name a few).

But I never expected to cram in so many shows in such a short time there as I had this summer; Sammy Hagar’s Best of All Worlds Tour on July 14, Styx and Foreigner on July 20, and, as of this past Tuesday, August 20, Yacht Rock Revue, REO Speedwagon, and Train (the latter of which I definitely never thought I would ever be seeing live). The one difference between those two recent shows and this one though was Rewind It were actually there on official business this time, with a photo pass in hand to cover the entire show in full detail.

The show kicked off with young Anchorheads Yacht Rock Revue, and judging by the amount of followers in Captain’s hats that had clearly come specifically to see them, they would prove to no doubt be a like-able act. The band opened with the 1980 Christopher Cross hit “Ride Like the Wind” to much applause, and had me “hooked” from that point forward.

Other soft rock staples like “Lowdown” by Boz Scaggs, “So Into You” by Atlanta Rhythm Section, “You Make Loving Fun” by Fleetwood Mac, “Heart to Heart” by Kenny Loggins, and of course, “Brandy (You’re a Fine Girl)” by Looking Glass helped keep the spirit of these tracks alive and well before the band launched into an original song of theirs, “Tropical Illusion.”

Yacht Rock Revue gave their best renditions of ’70s/’80s soft rock classics on Tuesday night in Tampa, FL (Photo by Jacob Striewski).

But the guys weren’t done just yet; Toto’s “Africa,” Gerry Rafferty’s “Baker Street,” and Boston’s “More Than a Feeling” all made their way in their set before the band finally set sail and left port, winning over many a new fan along the way I’m sure.

REO Speedwagon was no doubt the band that got myself and teenage son Jacob through the gates that night, and one that I had missed out on seeing several times over the years despite many chances to catch them. To say I was determined to finally check them off the bucket list would be an understatement.

“Don’t Let Him Go” and “Take It on the Run” was the perfect one-two punch to open it with, while “Keep Pushin’,” “Live Every Moment,” “Tough Guys,” “I Wish You Were There,” and “Music Man” found Kevin Cronin and company keeping the momentum going before getting back to the real heavy-hitters (also to note, I hadn’t realized until the show began that longtime bassist Bruce Hall was M.I.A. for this show, though former David Lee Roth/Electric Light Orchestra bassist Matt Bissonette seemed a fitting substitute in his place).

The timeless power ballad “Can’t Fight This Feeling” found cell phones across the venue aglow before “Son of a Poor Man,” “Time For Me to Fly,” and “Ridin’ the Storm Out” segued into the classic love song “Keep on Loving You” to close things out on an epic high note.

Lastly, there was Train. As I had alluded to earlier, Train is no doubt a band I can’t say I’ve ever gone out of my way to listen to. But I was indeed surprised by the amount of energy displayed by both band and crowd once they hit the stage, opening with the 2003 hit “Calling All Angels.”

Band founder and frontman Pat Monahan had the crowd in the palm of his hands as the group went through tracks like “If It’s Love,” “Get to Me,” and “Save Me, San Francisco,” casually taking selfies on cell phones handed to him via audience members near the front of the stage along the way.

Train frontman Pat Monahan was in the zone this past Tuesday, August 20 in Tampa, FL (Photo by Jacob Striewski).

But alas, by the time the band got to “Meet Virginia/The Joker,” Jacob had long finished shooting his final song of the night in the photo pit, and the two of us were hanging on by a thread after a grueling long day leading up to the event. Knowing we still had that two hour drive ahead of us, we packed up our gear and headed out to the highway (hitting a McDonnald’s drive thru on the way home too of course just for good measure).

Through it all, it was a night of music worth documenting, and memories worth making with my newest Photographer, and one and only child that should no doubt last a lifetime for the both of us.

Styx and Foreigner at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre in Tampa, FL on 7/20/24 Words and Photos By Jesse Striewski

I really was not anticipating making two separate trips to Tampa to see concerts with the family this past week, but sometimes opportunities present themselves that you’ve just got to run with. And while the previous weekend’s Sammy Hagar show was filled with nonstop rain that found us all drenched to the bone, classic rockers Styx and Foreigner at the MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre this past Saturday, 7/20 was a relatively dry (albeit humid) night in comparison.

Traffic did however cause Brooke, Jacob and I to be late enough to miss the entirety of John Waite’s set, although we could still hear the faint echos of what sounded like a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Whole Lotta Love” closing out his set on our way into the venue (thankfully I had already seen Waite once before back in 2012).

For as long as I can remember, Foreigner have been an American (and technically also British) institution, and we were ready for the very first notes of opener “Double Vision” on what is likely the band’s “farewell” tour of sorts (dubbed the Renegades & Juke Box Heroes Tour on paper). Classics like “Head Games,” “Cold as Ice,” “Waiting For a Girl Like You,” “Dirty White Boy,” “Feels Like the First Time,” and “Urgent” (which it’s very possible I’ve done at least one of these at karaoke at some point in my life) all filled the evening air.

An admirable drum solo by former Eddie Money, Steve Vai, and Whitesnake drummer Chris Frazier signaled a brief reprieve (although not for the one obnoxious drunk girl directly in front of us – on her feet and dancing the entire show – even during the drum solo! That’s a new one indeed) before the band stormed back with “Juke Box Hero.”

Foreigner getting the crowd primed properly in Tampa, FL on 7/20/24 (Photo by Jesse Striewski).

Lead singer Kelly Hansen brought the crowd to its feet and had them singing along (with the assistance of the Plant High School Chorus behind him to boot) on arguably still one of the greatest power ballads ever written and performed, 1984’s “I Want to Know What Love Is,” before finally ending the night with the classic hard-hitting anthem “Hot Blooded”

Seeing the likes of the previously-mentioned Hansen and Frazier, as well as former Dokken bassist/Rewind It Magazine interviewee Jeff Pilson, all performing these timeless classics on stage together was no doubt a moment in time that I’m glad was not missed. Perhaps the only other thing I would’ve really liked to have seen would’ve been at least a brief appearance from lone original guitarist Mick Jones, but I won’t complain too much after a set as stellar as theirs!

Styx is another one of those bands that have just always been there too, whether at the forefront or in the background, making up the soundtracks of our lives for decades. If memory serves me correctly I’ve danced (or tried to anyway) with at least one girl to one of their songs in my lifetime, most likely at a school function (or was that just an episode of Freaks and Geeks?).

After numerous missed chances to catch the band live over the years, that finally ended once the band took stage with “The Grand Illusion.” Tommy Shaw’s “Too Much Time on My Hands” had the crowd eating out of his before the band slowed things down for 1973’s “Lady,” largely regarded to be the first true rock power ballad of all time.

“Lorelei,” “Crash of the Crown,” “Miss America,” and “Rockin’ in Paradise” all kept the crowd going well enough prior to them finally breaking out the big guns. “Blue Collar Man (Long Nights),” “The Best of Times,” “Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)” and of course, “Come Sail Away” gave the audience the biggest bang for their bucks that night.

After exiting the stage in typical fashion, the band returned for an encore that included the unmistakable “Mr. Roboto” before finally closing it out with “Renegade.” To say all these songs mentioned here have stood the test of time would be a gross understatement; don’t miss the chance to hear them live if you haven’t already at least once in your lifetime (you’ll be hard-pressed to regret it).

The Orchestra Starring Former Members of ELO at Epcot’s Garden Rocks Series on 3/27/22 By Jesse Striewski/Photos By Brooke Striewski

Earlier this month, Epcot kicked off it’s annual Garden Rocks concert series, which hosts a number of different artists spanning the course of numerous decades. This past weekend featured The Orchestra Starring Former Members of ELO, which not only features members from ’70s and ’80s prog rock outfit Electric Light Orchestra and ELO Part II as their name would suggest, but it should also be noted that former Styx guitarist/bassist Glen Burtnik is a part of the lineup as well. This past Sunday, March 27, Rewind It Magazine was able to make it out to catch one of the band’s many sets over their four day period here.

No doubt that some purists out there will likely scream there’s no ELO without Jeff Lynne leading it, but I’ve always been of the mindset that I’d rather have someone still performing the songs live, rather than no one at all. And after a full day of family fun spent at place like Epcot, what better high note is there to end on then to listen to some classic prog rock?

The band first took stage on this beautiful Florida day at 5:30pm, opening with the massive hit “Evil Woman.” More fan favorites in the form of “Sweet Talkin’ Woman,” “Hold on Tight,” “Can’t Get It Out of My Head,” and “Above the Clouds.” But nothing quite compared to the one-two punch they ended with of “Mr. Blue Sky” and “Don’t Bring Me Down,” at which point the band had the entire crowd standing on their feet.

As much as I wanted to stick around for their next set to see if they played my personal favorite (“Turn to Stone”) or not, we had other places to hit on our agenda before we left the park for the day. But as luck would have it, we had circled almost completely back around by the end of their second set to hear them performing just enough of said song. It was the perfect ending to an already memorable day, one I hope you can experience for yourself someday as well (the band will also be performing one last round of sets at Epcot tonight).

Album Review: Dennis DeYoung – 26 East, Vol. 1 (Frontiers Music srl)

Dennis De Young - Edited (1)

By: Jesse Striewski

Former Styx frontman Dennis DeYoung is back with his long-awaited latest solo album, (his first of new material in over a decade). And although the title states “Vol. 1,” it almost feels like a “goodbye” of sorts (hopefully I’m way off on that one, though).

In all honesty, 26 East, Vol. 1 doesn’t start off as strong as it could; album opener “East of Midnight” is more or less just there, while “With All Due Respect” manages to be catchy, yet reaches near cring-worthy levels lyrically in an attempt to be timely. But things quickly turnaround, with tracks like “A Kingdom Ablaze,” “You My Love,” and “Damn That Dream” all invoking the true spirit of DeYoung’s usual m.o. There’s even a brief throwback to Styx classic “The Best of Times” in the form of “A.D. 2020” thrown in for good measure.

But the album reaches its definite peak with “To the Good Old Days,” a bittersweet duet with Julian Lennon that’s as much a tribute to The Beatles as it is a look back on DeYoung’s entire life/career. Whether you’re a die hard fan of his music or not, DeYoung has undoubtedly left a legacy in that’s nothing short of amazing. And if this is to be his swan song, there’s definitely worse ways to go out.

Rating: 3.5/5 Stars