Having never been to the Honeywell Center, we were pleasantly surprised by a world class theatre and community facility in the small town of Wabash, Indiana. The theatre is amazing
and seems to draw audiences from the local area and probably within 50 miles. Other events schedule to perform there this year include a range of acts from Charlie Daniels to Whitesnake.

Blues legend Buddy Guy was A-1, atop his game at the age of 78. Having influenced players as from the Rolling Stones, to Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jeff Beck, and Billy Gibbons, Guy gave a lengthy show of guitar riffs and plenty of flash to prove he still has what it takes and more.

Decked out in his traditional black and white polka dots, Buddy Guy played and sang like a man in his 30's, not about to be slowed by his age. The language may have been a little rough for some of the children in attendence, but no one was leaving early. He was playful with the audience and had a good sense of humor. Cat calls from the audience were answered with razor sharp wit. Part way through the show, Buddy ventured out the side of the stage and teased the audience in the middle section of the theatre. Later, her ventured out the other side of the stage to do more of the same, only this time, Buddy climbed the stairs of the first tier, cut across a row of near empty seats at the back of the theatre, then climbed more stairs to the balcony. All the while, his wireless guitar rig allowed him to play the blues throughout his adventure.

The Smiley Tillmon Band relied heavily on guitarist Kate Moss and announced her name to the audience as many times as possible throughout their set. While she had some licks to be sure, she seemed a bit stiff and less natural than a more seasoned blues player like Smiley Tillmon.

BUDDY GUY
SMILEY TILLMON

It is worth repeating that Reckless Kelly is a seasoned, road warrior band from Austin, TX who delivers a fine concert, show after show, city after city, year after year. One of the finest red dirt outfits you'll ever see, the guys give it their all night after night. For that reason, I very much looked forward to this show, a little time off work and a night in Chicago.Things went as planned. Despite a little traffic getting up to the Windy City, we managed to check in at the hotel, have a few drinks at the bar and head over to the show just in time for Paul Cauthen's band. We bellied up to the back bar and ordered some cold Shiner to get the evening started. I can't say that I much cared for Paul Cauthen, as I am not typically a fan of the trumpet, which was included in his set. I don't know it just always sounds a little Mexicali to me or I get a headache from it, but otherwise a worthy opening act.

By the time Reckless Kelly came on, about 10:00, Joe's was packed with fans. And RK just burned through a solid set. I always prefer a set that favors more of the Bulletproof or Good Luck and True Love albums, but this set rocked none the less. Crazy Eddie's Last Hurrah was featured only 4 songs into the evening, with an intro from Willy Braun asking if the house recalled a red dirt band called Cross Canadian Ragweed. Well that was enough to light the place up. Ragweed had of course held their final show at Joe's a few years back. So the band decided to play the Ragweed - Live at Billy Bob's Texas version of Crazy Eddie.

RECKLESS KELLY SETLIST:

Always a Friend
My Love Will Not Let You Down (Bruce Springsteen cover)
A Guy Like Me
Crazy Eddie's Last Hurrah (Ragweed version)
Good Luck and True Love
Nobody's Girl
The Ballad of Tommy & Marla
Wild Western Windblown Band
Wicked Twisted Road
Mein Deutsches Motorrad (Corb Lund cover)
Seven Nights in Eire
Motel Cowboy Show
Ragged as the Road
Every Step of the Way
Vancouver
Break My Heart Tonight
Little Blossom
Hit The Ground Runnin'
Tonight I'll Be Staying Here With You (Bob Dylan cover)

Encore:
Little Mama
1952 Vincent Black Lightning (Richard Thompson cover)
Runnin' Down a Dream (Tom Petty cover)

RECKLESS KELLY
PAUL CAUTHEN

This was an adventure above just attending an average concert. I was supposed to leave Indianapolis to drive to Chicago at 3:00 in the afternoon. Could not get away, so I re-set my plan to leave by 4:00. That didn't work either. I finally hit the road around 5:00 and of course immediately ran into traffic problems on the interstate between Indianapolis and Chicago. Once I reached the Skybridge, though, I was able to make up some time and arrived at Joe's Bar, one of my favorite concert venues, about 40 minutes before doors opened. Had time for a few beers and a chance to decompress from a long week and a tense commute to Chicago.

Mike and The Moonpies were impressive. Mike, backed by a six piece band delivered about an hour's worth of quality music, which was a nice compliment to the headliner.

This time around, The Departed sported a change in personnel. Long gone is Seth James and now Steve Littleton and Chris Doege are departed as well. Core members Cody Canada and Jeremy Plato are now partnered with Eric Hansen, formerly Mike McClure Band, and Ross Smith, formerly Wade Bowen Band. There is a renewed sense of chemistry in the band that works well. I always though the 5 piece band with Seth James was forced and never really came together properly. The current version seems like the one. It finds Cody Canada in the band we thought he was going to form at the end of Ragweed. So a little creative detour, but now back to business.

Worth noting, this is an excellent band! They're versatile with Ross Smith playing both keys and guitar. Cody now includes a fair amount of the work he created while in Ragweed into the set and the crowd in Chicago loved it. The set is a nice blend of the best of The Departed music, some covers that absolutely delight and of course, the Ragweed material. And with a brand new album worth of Departed music that is equally impressive as anything Canada did in Ragweed, this band is ready to reclaim its rightful place in Red Dirt music.

SETLIST:
Inbetweener
Easy
I’m Just An Old Chunk Of Coal (Billy Joe Shaver cover)
Smoke Another
Sister
Pay
Worth The Fight
Constantly
Betty Was Black And Willie Was White (Todd Snider cover)
A-11 (Johnny Paycheck cover)
Great Big Nothin’
Record Exec

CODY CANADA and THE DEPARTED
MIKE and THE MOONPIES

Todd Snider, always entertaining, no matter what. Musically, not the best show I've ever seen him perform, but always entertaining. The set list speaks for itself. The stories seemed a little tired from previous performances over the years, however, always the storyteller, Snider came up with some new stories that made us all laugh. That's why we go. It seemed that the first few songs, Snider was not at all at ease and his guitar playing was downright lousy. He did seem to find his rhythm somewhere four or five songs into the show. The crowd was particularly rowdy and many were just there to socialize with their friends and not to listen. I always find this disturbing at any concert. Why pay the ticket price to chit chat? Anyway, the crowd was a bit rowdy as I mentioned before and the police escorted a few fans out. Well, I say they were fans. They were disruptive and they needed to go.While at the show, I did a little shopping and purchased the East Nashville Tonight DVD. I watched it the next day and it was almost like getting to see two Todd Snider shows in the same weekend.

The Vogue had a bar special called Beer and a Buddy. You could buy any Sun King beer product and get a shot of anything from the well for $1 more. At my age that doesn't work out well, because it takes too long to recover the next day.

Sarah Potenza. Well I read a good deal about her before the show and it was my understanding that she is a real up and comer from the East Nashville music scene. I was really looking forward to her set, but all of her songs kinda sounded the same to me.

TODD SNIDER SETLIST:
Can't Complain
Alright Guy
Beer Run
Age Like Wine
The Crawdad Song (Woody Guthrie cover)
D.B. Cooper
Looking for a Job
Easy Money
It's Only Rock 'n' Roll (Rolling Stones cover)
Broke
Conservative Christian, Right Wing, Republican, Straight, White, American Males
Statistician's Blues
Play a Train Song
Folsom Prison Blues (Johnny Cash cover)
Tension
Too Soon to Tell
Greencastle Blues
Stuck on the Corner (Prelude to a Heart Attack)
Johnny B. Goode (Chuck Berry cover)
Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys (Ed Bruce cover)
If Tomorrow Never Comes
Good Fortune
Free Bird (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)

Encore:
Big Finish
This Land Is Your Land (with Elizabeth Cook)

TODD SNIDER
SARAH POTENZA

No one sounds bad in Clowes Memorial Hall. It just doesnt happen. This venue is outstanding for acoustics. It is truly a privilege for artists to perform here and for fans to enjoy a concert, ballet or theatre production. This show broke the mold, unfortunately. Ive been a fan of Diana Krall for several years and very much looked forward to this show with anticipation. I was disappointed that this was not a solo piano show, but backed by a large band featuring fiddle, guitar, another keyboard as if that seemed necessary, and a stand up bass. The band sounded quite professional and actually seemed to steal some of the show from Krall herself. The 90 minute set included solos from all of the supporting musicians, including three drum solos. This seemed to significantly diminish the entire reason that I purchased tickets to the show. Diana Krall, for her part, seemed barely there, as if the evening were in fact a rehearsal instead of a concert performance. She seemed ill at ease talking to the audience, although she attempted to do so anyway. So there is a first time for everything and unfortunately Diana Krall was not that impressive here.

DIANA KRALL SETLIST:
We Just Couldnt Say Goodbye (Harry Woods)
There Aint No Sweet Man Thats Worth The Salt of My Tears (Fred Fisher)
Just Like A Butterfly Thats Caught In The Sun (Mort Dixon)
On The Sunny Side of The Street (Jimmy McHugh)
Let It Rain (Hal Dyson)
Temptation (Tom Waits)
Lets Face The Music And Dance (Irving Berlin)
Love Will Find a Way (Noble Sissle)
The Frim Fram Sauce (Nat King Cole)
A Case of You (Joni Mitchell)
California Dreamin (Mamas and Papas)
Operator - Thats Not The Way It Feels (Jim Croce)
Just You Just Me (Jesse Greer)
You Call It Madness Russ Columbo)
Deed I Do (Fred Rose)

ENCORE:
East of The Sun and West of The Moon (Brooks Bowman)
Wallflower (Bob Dylan)

DIANA KRALL

This band tours on a limited basis and adds the occasional show here and there, so this was a great opportunity to catch Sammy Hagar backed by Michael Anthony, Jason Bonham and Vic Johnson. This line up provides the Red Rocker to perform a range of songs from Montrose, solo eras before and after Van Halen, Van Halen of course, and Led Zeppelin. Fand have dubbed the group Red Zeppelin, which has a better ring to it than The Circle.

Nevertheless, I approached the show with some sense of apprehension; after all Hagar turns 68 this year. I wasnt real certain that he would still sound good. Not only did Sammy Hagar sound good my friends, he sounded great, never better. There was no opening act for this show, but a whole lotta rock-n-roll.

SAMMY HAGAR and THE CIRCLE SETLIST:
Theres Only One Way To Rock
Rock Candy
Good Times Bad Times
Poundcake
I Cant Drive 55
Right Now
Whole Lotta Love
Little White Lie
When The Levee Breaks
Why Cant This Be Love
Heavy Metal
Mas Tequila
Dreams
Red
Rock and Roll

SAMMY HAGAR and THE CIRCLE

First time to visit this venue and what a nice place. A fraction the size of most sheds across the country, Freedom Hill provides concert goers with an intimate atmosphere for music, featuring a pavilion about one third the size of most and a very limited lawn area. Nestled in the north suburbs of Deroit, this was a perfect venue for this show.

Toto led off the evening with a rejuvenated band featuring Steve Lukather, Steve Porcaro, David Paich, Joseph Williams and David Hungate. The band also was supported by Lenny Castro on percussion, Shannon Forrest on drums and back up singers. Considering the band had virtually called it quits a few years ago, they were back with a new album and tour. The sound was near perfect and many fans left the show immediately after.

Yes unfortunately lost co-founder Chris Squire to leukemia earlier this summer. The evening started with a pre-recorded memorial to Squire on the monitors above the stage, showing photos of the bassist over the years, mixed with images of drifting through the stars and heavens. Meanwhile the song, Onward, played in the backround as the band took the stage in the darkness. Realizing the band is now represented by Steve Howe (guitar), Geoffrey Downes (keyboards), and Alan White (drums), it is strange to note that this is the first tour that Squire has ever missed in the bands long history. Replacing Squire is longtime band associate, Billy Sherwood, who was quite capable throughout the evening. Squire, of course a co-founder of the group, was partner to vocalist Jon Anderson, who has not been part of the band for several years. While Andersons unique vocal talent must be difficult to replace, a couple of musicians have tried. This time around, Glass Hammer vocalist, John Davison sang with the band. I'm not particularly a Davison fan. I think he sounds good if you close your eyes and listen, but a little flamboyant for my taste on stage. His presence takes over the show a bit too much.

TOTO SETLIST:
Running Out of Time
Ill Supply the Love
Hydra 
Never Enough
Hold the Line
Georgy Porgy 
Pamela
Dave Paich keyboard solo
Great Expectations/Can't You Hear What I'm Saying
Without Your Love
Little Wing/Steve Lukather guitar solo
On the Run/Goodbye Elenore
Orphan
Rosanna/Shannon Forrest drum solo
Africa/Lenny Castro percussion solo

YES SETLIST:
Intro – Onward – Memorial to Christ Squire
Don’t Kill The Whale
Tempus Fugit
America
Going for The One
Time and a Word
The Clap
Ive Seen All Good People
Siberian Khatru
Owner of a Lonely Heart
Roundabout 
Starship Trooper

YES
TOTO

Perfect show, perfect venue. Both bands delivered exceptional shows to a crowded house of fans. The high ceilings and loft atmosphere of the Mercury Ballroom provided roominess and a dazzling light show. The Church for their part performed selections from their most recent album, Further/Deeper and other classics from the past, including Under The Milky Way.

Only two members remain of the Psychedelic Furs, Richard and Tim Butler, flanked by very capable musicians Rich Good (guitar), Amanda Kramer (keyboards), Mars Williams (saxophone), and Paul Garisto (drums). The entire band was lively and delivered a show that was heavy on hits and fan favorites.

THE CHURCH SETLIST:
Block
Reptile
Toy Head
Metropolis
The Dillusionist
Laurel Canyon
You Took
Under The Mily Way
Miami

PSYCHEDELIC FURS SETLIST:
Heartbeat
Mr. Jones
Heaven
Theres A World
Love My Way
Little Miss World
Until She Comes
Susans Strange
The Ghost In You
Only You And I
Wrong Train
Heartbreak Beat
Highwire Days
Danger
Pretty In Pink

ENCORE:
Sister Europe
Sleep Comes Down

THE PSYCHEDELIC FURS
THE CHURCH

The show was poorly attended, which could have been predicted from the digital billboard ads for the show along the interstate as well as the Groupon offering half price lawn and pavilion tickets. At showtime, Kenny Wayne Shepherd and band took the stage to play for roughly a thousand people. Sure, it filled in a bit more throughout their set, but not substantially. Shepherd came with an all star band featuring bassist Tony Franklin and former Stevie Ray Vaughan sideman and drummer, Chris Layton. Of course the camparisons to SRV didnt stop there. Kenny Wayne Shepherd proved he is the king of stratocaster blues riffs these days, mastering all of the best licks from Vaughan, Albert King and others. At the end of the Kenny Wayne Shepherd set, I turned around to see the last rays of late summer sun hitting a near empty lawn. Only the center section was taken.

The Van Halen show, for all its glory, was a toned down show compared to the 2012 and 2007 tours. Oh sure the riffs were there and Eddie Van Halen sounded great, there was no life on the stage whatsoever. Gone is the flaming gong behind Alex Van Halen. Of course Wolfgang Van Halen replaced Michael Anthony, so there is no Jack Daniels bass solo anymore. Eddie doesnt jump and scissors kick like days of old. He played a white guitar nearly all night, without the classic red frankenstein guitar making even the first appearance. Then theres Dave, who clearly cant hit the notes anymore. Hes charming at times with stories of the past, but he could do that on a speaking tour. For my money, and I do pay to see most of these shows, I felt like they put cardboard stand-ups of each band member on the satge and blasted the latest Van Halen Live record on the house PA. Thats how dead this show was. No pulse.

My prediction is that this is the last time we see Van Halen, any version thereof, tackling a large-scale tour of any kind. I'm giving it two stars only because Eddie's solo ruled.

VAN HALEN
KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD

Unforgettable show to the best of my recollection. Band was prime for a small gathering, not even a crowd really. Former Edens Curse singer, Michael Eden, was there. Come to think of it, other than Vinnie Vincent, I cant think of anybody else who got tossed out of his own band. Chip from Enuff Znuff was there of course. Cab ride to the show was memorable - a shout out to the drummer from Nerve for getting us there safely. Special thanks to Gerry Finn for hanging out with me after the show to talk guitars. The band was really nice to us.

Meet & Greet: Chip Znuff who was in the audience for the show

Meet & Greet: Killer Dwarfs: (Russ Graham, Darrell Millar, Johnny Fenton, Gerry Finn)

KILLER DWARFS

A cold, gray and wet day in Indianapolis with no opening act (typical of a Mark Knopfler concert). Knopfler was friedly and warm as he spoke to the audience on occasion, but it was the music that made the show. Backed by a mega capable band of accomplished players, Mark Knopfler scoured his repetoire of literally hundreds of songs for some real gems on this tour. The new allbum, Tracker, was meagerly represented by only two or three songs. Likewise, he drew only two songs from his previous release, Privateering. Pleasant surprises included Going Home, an instrumental from the soundtrack to Local Hero and Father and Son from the film, CAL. Knopfler promised to unearth a few artifacts throughout the show and so he did. From the Dire Straits catalog, a somewhat lackluster version of the obligatory Sultans of Swing. Otherwise outstanding renditions of classics including Romeo and Juliet, Your Latest Trick, On Every Street and So Far Away.

Knopfler's post Dire Straits solo career has spawned a catalog of more work than he ever accomplished with Dire Straits, although lesser known to average fans. This body of work demonstrates Knopfler's continued growth as a song writer, lyricist and guiatrist. Pleasing then that these songs were also well represented throughout the set.

There were few hits of course, but largely it seemed as though the set list was chosen for the overall experience, both for the audience and the band.

MARK KNOPFLER SETLIST
Broken Bones
Corned Beef City
Privateering
Father and Son
Hill Farmers Blues
Skydiver
She's Gone
Your Latest Trick
Romeo and Juliet
Sultans of Swing
Mighty Man
Postcards From Paraguay
Marbletown
On Every Street
Speedway At Nazareth

ENCORE
So Far Away
Going Home: Theme From Local Hero

MARK KNOPFLER

This was a unique event consiting of a drum clinic, a motivational speech, Q and A, live drumming to pre-recorded songs, demonstration and a meet n greet all for $25. Aronoff is more than an accomplished drummer; he is the A list drummer to the stars. He shared many stories about his life and career, including many keys to his success as a drummer and a business man. His passion for life and for drumming was evident throughout the evening.

Meet & Greet: Kenny Aronoff

KENNY ARONOFF