By Brent Michael, Rock At Night Tampa Senior Correspondent
Venue: MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Amphitheatre, Tampa, Florida–August 20th, 2024
Band Websites: Yacht Rock Revue, REO Speedwagon, Train
Band Facebook: Yacht Rock Revue, REO Speedwagon, Train
It was a Neil Diamond kind of night – but it’s 2024, not 1972, which ironically was the same year Kevin Cronin first joined REO Speedwagon. Did he imagine, 52 years later, that he’d still be performing on those hot August nights? We’ll probably never know, but it seems like he’s enjoyed those years and still is!
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Before the wagon rode into town, a yacht brought us a few more comfortable tunes. Now they’re a cover band, and cover bands don’t get the respect they deserve. That’s not just my opinion, but the opinion of some major talents. I recall an interview one time, I think it was with David Crosby but I can’t swear to it, where he said something like, “I have great respect for local bands who go out and play our music, and other bands’ music, often a wide range of songs, and still sound more like the studio recording than we do live!”
Yacht Rock Revue could be the band he was talking about, if it hadn’t been too many years ago I heard that interview. Essentially, there are three different types of cover bands: tribute bands, who pick one or two artists and try to emulate not only the music but the look and visual stylings of the original. I know Elvis impersonators are the first thing that comes to mind, but there are now excellent tribute bands for hundreds of successful artists, like Rain (Beatles tribute), The Purple Experience (Prince tribute) or Keep the Faith (Bon Jovi tribute). Considering you’d have to raise the dead to see any of the original bands, they bring a close experience and keep the music alive for younger audiences. Then there are artists who cover other artists work but in their own style, like Disturbed doing “The Sounds of Silence,” or Motley Crüe doing “Smokin’ in the Boys Room.” Finally, you have what I consider the toughest job of all: Imitating dozens of artists with varying styles and trying to reproduce them as accurately as possible, which Yacht Rock Revue manages to do quite well. Soft rock is their genre, but that includes Steely Dan, Christopher Cross, Styx, Atlanta Rhythm Section (their hometown), John Mayer, and more. They travel often, so look for them in Texas, California, Washington, Ontario, Indiana, New Jersey, and more this year!
Okay, NOW I can talk about REO! Technically, the band formed in 1967, and no original members were present, but Kevin Cronin (Vocals, Rhythm Guitar) joined them in 1972 for a time, then rejoined in 1976, and wrote their biggest hits including their first top 40 hit, “Roll With The Changes,” and their first number one, “Keep On Loving You,” so he’s been leading the band for as long as most of us have known them. Bruce Hall is still their official bassist, though his back surgery required a touring replacement by Matt Bissonette, who has played with many major stars including David Lee Roth, Ringo Starr, Elton John, Joe Satriani, a “Who’s Who” of the rock world. Lead guitarist and vocalist Dave Amato has been with REO since 1989, after playing with Ted Nugent and Bon Jovi’s Richie Sambora. He has also toured extensively with Cher, and has done studio background vocals for various groups from Petra to Motley Crue. Busy guy!
Bryan Hitt was chosen by the band in 1990 after a two-day audition featuring some of the finest drummers in Los Angeles. He has toured with Wang Chung and The Spencer Davis Group and was much in demand as an L.A. session player until joining REO. Neal Doughty was a founding member of REO Speedwagon, the only one still in the current line-up, but for touring purposes he has been replaced by Derek Hilland (formerly of Iron Butterfly) Musically, they were not missing a thing, riding the storm of applause from supportive Tampa fans! Hailing from Champaign, Illinois, I was a fan when they were still a regional band, so my first time seeing them brought back many memories, including winning a dance contest with an impromptu partner (who I never saw again) in an ABC Liquor Lounge (complete with rotating bar) in 1982, dancing to “Time for Me to Fly!” We won real money, $50, which in 1982 was still a good chunk of change instead of a bar tab!
Guess who dropped in, and dropped streamers from Jupiter, next? Yes, it was Train, playing many of their hits – and I’d forgotten just how many there are – and even their new single, “Long Yellow Dress,” which demonstrated that they’re still in the game! The band’s current lineup includes original member Pat Monahan on lead vocals and percussion (1994–2006, 2009–present) Jerry Becker tickling the keyboards, strumming rhythm guitar, and singing backing vocals (2008–present), Hector Maldonado, thumping the bass and lending his backing vocals (2009–present), Matt Musty punishing the drums and percussion (2019–present), and Taylor Locke shredding lead guitar when called for, caressing when not, and backing vocals (2021–present). They played “Meet Virginia, Marry Me, Hey Soul Sister, Calling All Angels, Bruises,” and of course, “Drops of Jupiter,” along with other hits and a cover or two in their own style.
The San Francisco-based band has had several songs placed in movies and TV shows, but is also involved in charity work – and supporting equality. In 2012, Train demanded that the Family First New Zealand, an organization that opposes same-sex marriage in New Zealand, refrain from the unauthorized use of “Marry Me” from its “Protect Marriage” website. Train was scheduled to perform at the Boy Scouts of America’s 2013 National Scout Jamboree, along with singer Carly Rae Jepsen, but in March 2013, both backed out of performing for the event and cited the controversy over the BSA policy on gays as the reason. Train released a statement saying the band “strongly opposes any kind of policy that questions the equality of any American citizen.” That’s called having principles!
The tour across the US with REO continues, or you could sail across the sea with them and other artists like Matt Nathanson or Living Colour in February of 2025 on their Sail Across the Sun cruise!
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When not in custody, I've been involved with music, photography, and writing my entire life. Ever since I was a young boy and played those silver tunes, I've had the beat, but being a drummer didn't suit me so I became a lead singer, which lasted a few years. Settling down, sort of, I translated my knowledge of audio and glib tongue into mobile emcee work, and my training as a photographer and videographer into a living in the wedding, party, bar/bat mitzvah, and entertainment industry. During this time I also managed to bamboozle my way into a master's degree in writing, worked for a couple of magazines (yes, I took photos for a nudist magazine!), have photographed hotels, done commercial work (shot the cover of Tablet and Capsule magazine), published a few articles, hosted some public access shows (a couple times in drag, but that's another story), and generally made a nuisance of myself until I landed here.
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