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With the sad death of Neil Peart, Rush were no more, and the term the Holy Triumvirate – lovingly bestowed on them by their legion of fans – was laid to rest. You would be hard-pressed to find a band more respected (by fans and peers alike) in the rock world than Rush, and the fact that the band featured the same 3 members for 40+ years makes it all the more special. Comparisons between Rush and The Winery Dogs are easy to make. Although musically, the acts are very different, both are power trios featuring musicians at the very top of their respective games. And if you wanted to go further down the rabbit hole regarding power trio comparisons, Cream would have to enter the conversation. That sense of improvisation and instrumental proficiency that made Cream burn brightly for 3 all-too-brief years is very much evident in the makeup of The Winery Dogs. And just like Messrs Clapton, Bruce, and Baker, it’s when Richie Kotzen, Mike Portnoy, and Billy Sheehan step onto the stage that The Winery Dogs really spread their wings and take flight.
So after a month-long Summer jaunt around Europe, and a short burst of dates in England, The Winery Dogs are back for an extended run that takes them through until early November, and acting as special guests on the UK leg are hotly-tipped rising stars of the NWOCR movement: Scarlet Rebels.
With Mike Portnoy’s drumkit pushed closer to the front of the stage rather than hidden in the darkness at the back, there is not much room for the Rebels to move around, but none of this matters a jot as the Official UK Top 10 band batter their way through a short set that certainly makes an impression on all those encountering the Llanelli boyos for the first time. ‘See Through Blue’ (#7 UK Official Album Chart Feb 2022, no less) is a politically-charged modern-day classic full to the brim with some killer riffs from spinning-top guitarist Chris Jones and passionate storytelling from frontman Wayne Doyle that has the UK government, and politicians in general, in the crosshairs. The material aired from the album tonight is pretty damn special: opener ‘I’m Alive’ is a joyous affirmation of life with a chorus begging to be screamed from the mountain tops, and at times ‘Take You Home’ sparks a few thoughts of GNR’s ‘You Could Be Mine’ – the intelligent, light guitar tones from Jones during the mid-section are especially noteworthy, as is his wah-wah-infused solo. But the Springsteen-Manics-Soul Asylum strains of ‘These Days’ take top honours. As far as opening acts go, it’s a case of job done, and the Rebels leave the stage with a few more hundred converts quickly hitting the all-important “follow” button on social media.
Right up until just before the very moment that The Winery Dogs take to the stage, Mike Portnoy’s drumkit stays under wraps. It’s been under wraps the entire evening so far. If the idea behind this is to build up anticipation then it certainly works as a huge roar goes up once the covers are off and the houselights reflect off the stunning kit. It’s not as big as you might have expected (titter ye not). Still, it is something to behold. Studious drum-heads in the crowd are drooling, and angling themselves so that they can peer through the floor equipment and watch his jaw-dropping footwork; that single kick drum is taking a battering on the breakneck speed of opening number ‘Gaslight’ (such a great opener, and one that bears all the hallmarks of Billy Sheehan’s seminal band Talas). Kotzen is stage left, with Sheehan on the opposite side, and it’s fascinating watching them during ‘Gaslight’ as each takes a brief moment in the spotlight to solo while the other takes a step backward and plays a supporting role.
The musicianship on display from all 3 is staggering (are there any superlatives left that haven’t been used to describe Sheehan?), but without songs of quality, that wouldn’t add up to much. ‘Xanadu’ is a beaut. As are the 3-part harmonies on a funk-filled track that has Richie Kotzen hitting the high notes with ease. Kotzen is a revelation. A guitar player who is incredibly easy on the eye, he has foregone using a guitar pick and instead goes with fingerpicking, and like industry leaders in that style – Mark Knopfler and the much-missed Jeff Beck – his phrasing is at times beautiful, especially on the Hendrix-like ‘Hot Streak’ and the excellent strutting hard rock intro of ‘Desire’ – always a thrill when the latter takes a diversion down a more funk-filled path in a Trapeze-like way (another stellar power trio). The Zeppelin-esque ‘Time Machine’ comes with a bluesy, swampy guitar intro from Kotzen, and new track ‘Stars’ features a gorgeous extended solo from the guy who, let’s be honest here, was the only good thing about Poison. It is Kotzen’s vocals, however, that are the surprise of the evening. Featuring Kotzen at the electric piano, ‘Regret’ is a beautiful piece of music and a song that Chris Cornell could easily have produced for the ‘Singles’ soundtrack. Kotzen’s name often gets thrown into the ring when it comes to a Soundgarden one-off tribute evening to the God-like Chris Cornell, and while no one should ever have to carry the burden of trying to replicate Cornell’s vocals, Kotzen would do a great job (as would arguably Jack Black).
Somewhat surprisingly, Mike Portnoy only has a short drum solo, choosing to impress time and time again with jaw-dropping work within each song, even on the quieter moments where he displays a deft touch when called upon, and it’s easy to see why he is so highly regarded by his peers – love, love, love the rat-at-tat-at intro to ‘The Red Wine’. Billy Sheehan has the longest solo, and while giants such as Stanley Clarke and Marcus Miller are often tied for GOAT status in the same way that Messi and Ronaldo are for football – Sheehan is Pelé sitting in the corner with a knowing grin on his face. If there is a better bassist on the rock scene today then would they please make themself known? And considering that Billy has been wowing since Talas released their debut album in 1979, he has been at the top of his game for 6 decades now.
Ending on the hard rock majesty of ‘Elevate’ (from 2013’s self-titled debut album), Portnoy is down from his kit and smiling like a loon as Sheehan flashes peace signs and high-fives the front row. Kotzen has the look of someone who has just won the lottery. Only, for Kotzen, his lottery win is that he gets to be part of the Holy Triumvirate Version 2.0 on a nightly basis.
Catch The Winery Dogs on tour through October and November, all dates here.
Review – Dave
All live images – Ritchie Birnie
