Dio concert review; October 9th, 1994 by Robert Bartz

The following is a review of a concert on the Strange Highways US tour, originally posted to alt.music.deep-purple.

From: rbartz@nyx10.cs.du.edu (Robert Bartz)
Subject: Review - Dio show, 09/10/94
Date: 10 Sep 1994 23:52:16 -0600

As I hoped, Dio can still play with the best of them, as I saw at his show tonight in Buffalo, NY. Playing to a sold-out crowd, the band put on one of the best shows I've seen in a LONG time. Atomic Opera opened the show, and they were ok. Nothing spectacular. Here's the set list for Dio as far as I can remember.

• Jesus, Mary and the Holy Chain (or whatever it's called)
• Strange Highways
• Don't Talk to Strangers
• Pain/Guitar solo/Pain
• Mob Rules
• Holy Diver
• Man on the Silver Mountain
• Drum solo/Heaven and Hell
• Evilution
• Give Her the Gun (I think)
• Stand Up and Shout
• Last in Line
First encore
• Rainbow in the Dark
• We Rock
Second encore
• Here's to You/Long Live Rock 'n Roll/Here's to you(I guess, don't know it)

Musically, great job overall. Tracy G was ok, but I would have rather have seen Vivian back again. Jeff Pilson and Appice were fantastic. Dunno who the keyboardist was (Tony Carey?), but he did fine. Since I work at my college radio station, I had a pass to meet Dio after the show. Well, as much as I would have liked to, we waited for about 30-40 minutes after the show, but they were still busy putting stuff on the bus, etc. and since I had a 45 minute drive back home, I really couldn't wait that much longer. Oh well, maybe another time. Don't miss this show if it comes your way. Tapio was right, Dio's back in full swing.