Dio concert review; June 2nd, 1997 by Vadim Lvovich

The following is a review of a Dio show on the second European leg of Angry Machines tour, originally posted to alt.rock-n-roll.metal.

Subject: Re: Dio in Champaign, IL (June 2, 1997)

The Earth has moved and Dio appeared in Mabels in this truly wonderful town which epithomizes all the best in central Illinois Culture (evil grin...)

1.Jesus, mary, and Holy Ghost
2.Straight through the Heart
3.Don't Talk to Strangers
4.Double Monday
5.Catch the Rainbow
6.Mistreated
7.Heaven and hell
8.Stand Up and Shout
9.Holy Diver
10.Hunter of the Heart
11.last in Line
12.Rainbow in the Dark
13.Mob Rules
14.Man on a Silver Mountain
15.Long Live Rock'n'Roll
plus instrumentals from Appice, bass Player, and Grijalva.

First of all, I was rather pleasantly inpressed with the performance in general. Dio seemed to be in an excellent physical shape for 48 year old dwarf, and his voice was still a killer. Wendy was standing in the doors for all duration of the show. Bass player, who's name eludes me, was really excellent, and so was Vinnie Appice. Tracy G played his solo instumental part very well, but I did not like his playing on regular songs as well - maybe, he just is way too small for shoes of even Vivian Campbell.

Overall, the show truly ROCKed. It was long, the man sang a bunch of songs from various eras (see above), he seemed to enjoy himself and spant a lot of time shaking hands and signing autographs. Show was loud, very loud - I had ringing in my ears for next 24 hours. There were several things I did not like - first of all, they seemed to turn their amps way too high, and Dio's voice seemed to be distorted esp. when he hit highs. Opening band was NOT MDB - there were some probably local guys singing AC/DC, Def leppard covers. And the main thing - when any band hits Champaign when school is out, they are doomed to deal with crowd which composes of way too many guys who wish only to get drunk or stoned and way too many barely dressed bimbos who dream only about getting laid. BTW, people were thrown out of the door by a dosen, there were two major brawls, and I was rather pleased with my place at the balcony where I could see everything better than from the floor and avoided being involved in crowd troubles.

Overall, it was an excellent performance, and the man still keep me reasonably faithful, esp. if he eventually undertakes certain lineup changes.

LV - "Stand and fight, liv by your heart"