All-Star jams have been around for many years. These “jam sessions”, sometimes impromptu, and sometimes preplanned, have spanned musical genres from Country, to Hip-Hop, to Pop, to Rock, and everything in between, as laid testimony to by The Three Tenors ( Domingo, Carreras, and Pavarotti ). Tonight was something a little different, called Monster Circus. Would it hold up to the usual, it’s okay, or would it go down in flames, or would it set Sin City ablaze in a Rock-N-Roll Fire???
Monster Circus is comprised of Bruce Kulick – ( Union, Kiss, Billy Squire, Blackjack, The Good Rats, Michael Bolton, ESP, and Meat Loaf ), Jon Corabi – ( Angora, ESP, Union, The Scream, Motley Crue, Ratt, Twenty 4 Seven, Zen Lunatic, Brides of Destruction, and Angel City Outlaws ), Rudy Sarzo– ( Quiet Riot, Ozzy Osbourne, Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force, Whitesnake, Manic Eden, Dio, M.A.R.S.( MacAlpine/Aldridge/Rock/ Sarzo ), and Blue Oyster Cult ), Tony Montana – ( Great White ), Fred Coury– ( Chastain, London, Cinderella, Arcade, and Gun’s N’ Roses ), and guest host for the evening, and the month of March, and reported for May as well, Dee Snider – ( Twisted Sister, Desperado, Widowmaker, SMF’s, and Bent Brother ). With a band made of up such great musicians, there should be no reason to walk out disappointed at the end of the night. This was to hold true in every aspect of this night, but I had little idea of what was in store.
( Interrupted by The Blonde ( aka Robin Roth, who covers many of our great events ))
“LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THIS CONCERT, MONSTER CIRCUS AT THE HILTON HOTEL!
It was really so cool to be a part of this happening. It reminded me of the way old fashioned rock and roll concerts used to be; fun, loud, and singing along with the band. I didn’t really expect much and maybe that is why I was so taken back by the whole experience. Listening to all these 80’s hits was a blast.
I mean really, watching Rock LEGENDS: Rudy Sarzo (Dio and Whitesnake, Quiet Riot and Ozzy Osbourne)), John Corabi (Motley Crue and Ratt), Fred Coury (Cinderella), Bruce Kulick (KISS), Tony Montana (Great White) all united together to form one great show, and one great band was nothing short of awesome….
I had a ball. What you say, Mark?”
As I was starting to say, the show starts out with Sicko, the appropriately named Clown Ringmaster, who decides that this band is here for his amusement, and he wants to be entertained. There is a live ringmaster as well, who in conversations throughout the show, seems to make the proverbial “Deal With The Devil”, so that he too can become the “great ringmaster”. He is asked by Sicko, before getting his wish, if he is sure this is what he wants, and he is sure he knows what he is getting himself into. The show is a great Rock-N-Roll show, combined with elements of a circus and Cirque Du Soleil ( with all of the great acrobatics of those shows, and if I remember hearing correctly, there are girls form the Cirque shows there performing these great acrobatic feats ).
( Again interrupted, hmmm…..This is starting to become a trend here )
“Didn’t you just love watching Rudy running all around the stage, flipping his hair all over, singing his, his, well singing his, his……singing as rock was intended! His energy is amazing. He was very entertaining even between songs with his stories. I also, loved John’s performance and I totally love his voice… May I add that he’s so cute too….”
“All these guys deserve a huge bravo.” Hey Robin, don’t you have a plane to catch? LOL!!! She is right though. The show is absolutely nothing short of awesome, and spectacular!!! Great observations, Robin!
The set lists comprises great Hard Rock/Heavy Metal standards and favorites such as “Is This Love”, “Back In Black”, “Highway To Hell”, “We’re Not Gonna Take It”, and “I Wanna Rock”. There is even audience participation where they bring a member of the audience to play Guitar Hero, while the band jams. Dee Snider would be right there with the crowd and even go most all of the way to the back seats and sing along with the fans. This is a dream come true for many rock fans, and it gave us the opportunity to see many of our favorite rock stars, up close and personal, in a very intimate setting.
I have been to many concerts, and this ranks up there as one of the great ones, I mean with a lineup such as this, you can hardly argue. The performers all did what we used to se years ago, and haven’t seen in the last several years at many a concert, HAVE FUN!!! The performances were flawless, from the vocal of Jon Corabi, Dee Snider, and Tony Montana, to the bass work of Rudy Sarzo, to the drum styles and techniques of Fred Coury, to the double, and sometimes triple, threat guitar attack of Bruce Kulick, Tony Montana, and Jon Corabi. To see our favorite musicians playing their hearts out up on the big stage as if it was the 1980’s again was awesome, but done in such a way that it really is a “Timeless Rock-N-Roll heaven” brought down here to earth. From great drumming, to awesome guitar riffs and licks, to vocals that still ring in my ears today, Rock-N-Roll Bliss!! These are the things, as headbangers, that we fondly remember and have sorely missed for more than one too many years. Monster Circus has everything one could want in a concert, and then some! Everyone had a blast and many came out singing there favorite songs, and everyone talked about what a great show this was. I am in total agreement. I am glad this is here for us to enjoy, and for the memories it brings back. I could not have asked for anything more. To quote The Who, “Long Live Rock……Be It Dead or Alive”!!!
The Set List for the night is as follows ( Special Thanks to Melissa Michaels and Bruce Kulick for arranging for me to have the set list to place here. )
Live Wire
Shout It Out Loud
Back In Black
Is This Love
Once Bitten, Twice Shy
You’ve Got Another Thing Comin’
That’s Life
We’re Not Gonna Take It
Crazy Train
I Wanna Rock
Highway To Hell
Hot For Teacher
Dream On
Paradise City
Metal Health
