This was part of a big music and arts festival the city of Cuyahoga Falls
puts on every year. On the plus side admission was free. On the
downside, it was raining the entire time. And even worse, there was a
completely inappropriate opening act called The Sugar Daddies. They
played an uninspired set of cover tunes which caused me a great deal of
pain.
The rain and the pain were forgotten once BOC hit the stage, though.
Sure, these guys are old but they still put on a hell of a good live show.
Due to curfew restrictions they didn't play nearly as long as when I saw
them a few years ago at Fagans (they played about 2 hours that time) but it
was still a satisfying show. It's a shame that the Bouchard brothers
are no longer in the band, but drummer Bobby Rondinelli and bass player ---
did a fine job of filling their shoes.
The band opened with the instrumental "Buck's Boogie" and followed it up
with "E.T.I.". Most of the expected hits were played ("Burnin' For
You", "Cities on Flame", "Godzilla", and of course "Don't Fear the Reaper")
but so were hardcore fan favorites like "Harvester of Eyes" and "Now Came
the Last Days of May". The band even played one song, "Pocket", from
their last album 'The Hidden Mirror'. Many of the songs featured
extended (although not to the point of the Grateful Dead or anything) jams.
"Don't Fear the Reaper" was the last song of the set, and there was actually
a guy behind the amps doing nothing but hitting a cowbell. If you've
ever seen the sketch on SNL about the recording of this song, you couldn't
help but laugh a little. The band then returned for a quick
encore of "Dominance and Submission". (Bob Ignizio)
