TESLA - Recap Of Hampton Beach Casino Show Available

TESLA - Recap Of Hampton Beach Casino Show Available



Bravewords.com correspondent Deb Rao has checked in with a recap of TESLA's show at Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton, NH, the last show on the first leg of their Forever More Tour

Tesla wrapped up the first leg of their Forever More Tour at the Hampton Beach Casino in Hampton, NH on Halloween night. For over twenty-two years, Tesla has survived the test of time with their catchy hits and down to earth attitude. Tonight on Halloween at the Hampton Beach Casino, Tesla weaved their magic spell with a two-hour performance that spanned the bands extensive catalog and included seven new songs from their Forever More album, plus a vast array of Tesla hits.

Kicking off the festivities were opening act POP EVIL from Cedar Rapids Michigan. Pop Evil has an alternative pop sound that resembles Shinedown. Pop Evil performed many songs from their latest album, Lipstick On The Mirror including, 'Breathe', 'Somebody Like You' and 'Stepping Stone'. Singer Leigh Kakaty enthuses, "Pop Evil is from Michigan. We are honored to be touring with Tesla. I kind of look at it as winning the World Series."

Tesla hit stage at 9:30 P.M. performing the title track 'Forever More'. Their new material was well received and the new songs were flawlessly performed with much emotion and precision as the band launched into their first single, 'I Wanna Live'. Singer Jeff Keith donned a Football costume with helmet and was in great spirits. Jeff's voice bluesy voice sounded amazingly strong and passionate. Guitarist Frank Hannon shredded the strings with skilled precision, as his guitar playing demonstrated the multi-faceted layers of Tesla that were bluesy, acoustic, and straight ahead rock and roll. The first part of the evening featured many new songs, and the second part of the set included all the Tesla hits such as 'The Way It Is', 'What You Give' and 'Heaven's Trail'.

Highlights of the set included the duelling acoustic guitar work of Frank Hannon and Dave Rude, on the intro to the Tesla hit, 'Love Song'. Tesla also debut their upcoming single, 'Fallin Apart', which is in the 'Love Song' ballad vein, with lyrics that are very personal and real. The evening also included many impromptu sing alongs including on the songs 'Signs' and 'Lil Suzi'.

The audience could not get enough of the Sacramento rock band, as Tesla returned to the stage for three encores which included on the last song of the evening, Pop Evil joining Tesla for a rockin' rendition of 'Free Bird'.

Tonight's Tesla blockbuster performance of new material combined with the signature Tesla hits has survived the test of time. The '80s were a time that knew no boundaries, and tonight here at the Hampton Beach Casino, Tesla, a band that never has relied on living on their past laurels took their fans Into The Now as if it were 1987 all over again.

I had the opportunity to talk with guitarist Frank Hannon about the Forever More tour, Frank comments: "Hampton is like our second home. We love playing here. Tonight is the last night of the first leg of the tour and I can't wait to get home! 'Fallin Apart' is going to be the second single off of Forever More."

Tesla setlist:
'Forever More',
'I Wanna Live',
'Modern Day Cowboy',
'Breakin' Free', 'Hang Tough',
'Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)',
'Mama's Fool',
'So What',
'One Day At A Time',
'The Way It Is',
'Fallin' Apart',
'What You Give',
'Love Song',
'Signs',
'Into The Now',
'Little Suzi',
'Comin' Atcha Live',
'In A Hole Again',
'Edison's Medicine',
'Free Bird' (with Pop Evil).