It was a hot, humid, evening Friday, July 28 in Cincinnati as fans of all ages stood waiting for the doors at Riverfront Live to open for the evenings entertainment. A 2+ hour wait duo to headliner logistical and transportation issues preceded entry keeping the most dedicated and faithful out in the heat, wrapping around the building or in their cars anxiously waiting doors to open. The doors eventually parted with The Eternal Now stationed on stage, ready to play as soon as people walked in hot and bothered and very ready for some live music.
Once in the building the crowd was more than ready to hear and watch the show, anticipating glam metal veterans, Dokken. The bands that can still say they helped shape the MTV audience with a group of classic, timeless hits and equally iconic videos is starting to slowly decrease with time with Dokken still standing tall as a recording/touring band. With a good solid slice of their history represented that night with hits, ballads and classic gems.
The Northern Kentucky gents played a set of unique tunes and musicianship with vocalist Steve Frazier at the helm speeding out a bit of Udo-era Accept into the mic with opener “The Deliverer.” He smiled welcoming everyone, trying to help erase the wait.
The set was definitely not glam oriented though they played to win over the sweating sea of sundrenched metal heads with a unique containment of Judas Priest, Queensrÿche and early Iron Maiden with Roger Dunn pounding the skins dry and Jim Moss and Chad Rahe playing the strings.
It wasn’t a kiss and tell kinda thing, but the “Wishing Well” carried the power and darkness of The Ring with an ‘80s feel and a complimenting guttural tip of the hat to Tim ‘Ripper’ Owens. Though finding a working VCR now a days would definitely keep any unwanted vengeful spirits at bay.
If you could’ve combined early Queensrÿche and Iron Maiden guitars you’d have “Taken Away.” A tune that could’ve swept the crowd into the fluid, tranquil aqua abyss of the Ohio river, which for some might’ve been welcome.
“Dead and Gone” ended things with a serious screeching and creepy noted intro akin to Freddy’s Elm Street entrance, giving the show a little bit of bayou goodbye by the river vibe.
The modern day Dokken took the stage with Jon Levin, Chris McCarvill and B.J. Zampa and a very ready and forgiving crowd ready to rock out to the tunes from the Sunset Strip era and beyond including Freddy’s Boiler Room, the land of the rising sun and even a few covers from days and decades past. The bombast and decadence of the ‘80s and early ’90s was still represented in the set though members have changed and the MTV kids grew up, though Dokken was and is a strong pillar of that era immortalizing their legacy in videos, records and live.
With strong uncertainty earlier, many thought the show might meet the ‘Kiss of Death’ but as soon as Mr. Dokken appeared, fists, hands, horns and phones went up, with an extra loud scream and roar. All was well. Draped in sunglasses, hat and classic attire they went Back for the Attack straight up hitting hard with a solid triple shot of classic album cuts as “The Hunter’ prowled the grounds, screaming through the speakers.
Dokken smiled apologizing to the crowd, saying a few wrong turns on the interstate landed them and the gear in Columbus then made the trip there. He made up for it with several cool stories about songs and experiences, having fun with front stage fans, flirting with the ladies and making people laugh.
The radio hits began with a hot trip “Into the Fire,” ”Breaking the Chains” into the dream world with Freddy Krueger’s favorite tune. Dokken talked about going to the desert and meeting Robert Englund in makeup and doing the “Dream Warriors” video, an MTV staple and Dokken admiring Patricia Arquette. Dream Warriors is arguably still one of the best band/movie footage/actor tie-in, interaction video of the era and arguably all-time.
They welcomed some mid ‘90s dysfunction being “Too High to Fly.” A time warp to familiar territory came when The Doors were the house band at The Whisky with the hypnotic, trippy, doom and gloom of “This is the End.” With Dokken echoing a convincing Lizard King impersonation.
Cell phones and a few vintage lighters Bic’ed up for mega glam ballad “Alone Again.” Teeth, nails, locks and keys took over the rest of the set minus one more classic ride to the ‘70s. Dokken posed for fan pics and fist bumps. As one dedicated fan got special spotlight attention with a tailor-made ‘You Wouldn’t Understand, Its a Dokken thing shirt.’
The sweat fell like rain as “In My Dreams” got a big reaction along with “It’s Not Love.” Free took the sails calming everyone down for the final two tunes of the night.
“Unchain the Night” and “Tooth and Nail.” finished the Dokken discography as calm was restored. A great show can always wash away any prior negativity or situations. As the shirt said, that night was most definitely, A Dokken Thing.
Images/Words by Mike Ritchie
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