Memorial Colliseum Emerson, Tesla & Scorpions
By Tim Halverson
The night started out with Emerson...I'll first start by saying I've never really gotten into the electronic music which to me is what I consider this. With mostly songs with no lryics I actually lost interest fairly quick. There was one highlight during the set however when the guitar player did do some signing. During one of the songs he held a note for a very long time with no letting up the entire time! It was quite amazing. The guy singing was very good and would have been much more entertained had they wrote and performed lyrics for all their songs.
Tesla was the reason I took this gig. A little history with me and Tesla here...During my freshman year in high school a house fire put me in a different school for the rest of the year. I think is was 1986 but not quite sure. A very new friend and I went to the boys room to huff a smoke, while in there he asked me if I've heard Tesla yet, after telling him "no" he handed me his walkmen (cassette) as "Modern Day Cowboy" was playing. So there I was huffing a Marlboro and falling in love with Tesla. The remainer of my high school years I attended many concerts but when Tesla came through I was unfortunatly GROUNDED!
Fast forward many many years later and here I stand (with camera in hand) before Tesla! Ya, some would say it's just not the same but hey, I guess that's one of the benfits of NOT seeing them in their prime. Just the same Tesla was why I was there and man it was worth every minute of trouble it took to stand in the spot I was standing at that moment.
Over the years Tesla's music got me through many tough times with the follow up of "Mechanical Resonance" with "The Great Radio Controversy" in 1989 which was right before my Mother died and "Psychotic Supper" in 1991 which was shortly after. The latter two albums were living in my tape deck of my pickup truck as being the emotional guy I am Tesla's power ballads such as "Song & Emotion", "What You Give", "Time", "Love Song" & "Paradise" would make tears fall. This night as I stood before Tesla and all the forgotten emotions their songs used to bring me rushed back, again, tears began to fall.
I did manage however to pull myself together and accomplish the task at hand and snap some great pictures! Tesla's performace was outstanding! Every aspect of the music was perfect and Jeff's vocals were just as good as they were in the 80's! I would have liked to see Jeff get a bit more crazy on stage like the old days but hey, that was like what...nearly 20 years ago! I was so glad to hear that Tesla was back and touring and I'm so glad I got to see them after all these years and from the vantage point I had was a dream come true for me. If you are a true Tesla fan be sure to get out to see them when they roll through your town as this comeback is worth every penny of the ticket price.
The Scorpions was another band I missed during high school. Although not as much as Tesla I was very excited to finally see them as well. Here's another funny story which involves the Scorpions during those days. I think it was like 1989 or so when they came through the town closest to us (I grew up in the boonies). It was during a school night so I was not allowed to go the show, my best friend and I got tickets anyway and planned on sneaking out to catch the show. When the night finally arrived my mom had one of those nights where she never seemed to go to sleep. Needless to say, I never made it out and mmy friend had to go by himself.
So again I now stand here in front of idols of yesturyear and think back upon those days...at least this memory makes me smile, not tear up. Back to work! The Scorpions had a killer stage and man...they effing rocked! I was sure to be a bit disappointed as these guys are defineatly no spring chickens anymore but they still know how to rock and kick major ass doing it! The vocals are what impressed me the most as they sounded just as fresh as in the early 80's and man, what a freakin stage precence these guys still have! They were all over the place keeping the crowd incolved and into their show.
In closing I would have to say this was one of the highlight of my life concerts for me. Tesla & Scorpions...two great bands of the past still rockin today! I felt so many emotions through out this show that I went home simply exhausted! No one it seemed left the building before the Scorpions were finished and who could blame them...legends stood before us!
