Arts & Entertainment
Video: Classic Rock Tour Lets Oldies Fans 'Steal Away' for One Night
Favorites from the 1970s and '80s that diehard fans recall word-for-word today were performed by original artists at a Mahaffey Theater concert in St. Petersburg.
An impressive rock cover band set the stage for a night of oldies but goodies at the Mahaffey Theater. Known as Siren, the all female super group belted out hits from the 1970s and '80s that were perfect for warming up the crowd of eager fans.
Of the many names who were set to perform, John Cafferty was first up to bat. He used "On the Dark Side" as his opening tune and proceeded to jump off the stage and into the crowd, where he sang a couple jams and interacted with the audience. Cafferty may be decades older but he certainly was nimble.
Although the Beaver Brown Band was not at his back, he seemed at home with the superstar backup band that the tour provided.
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After Cafferty left the stage, Robbie Dupree showed up with harmonica in hand, ready to go. Dupree received an impromptu standing ovation for his presentation of "Steal Away." It was plain to see that he still held the power to captivate an audience with a Top 40 hit from yesterday.
Dupree then introduced the next act as an "original bad boy." With shades on and a ready to rock attitude, Joe Lynn Turner of Deep Purple strutted onto the stage. An undeniable shriek of excitement filled the air as he mesmerized the crowd with "Woman from Tokyo."
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All the while, Larry Hoppen (lead singer of Orleans) sang backup and played guitar. He was somewhat of a ringmaster for the evening, introducing different members of the backup band and joking with the audience throughout the concert. Everyone seemed to enjoy the nostalgic journey.
Last but not least, John Ford Coley made his way to the keyboard before starting his set. "I'd Really Love to See You Tonight" was an instant fan favorite. If lighters were allowed inside of the Mahaffey, it is safe to say that they would have lit up the concert hall.
