Review & Photos by Charlie Steffens
Hollywood’s Whisky a Go Go was packed with a throng of people who had come in from the rain to see Last in Line. Singer Andrew Freeman, guitarist Vivian Campbell, bassist Phil Soussan, and drummer Vinny Appice took the stage just before 11:30 to play a 90-minute set of songs, which, predictably, were Dio classics interspersed with Last in Line originals.
It’s true that Last in Line is a Dio tribute band, since Campbell and Appice were original members of the legendary metal group with that was Ronnie James Dio’s namesake. However, Last in Line is not limited to the label of tribute band, as they have written and recorded music of their own.
The excitement on the floor was evident, and up front, at stage right, was a group of lively middle-aged women who had apparently become acquainted with Viv Campbell through a Def Leppard fan page on Facebook. According to the page moderator, she and her friends had been following Def Leppard and Last in Line all over the U.S. for years. There were pictures on her phone to prove it. Fanaticism always makes for better rock shows.
Last in Line opened the show with “Landslide,” a catchy tune from their forthcoming album, aptly titled II. Freeman’s strong voice commanded the crowd, backed by Soussan’s vocal on the chorus, as Campbell laid down his trademark guitar sorcery. A Dio classic, “Stand Up and Shout” followed, then an all-out rock show ensued.
Among the players in the band Vinny Appice has had the most recognizable career — one which has spanned over 40 years. “Holy Diver” gave the audience a dose of his powerful drumming. The title track of the Dio debut album released in 1983. Campbell’s inimitable guitar solo embodies the essence of heavy metal, and undoubtedly evoked nostalgia in the Whisky on this night.
A bruising new track from II, “Blackout the Sun” may have helped to rid the preoccupation with the old stuff and tired comparisons of whether Freeman’s vocals stand up to Dio’s or if Soussan’s shoes fill Jimmy Bain’s.
Playing Dio songs works well for Last in Line, undoubtedly. The band keeps filling venues, big and small, giving the rock-hungry people what they want.
