Whitesnake - Charter One Pavilion, Chicago 7/19/09

This was the first appearance of Whitesnake in Chicago since the release of Good to Be Bad album. The band reminded the audience of the fact by firing off with Best Years off that very record. Then it was just the well tested tracks that everyone knows and loves. Slow an Easy was a definite highlight of the first part of the set. The song has such incredible charisma, not to mention the theatrical execution on stage. As Coverdale says, it was to the bone. Speaking of the legendary vocalist, he was in a great form. David Coverdale sang great, and commanded the crowd with true superiority.

The band itself was very proficient musically. The solidified nature of the line up was well translated into a solid performance. There were no loose ends here. Aldrich/ Beach guitar duo delivered the goods while visibly enjoying themselves on stage. Their solo spot with numerous lead exchanges was a very solid one. The rhythm section flawlessly provided the backbone throughout the entire performance. And the keyboard work from Timothy Drury added much needed color to the songs.

The audience was very receptive to what Whitesnake had to offer. Many middle aged rockers reliving their glory days, but there was a number of younger kids enjoying the performance as much. Whitesnake proceeded with a number of hits coming off their mega platinum 1987 album. And with such quality tracks you can’t go wrong. Managed to insert another new one, Lay Down Your Love, off their recent album.

Before you knew it you were singing along with Here I Go Again, and screamed along to Still of the Night. Whitesnake kept the intensity throughout the evening, but the above mentioned tracks were the absolute climax. When something is timeless it proves itself over and over again. No white Jaguar, no Tawny Kitaen to grace its front hood, but an evening filled with great music from Whitesnake.

Mark Kadzielawa