Any day I’m headed to a Tesla concert is a good day for me. Tesla, the band not that damn car that came way after the fact, hit my radar back in 1986 when I heard the single “Modern Day Cowboy” for the first time, before their debut was even released. I was sold instantly. I picked up “Mechanical Resonance” as soon as it was released, placed the album on the turntable and started to smile as the pounding bass riff that opens up “EZ Come EZ Go” opened up the album. This band kicks ass!! So started my love affair with Tesla.
Fast forward to 2017, almost 31 years later, and I’m surrounded by a passionate crowd wearing (or lined up to buy) concert tees that read, “30 Years and Still Kickin’ Ass.” No truer statement can be made. Tonight the crowd will be treated to a full-on Tesla show. While the band has been through Atlanta several times in the past couple of years, its been as part of two different Def Leppard tours. Getting Tesla first on a bill of three bands with a mere 30 minute set won’t satisfying my Tesla craving. No, No, No – I want my full Tesla show and I got it now.
Tesla brought with them two opening acts, first up was Voices of Extreme, a three-piece act that did a pretty good job of getting the crowd going, especially finishing up with a cover of The Who’s “Won’t Get Fooled Again.” Next up was a quintet called Weapons of Anew and I would classify them as “New Metal” along the lines of Alter Bridge only maybe a little heavier. These guys were not my cup of tea. I admit I did not like this band, but seems I wasn’t alone as the lobby was full of people, while the band was still playing, all voicing similar opinions..
When Tesla hit the stage, they opened with “MP3” a track from Simplicity, the latest studio album the band released in 2014. They moved onto “Into The Now” before getting to “The Way It Is,” “Hang Tough,” and “Heaven’s Trail”—a nice run of three of my faves. The band including vocalist Jeff Keith are all sounding great.
Then the set hit a bit of a wall for me. Paying homage to Five Man Acoustical Jam is fine, except they included “Comin’ Atcha Live” which for me, demands to be heard loud and proud. I’d like to hear them open with this at each and every show, just as it was back in the earliest days. They include “Truckin’,” “Paradise,” and “Signs” to finish the acoustic set before going to “What You Give.” That stretch in the show is way too mellow and brings the energy down on a band that rocks. And it’s a long stretch in the middle and at times the band appeared to be phoning in it. Don’t get me wrong, I love all the tunes I mentioned, but many of these songs have been in the set for a while now and the live show would be better served with some other choice cuts like “Cover Queen,” ”EZ Come,” “Mama’s Fool,” “Lady Luck,” “Change In The Weather,” “Mighty Mouse,” etc. Songs that would put an exclamation point after “30 Years and Still Kickin’ Ass.”
The set heated up a little with a blazing version of “Edison’s Medicine” before slowing it down again with “Love Song” and then finishing strong with “Little Suzi” and “Modern Day Cowboy.”
Tesla still remains one of my all-time favorite bands. They are one of the few bands where I love the rocking tunes and many of the ballads, unique because anyone who knows me will tell you I am not a ballad guy. If they’re headed to your town, catch this show. Tesla won’t disappoint.