Triumph first came on my radar shortly after my twelfth birthday. My local rock station (WPLR) played their new single “Follow Your Heart” and I was mesmerized. I dove into the catalogue and found a wealth of positive, uplifting songs about the magic power of music. Unfortunately, they disbanded and I never got to see them live, and never thought I would get the chance…until now.
Please scroll below for the MisplacedStraws Triumph live photos and review –
The night began with an opening set by fellow Canadian classic rockers April Wine. I must say that April Wine was a band I haven’t thought about in decades. For some reason, I always remember seeing the red cassette case of their 1981 release Nature Of The Beast in the racks when I worked at a record store as a kid. This lineup is April Wine in name only. Guitarist Brian Greenway joined the band 7 records in and is the last remaining member to play on classic hits like “Just Between You and Me”, “Sign of the Gypsy Queen”, and “Roller”. That being said, the band played a great set. Vocalist Marc Parent not only has a great voice, but a ton of stage presence. While it may not have been the classic lineup of the band, it was good to hear these strong classic rock songs on a big stage again.
There was a definite buzz in the crowd leading up to Triumph. This show was the last scheduled date on their highly anticipated reunion tour (a Quebec date was moved to after this show due to the NHL playoffs). Founding bassist Mike Levine was unable to tour, so drummer Gil Moore and guitarist Rik Emmett augmented the band with bassist Todd Kerns (Slash) as well as one-time Triumph member Phil X (Bon Jovi) on guitar and Brent Fitz (Slash) on drums and keyboards. The new members fit seamlessly and truly were part of the band, not just hired guns, helping to make this one of the best concert experiences of the year!
The night began with a recording of the Thunder Seven track “Time Cannon” with the giant rear screen showing photos and video clips from throughout the band’s history. As the recording ended, the band stormed the stage with “When The Lights Go Down”, immediately you felt the power of this lineup. Having both Moore and Fitz on drums was thunderous, while the dual guitars of Emmett and Phil X added a unique twist to the classic sound. Perhaps the best part of this lineup, however, is that all 5 members are top-notch vocalists. There are now layers of harmonies, plus Kerns and Phil both took lead vocals on songs throughout the set.
Triumph was always known for their over-the-top live shows, and this tour is no exception. The enormous screen behind the band was used perfectly to illustrate each song, and there was plenty of pyro to remind you that you’re at a big rock show. The screens, fire, and lights are one thing, but they fall flat if the performance isn’t there. Triumph brings that in spades. Rik Emmett proved over and over again why he has always been one of the most underrated guitarists in rock. Kerns, Fitz, and Phil are more than world-class musicians, they are huge fans of the band and brought an infectious energy that seemed to spur on Moore and Emmet. Gil came out from behind the drums a few times to take his vocal in the front while Fitz handled drums. This was something the three-piece lineup wasn’t able to do and really made the night special.
The setlist was everything you wanted this tour to be. From the beauty of “Hold On”, to the power of “Rock and Roll Machine”, to the pure pop rock glory of “Somebody’s Out There”, nearly every facet of the band was represented in the 2-hour show. It was interesting to see Todd Kerns take the lead vocal on “Spellbound” and Phil X taking the mic on “Allied Forces”. Both men sounded great, and with Moore and Emmett playing alongside, it didn’t feel odd having them sing. As I mentioned, the new additions weren’t just hired guns, they are Triumph. As the night went on, each of the new members had solo spots, as did Emmett, and judging from the crowd response, most of the capacity crowd felt the same way I did about the new guys.
As a kid who had an innate passion for music, Triumph spoke directly to me. “Magic Power” summed up my love of music, how it gets inside you and becomes part of you. While it will always be true that “rock and roll lives and breathes in the hearts of the young”, it never leaves those hearts. It may have been over 35 years since this band last mounted a full tour, but it feels like yesterday since these songs first touched us. As my favorite song of the night said, “Rock and roll hearts just never die, they never die”.
