WHITESNAKE

WHITESNAKE - Only A Fool Will Slot It In!




Images and words by Mark Gromen



On Saturday, August 20th, David Coverdale and the current
incarnation of WHITESNAKE played the ACH Hotel Casino (until a recent
downgrade, it was known as the Atlantic City Hilton,
but no longer). An early set (8pm, no opener!), the band plowed through
eleven tunes, all total. Coverdale is surrounded by a wicked guitar
tandem: Reb Beech (ex-WINGER) and Doug Aldrich, who shone throughout.
George Hamilton-tanned, shirt open to the navel, the frontman still has
it: voice and sex appeal, at least to a certain demographic: blowing
kisses and the occasional hand slap across the barricaded divide. Ever
the English gentleman (with a cheeky boyish streak), Coverdale reached
flowers from a female admirer, only to quip, "I don't have a vase, where
do I stick them." I know where!" Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. "Is that
your chap?" (not sure she understood the question). "No? Just partying
and anonymous sex with strangers?" Very loose and casual Mr. Coverdale.






They opened with 'Best Years' off the '08 return Good To Be Bad, as
the general admission (seated) crowd pushed towards the barrier. A trio
of vintage hits followed (something in surprisingly short supply the
rest of the evening): 'Give Me All Your Love', 'Love Ain't No Stranger'
and 'Is This Love'. Coverdale's comedian switch was obviously "on" this
evening, referencing a vampires in the audience, "We'll be sacrificing
virgins later and that girl (in the front) with a fine rack."
Introducing the blond guitarist, the singer said, "Just for farts and
giggles, Mr. Aldrich will introduce the next one with a tool of the
devil, slide guitar." Cue cowbell count-off and bang, 'Steal Your
Heart'. Drummer Brian Tichy is a Jersey
native, his parents in attendance, Coverdale asked allowed, "Where's
your Dad?" A wave of the hands from behind the kit, as if to say, 'Out
there.." Coverdale returned, "What are those, Vatican gestures?" To the
crowd, "Where's his Dad?" Obviously multiple drunk responses, "You've
got like twelve Dads? What does that make you?" Enough foolishness, as
Aldrich began 'Evermore' with acoustic guitar. The song featured five
vocalists, everyone (even Tichy) adding back-up.






A Brazilian fan offered Coverdale a flag of her nation, to which he said, "I'm pretty sure that's not the flag of New Jersey."
Even on ballads, David still twirling the mic stand (a lost art,
especially with the passing of Ronnie James Dio). It's great you've got
two amazing guitarists and give them 5+ minutes to duel against each
other, but in light of an eleven song set (which also featured an
extended, hand drumming solo from Tichy), would have preferred another
song instead. A third Forevermore track, 'Love Will Set You Free' was
bookended by the solo spotlights, before a return to old classics. 'The
Deeper The Love' saw people helping the frontman with the lyrics (not
that he needed it), as many a middle age couple rekindled high
school/college memories.





Those old-timers might have been disappointed by the absence of
certain tracks. No 'Slide It In','Crying In The Rain' nor 'Fool For Your
Loving', although there certainly was time for at least one, if not
all, but it just demonstrates how many hits are in the Whitesnake
catalog. 'Bad Boys' livened things up once more, followed by 'Here I Go
Again', which closed the proper set. With the aforementioned deletions
from the show (thus far), the crowd was primed for a lengthy encore, but
alas, we were treated only to a blistering (thanks to the guitars)
rendition of 'Still Of The Night', which closed the evening.



The Snake still has bite!


More photos from the show can be found in a gallery here.