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Tesla melts faces in Boise
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We are all lucky to live in beautiful Boise. Wednesday night served as a reminder of our biased, yet humble opinions of the city of trees, as members of hard rock band Tesla repeatedly told the almost-capacity crowd at the Knitting Factory what an awesome town we live in.
“We’ve been coming to Boise since ‘82 and it rocks as hard as ever,” Tesla guitarist Frank Hannon said. Tesla also rocks as hard as ever and their show proved it.
After standing at attention and giving the fired-up audience a salute, Hannon and the rest of Tesla jumped into the title track from their latest album, “Forever More.”
A few minutes into the set, vocalist Jeff Keith invited attendees to journey with him back to 1986. The excitement in the concert hall was obvious as Hannon and second guitarist Dave Rude, began tearing into the memorable intro of Tesla’s early career single, “Modern Day Cowboy.”
The hardcore fans of the band went insane when the rare live gem, “Call It What You Want,” was played. The track, released on 1991’s “Psychotic Supper,” was showcased live for only the second time in 13 years.
No stop was left un-pulled during the set, which included more than 35 guitar solos. Solos were played behind Hannon’s head, on acoustic guitars, in extensive duels between both guitarists, during songs that normally don’t have solos and on a Theremin. Fans of the electric guitar who found themselves at the show had nothing to complain about.
Underneath the fret-burning solos, Tesla’s rhythm section remained strong. Proudly wearing a Nirvana T-shirt, drummer Troy Luccketta stayed solid throughout the show as Brian Wheat, the bass player, gracefully locked in to the beat.
One of the most commendable aspects of Tesla is their genuine gratitude to fans. Although they are sometimes perceived as arrogant and egotistical, the multi-platinum rock band was far from both qualities. The band said many thank yous when they tossed guitar picks and other pieces of rock history into the eager crowd.
The opening band, Damage, also showcased impressive qualities. The metal band’s final number was particularly awe-inspiring. The jam began with the intro to Led Zeppelin’s “Over The Hills And Far Away,” which seamlessly morphed into a hard-rocking, distorted guitar driven cover of “Come Together,” originally performed by The Beatles.
“It leaves everyone with something to remember,” drummer G.W. Pope said. “It’s more about having fun with the people.”
The night was full of excitement and great rock music. Tesla led fans on a journey that encompassed all aspects of their career. With shows of this caliber coming through, Boise residents and students originally from afar are very lucky, in musical terms, to call this city home.
BY MATT DALLEY
Arbiter Journalist
