Niagara Gazette — The weather may not be heating up, but the concert season is almost warm enough to melt some of the snow. This weekend there are plenty of opportunities to get inside and stay warm with your sweetheart, or catch a show with your best friend.
We will start at the Niagara Fallsview Casino where they will be hosting a two-night stand with Michael Bolton starting on Friday. I had the good fortune of seeing Bolton open for Kenny G just as he was moving from rock to pop. A couple years later I saw him headline, and both shows remain in my memory as some of my favorites.
Not many people remember Bolton before his days as a pop crooner, but he performed in a rock band called Blackjack, which featured current Grand Funk and former Kiss guitarist Bruce Kulick. The band opened for Peter Frampton, Heart and even Ozzy Osbourne.
What may surprise more people is that Bolton once auditioned for the lead vocal job in Black Sabbath. To those not familiar with some of his rock material like “Fools Game” that may come as a surprise, but Bolton is one of the most versatile and powerful singers around.
Bolton successfully reinvented himself by covering soul and R&B classics like “Sittin’ on the Dock of the Bay” and gut-wrenching love songs like “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You.” It would be a wonderful show for couples to enjoy on Valentine’s Day or the day after.
Both shows are sold out but you can check StubHub for tickets.
