Circle 2 Circle | Twighlight | Ybor City FL | September 19, 2003 |
(W/Matt Kramer)
I have always been a huge Savatage fan.. before and during Zak's time.. so I was really excited to see this show, considering just about anything Zak sings to sounds amazing! Circle 2 Circle is no exception.. they rocked from beginning to end.. The set list consisted of most of the songs off the newly released c.d. along with some oldie but goodies by Savatage, Which sounded amazing.. The band was extremely tight, and sounded great.. if you were a Savatage fan.. you will LOVE this new band.. and they deliver live too.. I can't wait to see them again! note.. the photos are a bit grainy.. there was A LOT of fog..lol
Fans Reviews:
September 19, 2003 was apparently a big day for music in the Tampa Bay area. From what I understand, local favorites Julliet was playing somewhere in Pinellas Park. On again, off again frontman of Motley Crue, Vince Neil was in town at Jannus Landing. And then there was the show I went to. Circle II Circle which features former Savatage vocalist Zak Stevens. I was a big Savatage fan ever since the Gutter Ballet album but kinda lost touch towards the end. I knew Zak had a great voice but never checked out his new band. Big mistake on my part!
Circle II Circle, simply put, rocks! Although the rain that night made the crowd top out at approximately 100 fans, you wouldn’t know it by their performance. Starting the show off was a tune co-wrote by Zak, Jon Oliva and Chris Caffery from Savatage. Damn! “Out Of Time”….This is a great tune! The new album,Watching In Silence was well represented with performances of The Circle, Face to Face, Sea Of White, Walls and more. Walls was definitely my favorite tune off the album. Very radio friendly! (HINT TO ALL RADIO STATIONS)
As expected, the busted full force into the Savatage tunes. Zak was absolutely great. And as for the band? WHOA! You would have thought these guys wrote these songs, they played them note for note. In my opinion, guitarist Matt LaPorte had a tiny bit of trouble with Follow Me, but c’mon! Those were Criss Oliva’s licks! Not many could follow that anyway!
Other kick ass tunes were belted out as the night wound down….Lights Out, Taunting Cobras and a tune from Wake Of Magellan. The night finished out with Edge Of Thorns. I forgot how excellent of a song this was. Bottom line, if Circle II Circle comes within 100 miles of your town, get your ass in the car and go see them…you will not be left disappointed. - Moose