James Durbin with special guest DoryDrive & New Medicine
With just two dates in the Midwest to test the waters of touring with a full band, James Durbin came to Milwaukee, WI. After playing at local radio station 95 WILL Rock and at Austin’s in Libertyville, IL the night before, it was now Milwaukee’s turn at The Rave. Opening act DoryDrive put on a strong set to warm up the crowd, they played their hit Tattoo to finish the set. I can see this band doing well in the future and would have made a smooth transition to Durbin but New Medicine would perform next.
While New Medicine sounded good and put on a good set, I think they were out of place tonight. Most of their lyrics used foul language as well as talking with the crowd with constant F bombs - any other time I would not even care, but tonight’s crowd had many young kids in the crowd, as well as both DoryDrive and Durbin never used foul language.
Tonight was the 2nd night that Durbin was joined with his new band that includes former members of In This Moment, Blake Bunzel on rhythm guitar and Drummer, Jeff Fabb both give Durbin some solid rock credential. Filling out the band is Ty Molinaro on bass and lead guitar, Dylan Rose, who has some killer skills on the fretboard.
Opening the set with Stand up which sounded great off the new album “Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster” as well as All I Want, Higher Than Heaven, which he dedicated to his new wife, and Right Behind You. Four songs into it, Fabb broke into a drum solo that had the crowd clapping before Rose tore into a sick guitar solo that led into the anti-bully song, Screaming. Durbin thanked the crowd for their support and talked about overcoming odds against him.
There were a few hip cups during the set like sound/vocal issues and a new band still trying to jell together that you could notice, but I see this lineup making some great music and putting on killer shows in the future. Durbin did show a great vocal range and at times, hit those high notes that made the crowd cheer louder as well as showing he has the skills to be a great front man. Playing almost the whole album, he ended the night with songs not on the album, Alien and Liberate.
Durbin came out for an Encore to play a song he co-wrote with DJ Ashba, Crawling Home and was a very emotional song and showed the potential of what a great singer Durbin is becoming.
At this time there’s no additional tour dates but I am sure with the great reception he received in the Midwest they will be released soon as he moves away from the American Idol platform to do what he always wanted to do, which is to sing in front of crowd.
All Photos provided by Peter Lizano
