Vamp’d Rock Bar and Grill in Las Vegas presents The Winery Dogs.

The Winery Dogs at Vamp’d, Las Vegas by Jo Anna Jackson

The Winery Dogs blew away the way over capacity sellout crowd at Vamp’d Vegas, the show was just the second into the US leg of their tour, but the band sounded like they had been playing together for years. Winery Dogs is made up of three super players in the music world, and they gel together like a cosmic glue. Billy Sheehan (Mr Big) is a unrivaled madman on the bass, Mike Portnoy (Dream Theatre, Adrenaline Mob) a progressive monster on drums, and with the powerful impassioned strength of vocalist Richie Kotzen (Mr Big, Poison) the three pull together a classic tinged, fresh and powerful new take on the power rock trio.

Kotzen, Portnoy and Sheehan took the small stage and launched into “Elevate” (from the self titled cd released this past June) that set the tone and the tremendous momentum for the night. The crowd was unbelievable, crammed against the stage with barely room to breath in the club, all eyes and ears mesmerized by the sights and sounds the threesome knocked out in over the close to 2 hour show. The band played every song from the cd, there were of course the obligatory solos (with a bass, drum and guitar player of this caliber it was gonna happen) and an acoustic number by Kotzen along the way. Kotzen’s weaving, bluesy Cornell-esque vocals and weighty guitar chops pouring out the melodies lines were a perfect balance to the preeminent rhythms bought forth by Shehan and Portnoy. The fans were wild, the joint was packed, the Dogs blew the roof off the place. The encore was a savvy surprise as the band took a nod at Elvin Bishops “Fooled around and Fell in Love” and showed this band can rule on anything.

Winery Dogs release their debut self titled cd in July to rave reviews and then started touring internationally and is now still hitting the states. The buzz precedes the group on the road, the first few US shows have been sold out and that looks like the trend for the US tour as it winds into the rest of October and early November. FOr more information on the band, the cd, and tour dates check out their website at http://www.thewinerydogs.com/ and add them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheWineryDogs

The Winery Dogs at Vamp’d, Las Vegas by Jo Anna Jackson

The Winery Dogs at Vamp’d, Las Vegas by Jo Anna Jackson

 

 

 

The Winery Dogs at Vamp’d, Las Vegas by Jo Anna Jackson

 

 

 

The Winery Dogs at Vamp’d, Las Vegas by Jo Anna Jackson