THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR.
Dokken and Lynch Mob Bring the Magic Back to Del Lago Casino
Waterloo, NY — It was a rocking Saturday at The Vine at Del Lago Casino, where legendary 80’s‑style hard rock bands Dokken and Lynch Mob blasted through a hard‑hitting set of classic songs for a modest but passionate audience.
For longtime Dokken fans, it was a dream come true to witness the reunion of original members Don Dokken (vocals) and classic‑era guitarist George Lynch. Although the two were famously at odds for years, they buried the hatchet a few years back and have been touring together quite often ever since. Lynch opened the night with his post‑Dokken band Lynch Mob, then returned to the stage to join Don for the final three Dokken songs, giving the crowd the reunion moment they’d hoped for.
Lynch Mob, consisting of George Lynch, Andrew Freeman (vocals), Jaron Gulino (bass), and Jordan Cannata (drums) — kicked off the evening with an intense set. They opened with the Dokken track “Lightnin’ Strikes Again” and absolutely killed it from the first note to the last. Lynch’s performance on guitar was jaw‑dropping; he hasn’t lost his touch at all, even at 72 years old. Coupled with Freeman’s soaring vocals and the outstanding rhythm section of Gulino and Cannata, this band is a true contender and needs to be taken very seriously. Honestly, it was one of the best hard rock bands I’ve seen in quite a while. They should be consisted for an opening slot on a major tour.
Additional highlights included Lynch’s famous instrumental “Mr. Scary” from the classic Dokken release ‘Back To The Attack,’ and Lynch Mob’s signature track “Wicked Sensation” from their 1990 debut.
The headliners Dokken hit the stage around 9:15 p.m. and played for roughly 70 minutes. Kicking off with “Kiss of Death,” the band — which includes Don Dokken along with long‑time guitarist Jon Levin, Chris McCarvill on bass, and B.J. Zampa on drums — was dialed in all night long. It was Don who struggled a bit, and during the show he apologized several times for his performance. At one point he said, “I’m sorry, I was much better yesterday,” and later added, “My agent told me to cancel the show, but I said it’s New York, I’ll sit in a wheelchair if I have to, just to do it.”
But honestly, it wasn’t nearly as bad as he made it out to be. Fans understand that Don has battled vocal issues for many years, and he recently had foot surgery, which forced him to stay seated for about half the show. At 73 years old, it’s extremely difficult for most vocalists to sing like they did 40 years ago.
Bottom line: the fans still got to hear the Dokken classics, and once again his band was killer. Jon Levin is such an underrated guitarist. He played all the classic George Lynch riffs and solos perfectly, and his extended solo in “Too High to Fly” was extremely impressive. Check out his work on the Dokken records that he performed on from 2003 onwards.
For the last three songs of the evening, Jon Levin left the stage, and George Lynch came out to perform with Don, rekindling the magic they created with the original line‑up of Dokken. They started with “Unchain The Night,” the song that really launched Dokken into the spotlight. They then performed an improv, which afterwards, Lynch said to Don, “Man, you still got it.” It was probably the best Don sounded all night, showing that the ability is still there. The evening ended with “Tooth and Nail,” where Lynch once again mesmerized the audience with his one‑of‑a‑kind guitar shredding.
Overall, it was a great night out to see two legendary performers, Don Dokken and George Lynch, along with their incredible bands performing timeless music from their amazing careers. Hopefully they can keep doing this for many more years. It brought a real smile to this old rocker, proving that great music never fades.
Dokken setlist
Kiss of Death
The Hunter
Just Got Lucky
Fugitive
Into the Fire
Breaking the Chains
Dream Warriors
Saving Grace
Alone
Too High to Fly
It’s Not Love
In My Dreams
Unchain the Night (with George Lynch)
Tooth and Nail (with George Lynch)
….
Thomas S. Orwat Jr.
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