Jo Dee Messina Brings an Epic Finish to the Batavia Downs Summer Concert Series THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR. Batavia, NY — Country music superstar Jo Dee Messina, a two‑time Grammy nominee, performed the final concert of the "Batavia Downs Summer Concert Series 2026" on Friday night, drawing an impressive‑sized crowd for her 90‑minute set. The... Continue Reading →
THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR. Batavia, NY – Batavia, NY – On a beautiful summer evening last Friday, Quiet Riot headlined the second show of this season’s Batavia Downs ‘Rockin’ the Summer Concert Series’. Fans filled the racetrack, ready to enjoy a performance from one of rock music's most loved bands. With an impressive 2.5 million... Continue Reading →
Welcome to episode #148 of the Rock Interview Series. This feature was recorded on May 28th, 2026, with guest Zinny Zan, vocalist of the hard‑rock band Shotgun Messiah during 1985–1990. Zinny first made his mark fronting the Swedish band Easy Action from 1981 to 1985. When the band chose not to relocate to the United... Continue Reading →
Back in 1979, Gary Numan didn’t just release a hit—he rewired the future. “Cars” was cold, robotic, and unlike anything on the radio. It shot to #1 in the UK, cracked the U.S. Top 10, and turned Numan into a millionaire before his 22nd birthday. But the story didn’t start there. Before going solo, Numan... Continue Reading →
THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR. Batavia, NY – Legendary, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inducted vocalist Lou Gramm, best known as the original voice of Foreigner since the band’s formation in 1976, returned to Western New York for a powerful hometown performance at the Batavia Downs “2025 Summer Concert Series.” Before his meteoric rise with... Continue Reading →
Sunset Strip Legends: Faster Pussycat and Power Trios Kick Off Summer in WNY Buffalo, NY- It was a warm summer night in Western New York as a near-capacity crowd packed into Buffalo Iron Works (a venue known for its industrial charm and intimate vibe) for an entertaining four-band bill that delivered grit, glam, and a... Continue Reading →
Thomas S. Orwat Jr.
RockMusicStar.com 