28 Apr 2003, The Tralf, Buffalo, NY, USA
I was among the many fans happy to see the Dregs return to Buffalo last night. From the opening (Ionized) to the close (Take it Off the Top), the band sounded great. As several reviewers have noted, they really seemed to be enjoying themselves on this tour. Does anybody have more fun playing than Rod? Steve was his usual, jaw-dropping self. The sound system at the Tralf is excellent and you could hear every amazing note. Steve cracked the audience up with his comments. He said he needed to talk to tour management about scheduling New Jersey, Buffalo and Connecticut in successive nights, but then complimented the crew for a fine job after a long drive. He also apologized for the mix quality on the DVD and then called himself the world's worst salesman!
What impresses me most is that these talented musicians are so down-to-earth. Steve and Dave came out and signed autographs and chatted with fans in the lobby, and I caught up with Jerry at the bar. They willingly signed a photo I had taken the last time they were in Buffalo. (Thanks to the Dregs for allowing cameras at their shows. I shot two rolls so if I get some good ones I'll share them here.) Finally, having seen the Dregs and Purple, I asked Dave if SMB had any gigs planned. He said "well, we're talking about it". They all said they appreciated the fans support and that if we keep on coming out, they'll keep on coming back to Buffalo. See you next time, guys!