We made the trip to Niagara Falls, ON to see the Sam Roberts Band (with opener Matt Mays) at the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino. Built in 2022, this stellar venue seats approximately 5000, with multi-tiered seating for optimal viewing anywhere in the house. Sound quality was second to none, as were the security staff, who were outgoing and professional to better create a pleasurable concert experience.
Matt Mays and his full backing band (The Haze) took the stage first, instantly bringing power and full sound to the spectators. The show kicked off with a flawless version of “Tall Trees,” the first from a 10-song setlist that was cultivated with fan favorites such as “City of Lakes,” “Take It On Faith,” and “Cocaine Cowgirl.”
Mays – flanked as always by his right-hand man Adam Baldwin, and good friend Ryan Stanley, traded guitar licks in perfect synchronicity through the set, with the talented Leith Flemming Smith rocking his signature keyboard solo during “Travelin’.” Closing on a high note with a rendition of “Terminal Romance,” Mays and his bandmates set a tone for the night that won’t soon be forgotten.
Following a quick set change, the Sam Roberts band took the stage to perform an almost 90-minute set that included a three-song encore. From the very start, Roberts had the audience in the palm of his hand, kicking off the set with his popular hit “We’re All In This Together.” As the show progressed, Roberts and band were trading off songs from his full catalog, going through both tunes from the full band to his solo efforts.
Roberts was candid on stage, bantering with the audience about the years past and his losses at the roulette table the night before. A live in-person greatest hits were performed in the 19-song setlist which included cuts such as “Human Heat,” “Bridge to Nowhere,” “Hard Road,” “Brother Down,” and “Where Have all the Good People Gone.”
The absolute highlight of the night was when Matt Mays joined Roberts and the band onstage to perform “Uprising Down Under” during the encore. Closing with their hit “Don’t Walk Away Eileen,” Sam took time to shake hands and speak with fans around the edge of the stage for a solid 20-minutes following the show.
Both Sam Roberts and Matt Mays delivered the goods, belting out hit after hit for the near capacity crowd. If you haven’t already seen either of these gentlemen performing their craft, you have got to make sure they are on your bucket list. As for the OLG Stage at Fallsview Casino, it’s a gem in the Niagara Falls region and you should absolutely make the effort to see a show there.
Thanks to guest contributor Craig Brackman for this review!
