Hello All: Here's my review of the 4/26/02 show at the Palace Station Casino, Las Vegas:

We headed over to the Palace Station Casino in the early afternoon and the first thing we noticed was the LARGE marquee boldly stating GRAND FUNK RAILROAD with a picture of the train above it...very cool. We noticed the stage outside and hung out in the area for a while until the rest of the crew showed up. Eventually, George, Mike, Joe and Luann, Carey and Mickey showed up.

It was time for soundcheck, so we all headed down to the first row while the band went through the motions. The first thing I noted was that the band was VERY loud, the loudest I have heard for an outside venue. As Mel played, every bass note vibrated the hair on my head...I could actually feel it moving....the signs hanging on the front of the stage were pulsating to every beat. Bruce looked over at Mel and said he thought there was to much bass....Don mentioned that all the subwoofers were under the stage and it would be like that all night...just then, Mel got this evil smile on his face as he prepared to lay down another series of earthquake inducing bass notes. I knew it was going to be an awesome night.

When the gate opened, the CyberFunker group migrated to the first and second row in front of Bruce. At 8 PM, GFR proceeded to bring the large outdoor crowd on a journey back to the early 70's. The cool, crisp night air...hard pounding eyeball rattling rock and roll, and the smell of something funky, brought me back about 30 years. From the first note, the crowd was on their feet and did not sit down all night. Cyberfunkers rushed the stage...guys with long hair and sweat bands had big smiles on their faces....a small girl with her dad rushed right up front and danced all night....a small woman with a nice round butt stood on the chair in front of me and I found my face only inches away from paydirt...Mickey snapped a picture for prosperity. It just doesn't get any better than this folks.

The set was the same as usual, except Shinin' On was dropped and the new song, "Who Took Down the Stars" was played. It's a ballad that builds to a wonderful hard rocking ending. The song has big potential, perhaps as a soundtrack in a movie.

After the show, we gathered and talked about what we just experienced. What a tremendous show...and then, it was time for us to part...and as often as I go to these gigs, I'm always left with a lump in my throat, because we have met some of the nicest people... it's like saying good bye to family....I'm sure there are others that know what I mean.

Thanks again to Don, Mel, Dena, Bruce, Tim, Max, DJ and Tim Franquist for another fantastic show...it just keeps getting better...and that's hard to do!! Until next time....

Jimmy G.