Though there’s danger in putting three virtuoso musicians into one band, The Winery Dogs are one example where it makes great sense. Singer/guitarist Richie Kotzen had already spent a number of years playing with bassist extraordinaire Billy Sheehan in Mr. Big, while Mike Portnoy (a member of the Rock Drummer Hall of Fame) adds a rare spark that works just as well with these concise hard rock tunes as with the progressive ambitions of Dream Theater and Flying Colors. The songs—largely written by all three members, with Kotzen leading the charge—are what explain their success. “Elevate” kicks things off with just the right amount of push and pull in the rhythm section, while the somber “You Saved Me,” with lyrics by Portnoy, lets the group touch the dreaded power-ballad territory without losing the muscle necessary to keep things afloat (though Kotzen’s “Damaged” accomplishes it with far more finesse). “Six Feet Deeper” exposes the members' early-'70s roots with serious Robin Trower–influenced hard rock.