Note: sorry for the lack of pictures and quality. Had to shoot from the crowd dealing with heads, arms, cell phones in the way. Had the same problem with the Skid Row/Warrant show. The venue gave me a photo pass, but there was no photo pit. Yeah, that makes sense.
Have seen Firehouse like six times over the years. First two albums are great, hard rock metal with a great guitar crunch, big hooks, and harmonies. But in recent years that hasn't translated that well live. I don't know if it was the sound mix, or the guitars were having technical problems, but this is the second time with the issue in the last five years. Outside of the sound, remaining original members C.J. Snare still has the pipes, Bill Leverty stays true to the album's riffs and solos, with drummer Michael Foster behind the kit. The mix wasn't the only glitch, during 'Home Is Where The Heart Is' C.J. said there was a slide show but it never made the screens. But, a married couple got on stage to celebrate their love and dance during 'Love Of A Lifetime'.
Winger always killing it live. Opening the show with 'Battle Stations'! Ok, already I'm done, LOL. Great song from the 1991 Bill and Ted's Bogus Journey soundtrack. 'Rat Race' follows up from the most recent 2014 album "Better Days Comin", back to the second album for single 'Easy Come Easy Go'. Kip announced a guest guitar player, friend Jake Faun who came out for 'Stone Cold Killer' and 'Hungry', who is now filling in for Beach while on tour with Whitesnake. Faun did well.
Music and vocals spot on, still the original team: singer/bassist Kip Winger, the now triple guitar attack Reb Beach, Paul Taylor (back and forth between the keyboards) and John Roth (since the album "Pull"), with drummer extraordinaire Rod Morgenstein, Winger are a hard rocking metal edged machine. And to showcase this the medley was couple minute segments of hit songs from a few of the band's each member has been in at some point. 'Billion Dollar Babies' (Alice Cooper)/ 'Jane' (Jefferson Airplane) / 'In My Dreams' (Dokken)/ 'Any Way You Want It' (Journey) / 'Cruise Control' (Dixie Dregs) / 'I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You' (Alan Parsons Project)/ 'Still of the Night' (Whitesnake). And to boot Kip, Reb, and John, all switched lead vocals. Check it out here on the Monsters of Rock Cruise https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unWvkG6XLo0 . Reb maintains his tone and feel on hit ballads 'Miles Away' and 'Headed For A Heartbreak' as the band gets a little proggy during 'Rainbow In The Rose', cranks it up for 'Madalaine' and short jam ride out.
Looking forward to the new Winger album sometime in 2022?
Winger setlist:
Battle Stations
Rat Race
Easy Come Easy Go
Pull Me Under
Down Incognito
Stone Cold Killer
Hungry
Medley :Billion Dollar Babies / Jane / In My Dreams / Any Way You Want It / Cruise Control / I Wouldn't Want to Be Like You / Still of the Night
Rainbow In The Rose
Miles Away
Headed For A Heartbreak
Can't Get Enough
Seventeen
Madalaine/ jam
Firehouse setlist:
Rock On The Radio
All She Wrote
Shake & Tumble
Oughta Be A Law
When I Look Into Your Eyes
Lover's Lane
Home Is Where the Heart Is
Don't Walk Away
Overnight Sensation
Love Of A Lifetime
Don't Treat Me Bad
Reach For The Sky
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