Music review: Night Ranger 鈥� 鈥楧on鈥檛 Let Up鈥�
I recently made a road trip to attend Rock the Arena II in Toledo to see some of my favorite rock bands of the 鈥�80s. The all-day concert was headlined by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Cheap Trick and also included appearances by Cinderella鈥檚 Tom Keifer, Warrant, Quiet Riot, founding Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy, Jack Russell鈥檚 Great White, Vixen, Autograph and Trixter.
Night Ranger would make a great addition to Rock the Arena III.
I鈥檓 just putting it out there now for the promoters to consider for next year.
The new studio album from Night Ranger successfully recaptures the band鈥檚 knack for delivering melodic rock that features big guitar riffs and infectious melodies previously showcased on earlier albums like 鈥淒awn Patrol,鈥� 鈥淢idnight Madness鈥� and 鈥�7 Wishes.鈥�
Original members Brad Gillis, Kelly Keagy and Jack Blades continue to rock steady on the new arrangements as the band celebrates 35 years of success with more than 17 million albums sold.
Night Ranger鈥檚 debut release added to the soundtrack of my senior year of high school with the hits 鈥淒on鈥檛 Tell Me You Love Me鈥� and 鈥淪ing Me Away.鈥�
Still sounding as impressive now as the band did back in 1982, Night Ranger鈥檚 12th studio effort opens with the spirited rocker 鈥淪omehow Someway鈥� and is a throwback to the dueling guitars unleashed on earlier hits like 鈥�(You Can Still) Rock in America鈥� and 鈥淓ddie鈥檚 Comin鈥� Out Tonight.鈥�
鈥淩unning Out of Time,鈥� 鈥淒ay and Night鈥� and 鈥淪ay What You Want鈥� are high-octane numbers designed to shake the stereo speakers.
Other tracks such as 鈥淛amie鈥� and 鈥淐omfort Me鈥� are the perfect excuse for air guitarists everywhere to bust out into fits of passionate theatrics.
Power ballads 鈥淣othing Left of Yesterday鈥� and 鈥淲e Can Work It Out鈥� are reminiscent of the California rocker鈥檚 mega hit 鈥淪ister Christian鈥� and spotlight the softer side of Night Ranger.
鈥淒on鈥檛 Let Up鈥� proves that the band can still rock as hard as ever.
Night Ranger will make a Pittsburgh area appearance on April 21 at Jergel鈥檚 Rhythm Grille.