Music review: Vixen – 鈥楲ive Fire鈥�
This week鈥檚 review is a throwback to the glory days of the late 1980s when hair metal shook the stereo speakers and ruled the television screens, courtesy of MTV.
Vixen, an all-female rock band from Minnesota, arrived on the music scene with big hair, black leather, sexy Lita Ford looks, plenty of swagger and actual musical talent with 1988鈥檚 self-titled release.
I was instantly hooked after watching the band鈥檚 first music video and was curious to find out if these ladies could rock out for an entire album.
With tracks like 鈥淓dge of a Broken Heart,鈥� 鈥淐ryin'鈥� and 鈥淟ove Made Me,鈥� Vixen was indeed for real and proved it once again with the band鈥檚 second release 鈥淩ev It Up.鈥�
I lost track of the band after a few years and had completely forgotten about them until I had the opportunity to see them perform live two years ago in Ohio as part of an all-day rock event that included performances by Cinderella鈥檚 Tom Keifer, Warrant, Quiet Riot, founding Ratt frontman Stephen Pearcy, Jack Russell鈥檚 Great White, Autograph, Trixter and Cheap Trick.
Needless to say, Vixen rocked the arena and won me back over again with an electrifying set.
鈥淟ive Fire鈥� captures the band鈥檚 passion for performing and relentless stage energy during a show at Chicago鈥檚 Arcada Theater in 2017.
Lead vocalist Janet Gardner, drummer Roxy Petrucci and bassist Share Ross are the three remaining members from Vixen鈥檚 classic lineup. The band tragically lost guitarist and founder Jan Kuehnemund to illness in 2013. Britt Lightning lives up to her last name and fills in admirably on guitar.
Songs like 鈥淩ev It Up,鈥� 鈥淩ock Me,鈥� 鈥淗ow Much Love,鈥� 鈥淓dge of a Broken Heart,鈥� 鈥淐ryin'鈥� and 鈥淚 Don鈥檛 Need No Doctor鈥� are just a few of the highlights from the new album鈥檚 12 live recordings.
In addition to the concert tracks, 鈥淟ive Fire鈥� includes a new studio version of 鈥淵ou Ought to Know by Now鈥� as well as an acoustic studio version of 鈥淓dge of a Broken Heart.鈥�
If you are feeling a little nostalgic and up for a summer road trip, you might want to consider traveling to the Clearfield County Fair on August 4 to see Vixen perform with Faster Pussycat and Great White.
I doubt you鈥檒l be disappointed.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.