On Sunday night, October 26th 2014, Los Angeles was treated to a solo band performance from one of the cornerstones in American Hard Rock – Tom Keifer! As part of an ongoing solo tour, Keifer packed the room at the World Famous Whisky A Go-Go and brought the fanatics out of the woodwork. In one simple word, it was “amazing”!
Keifer came out of the gate in the early 80s, performing with local acts around his hometown in Pennsylvania and forming Cinderella with fellow members, looking to expand on his obvious talents. As a multi-instrumentalist, a songwriter and though reluctantly a front man, Keifer caught the eye of Jon Bon Jovi who immediately recognized the potential Keifer exuded. Penning songs that would become staples in the MTV hard rock generation’s catalogs; hits including “Shake Me”, “Night Songs” and “Nobody’s Fool” would dominate 80s FM radio and set the standard for artists that followed. Subsequently, Cinderella would join Bon Jovi on tour and exposed their music to new fans around the world. Fans lined up to witness Cinderella live and on stage. The show at the Whisky proved that little has changed in that regard.
Through the years, that signature growl Keifer was known for suffered from a paralysis of vocal chords, temporarily taking Keifer off the scene, but the man’s soul is that of a songwriter, and in brief – he kept writing songs inspired from the music that first made him perform. Blues laden, with a hint of American country and the raw and straightforward impact of pure hard rock, the Universe conspired to support Keifer as he healed and overcame the temporary issues that plagued his voice. Nine years of songwriting shelved while he occasionally took to the road with Cinderella, now comes together as the 2013 CD release titled “The Way Life Goes”, the first solo album Keifer has produced outside of his legendary band. With fans and critics praising the songs, Keifer has been performing them with his solo band line-up to rave reviews, and after a night on the big stage in Arizona, he played to an intimate crowd in Los Angeles.
“I’m a little dry from last night in Arizona”, he shared from the stage with a chuckle, “but I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, so we’re just going to do it”!
Looking easily to be the man he was in his mid-thirties, Keifer came on strong and opened his set with the first song fans heard when they bought the debut Cinderella album, “Night Songs”. The album went double platinum in less than two weeks of its release in 1986, and the audience at the Whisky knew the song note for note and sang it word for word. He went in to two songs from his new solo CD and the crowd just kept on singing. Again, it’s proof that his music makes an impact and the fans are there to support him.
Not letting anyone down with the high-energy stage performance, the top-level musicianship of the band or the song choices, this is the set list Keifer offered the crowd:
01. Night Songs
02. It’s Not Enough
03. Different Light
04. Save Me
05. Shake Me
06. Flower Song
07. Ask Me Yesterday
08. Don’t Know
09. Nobody’s Fool
10. Solid Ground
11. Cold Day in Hell
12. Coming Home
13. Shelter Me
14. Little Help
15. Gypsy Road
The band includes keyboardist Paul Taylor (Winger), guitarist Tony Higbee (Caprice, East Side Gamblers), bassist Billy Mercer (Strays Don’t Sleep) and drummer Paul Simmons (Black Oak Arkansas, Petra).
Opening the show for Keifer was a first time Whisky appearance by front woman and powerhouse vocalist Madysin Hatter, appearing to support her album “Pretty Little Fool”. She will also be opening the show for Winger at the Whisky on November 14th, 2014.
Following Madysin Hatter was a local LA favorite, the Vintage City Rockers. Comprised of LA based artists with a long list of touring and recording behind them, they get together to play their original take on songs from artists including Johnny Cash, T.Rex and opened their show with a blazing rendition of work by Dick Dale.
Find out when Tom Keifer’s solo tour is coming around again, and keep up with the latest antics and recordings made available at www.tomkeifer.com. Links to his social media pages are on the front page of his site.
Through the years, that signature growl Keifer was known for suffered from a paralysis of vocal chords, temporarily taking Keifer off the scene, but the man’s soul is that of a songwriter, and in brief – he kept writing songs inspired from the music that first made him perform. Blues laden, with a hint of American country and the raw and straightforward impact of pure hard rock, the Universe conspired to support Keifer as he healed and overcame the temporary issues that plagued his voice. Nine years of songwriting shelved while he occasionally took to the road with Cinderella, now comes together as the 2013 CD release titled “The Way Life Goes”, the first solo album Keifer has produced outside of his legendary band. With fans and critics praising the songs, Keifer has been performing them with his solo band line-up to rave reviews, and after a night on the big stage in Arizona, he played to an intimate crowd in Los Angeles.
“I’m a little dry from last night in Arizona”, he shared from the stage with a chuckle, “but I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time, so we’re just going to do it”!
Looking easily to be the man he was in his mid-thirties, Keifer came on strong and opened his set with the first song fans heard when they bought the debut Cinderella album, “Night Songs”. The album went double platinum in less than two weeks of its release in 1986, and the audience at the Whisky knew the song note for note and sang it word for word. He went in to two songs from his new solo CD and the crowd just kept on singing. Again, it’s proof that his music makes an impact and the fans are there to support him.
Not letting anyone down with the high-energy stage performance, the top-level musicianship of the band or the song choices, this is the set list Keifer offered the crowd:
01. Night Songs
02. It’s Not Enough
03. Different Light
04. Save Me
05. Shake Me
06. Flower Song
07. Ask Me Yesterday
08. Don’t Know
09. Nobody’s Fool
10. Solid Ground
11. Cold Day in Hell
12. Coming Home
13. Shelter Me
14. Little Help
15. Gypsy Road
The band includes keyboardist Paul Taylor (Winger), guitarist Tony Higbee (Caprice, East Side Gamblers), bassist Billy Mercer (Strays Don’t Sleep) and drummer Paul Simmons (Black Oak Arkansas, Petra).
Opening the show for Keifer was a first time Whisky appearance by front woman and powerhouse vocalist Madysin Hatter, appearing to support her album “Pretty Little Fool”. She will also be opening the show for Winger at the Whisky on November 14th, 2014.
Following Madysin Hatter was a local LA favorite, the Vintage City Rockers. Comprised of LA based artists with a long list of touring and recording behind them, they get together to play their original take on songs from artists including Johnny Cash, T.Rex and opened their show with a blazing rendition of work by Dick Dale.
Find out when Tom Keifer’s solo tour is coming around again, and keep up with the latest antics and recordings made available at www.tomkeifer.com. Links to his social media pages are on the front page of his site.
