On Friday May 2, Winger (also at the M3 Festival this weekend) and the Bulletboys played Penns Peak (with a great view from the windows in the a-joining restaurant), the Lehigh Valley and Pocono Mountains concert venue in Jim Thorpe.
Openers were Red Voodoo from California, who also kicked off day two (Saturday) of the M3 Rock Festival (May 2-4) in Maryland. These guys couldn’t be any older than age 21 and played an ‘80s influenced set of hard rock songs reminiscent of Tesla, Badlands, Montrose, Sammy Hagar. They have the look, sound, guitar riffs and leads, hooks and energy that won over the crowd. Check out their debut EP and video single “Style”.
Bulletboys is another band like many of their peers since the ‘80s to have constant lineup changes and inconsistent activity. Singer (rhythm guitars, sometimes solo) Marq Torien is the only constant since the debut, now rejoined on and off again by original bassist Lonnie Vencent, with Jake Faun on lead guitar the past year, and new drummer Fred Aching. I don’t know how active the band has been in recent years, and don’t recall many shows on the east coast if any in the last five plus years. But they came out swinging like they hadn’t played in the NY/NJ/PA area in years. The setlist is what you would want, focused on the songs from the debut and second album Freakshow.
Kicking off with “Hard As A Rock” and “Hell On My Heels” set the tone, high energy and hard hitting. Torien has lost none of his voice; he has the screams, stage presence, and personality as he smiles and dances around to the groove of every song. Their hit cover of The O’Jay’s song, “For The Love Of Money”, third one in, is followed by “Crank Me Up” and the bass driven “THC Groove” where Vencent is as animated. And what would be the highlight was a smoking cover of Van Halen’s “Everybody Wants Some” where all four were on fire, and Faun matching Eddie VH’s riffs and leads. Crushingly hard rocking and had the crowd singing along. Of course, the hit “Smooth Up In Ya” ended the night with fans wanting more.
And as a bonus, I was also lucky enough to have an after show pass (thanks Jack Frost) for the Bulletboys’ list. After Winger’s set, Jack and I went to say hello to both bands. Torien (a friend of Frost’s), was so welcoming, excited to say hello, and he even wanted to play us a demo for a new Bulletboys song. Going to be honest, and tell you as a fan, the song had riffs, groove, and swagger of the first two albums. Even had the backing vocals too. So, thank you Marq and the band for talking with us, the preview, I’m looking forward to a few more songs.
Winger has been active making new music (four studio albums) and touring since 2000, and with all four original members. During the past year singer/bassist Kip Winger has said, without an official announcement, that Winger would stop touring in 2025 so he can focus on making classical music, which he has a talent and passion for. So, tonight’s concert at Penns Peak was an east coast “farewell”, plus Saturday’s appearance at M3. But, as he did say “never say never” concerning new music, and the rest of the members will continue making music and performing live.
Opener “Stick The Knife In and Twist” off the latest album Seven (and “Proud Desperado”) shows the band are not a nostalgia act relying just on their past and the hits. And speaking of, with “Seventeen” the second song in, none of the crowd thinned out after. Sandwiched in between two other newer songs (“Midnight Driver Of A Love Machine,” “Pull Me Under”), a couple times during the set was broken up by the members doing a solo/jam, John Roth (guitarist on the Pull album) “Chicken Pickin”, Reb Beach after “Rainbow In The Rose” into “Black Magic” instrumental.
Winger mentions Paul Taylor wrote the hit ballad “Miles Away”, “Time To Surrender” a great hard rocking deep cut from the debut. A hard rockin’ highlight! “Easy Come Easy Go”, “Madelaine”, and encore “Hungry” ended the 14 song (without including solos) set.
If this really is the end of Winger playing live, I will miss seeing them. Great songs and talented players. But I betcha one-offs are not off the table.
More photos:
The post WINGER / BULLETBOYS – Rockin’ All Night In Penns Peak! appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...
Openers were Red Voodoo from California, who also kicked off day two (Saturday) of the M3 Rock Festival (May 2-4) in Maryland. These guys couldn’t be any older than age 21 and played an ‘80s influenced set of hard rock songs reminiscent of Tesla, Badlands, Montrose, Sammy Hagar. They have the look, sound, guitar riffs and leads, hooks and energy that won over the crowd. Check out their debut EP and video single “Style”.
Bulletboys is another band like many of their peers since the ‘80s to have constant lineup changes and inconsistent activity. Singer (rhythm guitars, sometimes solo) Marq Torien is the only constant since the debut, now rejoined on and off again by original bassist Lonnie Vencent, with Jake Faun on lead guitar the past year, and new drummer Fred Aching. I don’t know how active the band has been in recent years, and don’t recall many shows on the east coast if any in the last five plus years. But they came out swinging like they hadn’t played in the NY/NJ/PA area in years. The setlist is what you would want, focused on the songs from the debut and second album Freakshow.
Kicking off with “Hard As A Rock” and “Hell On My Heels” set the tone, high energy and hard hitting. Torien has lost none of his voice; he has the screams, stage presence, and personality as he smiles and dances around to the groove of every song. Their hit cover of The O’Jay’s song, “For The Love Of Money”, third one in, is followed by “Crank Me Up” and the bass driven “THC Groove” where Vencent is as animated. And what would be the highlight was a smoking cover of Van Halen’s “Everybody Wants Some” where all four were on fire, and Faun matching Eddie VH’s riffs and leads. Crushingly hard rocking and had the crowd singing along. Of course, the hit “Smooth Up In Ya” ended the night with fans wanting more.
And as a bonus, I was also lucky enough to have an after show pass (thanks Jack Frost) for the Bulletboys’ list. After Winger’s set, Jack and I went to say hello to both bands. Torien (a friend of Frost’s), was so welcoming, excited to say hello, and he even wanted to play us a demo for a new Bulletboys song. Going to be honest, and tell you as a fan, the song had riffs, groove, and swagger of the first two albums. Even had the backing vocals too. So, thank you Marq and the band for talking with us, the preview, I’m looking forward to a few more songs.
Winger has been active making new music (four studio albums) and touring since 2000, and with all four original members. During the past year singer/bassist Kip Winger has said, without an official announcement, that Winger would stop touring in 2025 so he can focus on making classical music, which he has a talent and passion for. So, tonight’s concert at Penns Peak was an east coast “farewell”, plus Saturday’s appearance at M3. But, as he did say “never say never” concerning new music, and the rest of the members will continue making music and performing live.
Opener “Stick The Knife In and Twist” off the latest album Seven (and “Proud Desperado”) shows the band are not a nostalgia act relying just on their past and the hits. And speaking of, with “Seventeen” the second song in, none of the crowd thinned out after. Sandwiched in between two other newer songs (“Midnight Driver Of A Love Machine,” “Pull Me Under”), a couple times during the set was broken up by the members doing a solo/jam, John Roth (guitarist on the Pull album) “Chicken Pickin”, Reb Beach after “Rainbow In The Rose” into “Black Magic” instrumental.
Winger mentions Paul Taylor wrote the hit ballad “Miles Away”, “Time To Surrender” a great hard rocking deep cut from the debut. A hard rockin’ highlight! “Easy Come Easy Go”, “Madelaine”, and encore “Hungry” ended the 14 song (without including solos) set.
If this really is the end of Winger playing live, I will miss seeing them. Great songs and talented players. But I betcha one-offs are not off the table.
More photos:
The post WINGER / BULLETBOYS – Rockin’ All Night In Penns Peak! appeared first on BraveWords - Where Music Lives.
Continue reading...