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On November 17th, Winger and Firehouse played the final show at The Block in Harrah’s Casino in Pennsylvania. Firehouse, 3/4s still original members, have not released a new album since 2004, Prime Time, from which they played “Crash”. So rest of the hour long set was all songs you’d know from their first two albums, and hit MTV video rock and ballad singles. 

Buts let’s talk about Winger, a totally different animal, even though from the same genre. First, stop thinking they are nothing more than pop metal singles like “Seventeen”. It was one song thirty years ago, c’mon people, let’s move on. Original members Kip (bass, keyboards), guitarist Reb Beach, joined by John Roth (since the album Pull in 1993), and drummer Rod Morgenstein are a force to be reckoned with! Their set was front, and back, loaded with hard rockers, and live, these guys are heavy. Winger put the metal in glam. “Junkyard Dog”, “Blind Revolution Mad”, “Pull Me Under” (off 2009’s Karma), “Can’t Get Enough”, “Hungry”, “Madalaine”, to the proggy “Midnight Driver Of A Love Machine” and fast rocker “Rat Race” from the latest album Better Days Comin in 2014. Sandwiched in between hit ballads “Miles Away” and “Headed For A Heartbreak” have great melodies, harmonies, keys, and reflective leads. Plus, spontaneous jams for a couple song ride-outs, to a closer cover of Van Halen’s “Ain’t Talkin Bout Love”, this is a show for metalheads, not for the casual “fans” I saw in the crowd just waiting for the hits. Get with it people and see these guys live. I am still picking up the pieces from my mind being blown. But then again, I have always been a fan.