On Friday, November 19, rock n’ roll veteran and ‘80s Vixen Janet Gardner came to the young, burgeoning Epic Live Event Center for an evening of loud, energetic hard rock. Support came from singer Amy Sailor and southern Ohio’s thunderous Counting Stars, a group that could meld straight into the sunset scene as much as modern day metal. Gardner accompanied by headbanging partner and husband Justin James played a crowd pleasing set of vintage MTV spot-lit classics and modern solo material.
Fans got a choice slice of two prime cuts per record, from the high hair and steel stiletto heels of Vixen and Rev It Up to solo self-titled debut, Your Place in the Sun and current Synergy. Though she’s open to playing choice cuts, nothing from Tangerine was heard. Though fans still got a welcomed hard-knuckled sampling of everything Gardner…. and James.
Younger fans heard a few tunes that helped define the decade of indulgence, inspiring countless hands to raise lighters and conceivably some modern day metal diva’s to pick up a guitar and mic. Gardner and crew delivered what got her there and gave tastes of what they’re making now, some a little harder and some a little heavier, than the past.
The decade of the ’80s is gone though the music created still looms in the hearts of the kids and adults that lived it. While several of the bands that slaved and paid dues in the bars in SoCal and elsewhere did make it, some are STILL making it modern day. While nostalgia’s a drawing point, Gardner’s a record away from having more solo material then Vixen songs.
Amy Sailor, a young vixen herself was thrilled to open the show for the woman that helped rock late night MTV. Starting the evening with a set of covers and an original, you can’t go wrong beginning with a runaway hit or going right up your alley. A rough tongue lashing about jilted love and venomous appeal that everyone can relate to, then and now, “I Hate Myself for Loving You.”
On a happier upswing, Sailor sang the sweet serenade of the blonde-locked Gypsy queen on “Edge of Seventeen.” The boys of Reo Speedwagon got a say with “Take it on the Run” while the toxic boys from Boston got some sweet ‘70s sass and swing on that “Sweet Emotion.”
Journey spoke the eternal anthem of optimism, “Don’t Stop Believing.” Nobody had to yell, play some Skynyrd, it wasn’t carried on a bird’s wings but answered by the breeze. And, only the sultry tale of the woman in black could properly finish the set with those humid velvet dreams.
Counting Stars came on sporting the attitude, chemistry and showmanship of a band destined for national exposure. They sported a vibe reminiscent of a young MÖTLEY at The Whisky blending a ‘80s vibe, with shades of VH and modern metal flavor.
It was an MTV in spirit performance before the person who was on music television came on. Watching them play was part time warp, part tribute and a band that looked practiced, polished and primed for playing bigger stages. Though given the year it’s been, they were probably just happy to be back on stage.
Lyrically, all provisions were there for good ole’ irresponsible and irresistible rock n’ roll including alcohol, high speed, dangerous/wild women, heartbreak and pills, along with a few rough Saturday nights.
The opening riffs and screaming, squealing notes of “DDS“ began the nights trip through modern day metal backtracking to ‘80s vintage sin. The party kept going down the electric highway, chained boots kicking harder on the gypsy’s gas tank. Hard, fast, intense partying with stories told on the bathroom stall wall and number 1, hit songs.
“Alcohol and Attitude” spoke and spewed the long tested, twisted truth of stories good, bad and what the f- happened/how did I get here booze inspired, after-morning’s.
“One Saturday Night” had a nice cool vocal melody, mid-tempo, as a classic bad boy is broken by a broad with bad intentions.
The set began with the heat igniting sounds and flare of “Flame Thrower.”
The early ‘90s knocked loud and hard early as turbine notes roared out the pipe revving up the crowd for “How Much Love.”
Many jokes were made about the ‘80s including James having a poster of Gardner on his wall, now and then. Then again, who’s kidding who? Most guys there and some girls probably did too.
The first tune from the solo Gardner record came on “If you want Me” followed by the most modern rep of her sound, “Wounded.”
The evening sun blazed bright, down on stage illuminating “A way to your Heart” wiping away the mega-ballad tears of “Cryin.’”
They had a brief trivia test bringing a fan on stage, asking who was known as the Red Rocker. The lucky lady won a CD and helped perform “There’s Only One Way to Rock.”
Gardner went into the crowd a few times, getting everyone involved with several on guest vocals.
If you only knew one Vixen song, it’s this one she joked as the drum beat and headbanging grandeur of “Edge of a Broken Heart” began.’
They added some stage time with “Hippycrite” finishing with those dirty f-bombing motherf—–s going down the “Rathole.”
The crowd was loud and receptive to recent and new solo material while yelling, screaming along to the classics. Most of the crowd looked to have lived the ’80s while a few Googled/YouTubed the experience. As Gardner has said, the ’80s never left, they just took a nap. Though James, ironically, was wearing flannel.
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