A Master Class in Hard Rock: Tom Keifer and L.A. Guns Light Up Dallas

Photojournalist: Brian McLean

Two iconic guitarists and one of hard rock's most recognizable voices rolled into the historic Granada Theater in Dallas on Friday night to deliver a master class in hard rock.

Tom Keifer, guitarist, songwriter, and the unmistakable voice of Cinderella, shared the stage with Tracii Guns, guitarist and songwriter for L.A. Guns, and vocalist Phil Lewis, whose new look complemented a voice that remains unmistakable.

Although they hail from opposite coasts, these musicians helped define one of hard rock's most influential eras. Four decades later, the songs they wrote continue to resonate, and Friday night's audience was treated to many of those enduring classics.

Fifteen minutes before showtime, the Texas sun continued baking the Gen X faithful, along with plenty of younger fans waiting outside. The line stretched down the north walkway between the Granada Theater and a neighboring businesses.

Just over four years ago, L.A. Guns performed at an outdoor venue north of Dallas. The brutal Texas heat that day forced Tracii Guns to play from an air-conditioned restroom while the rest of the band endured the scorching temperatures onstage.

Fortunately, this performance took place inside the comfortable confines of the Granada, where L.A. Guns arrived cocked, loaded, and ready to rip and tear through their set—and they did exactly that.

Bathed in red lighting, the band walked onstage to Def Leppard's 1981 instrumental "Switch 625" before launching into "Cannonball" from 2021's Checkered Past.

Following Lewis's quick "Good evening, Dallas," the band shifted into the 1988 classic "Electric Gypsy" from its self-titled debut.

Much of the evening's material came from that debut and Cocked & Loaded, treating fans to "Sex Action," "I Wanna Be Your Man," "Never Enough," and the closing anthem "Rip and Tear."

The band also reached back to Hollywood Vampires for "Over the Edge" and The Missing Peace for "Speed," but it was the power ballad "The Ballad of Jayne" that elevated the set to another level.

The capacity crowd enthusiastically sang every word of the chorus, filling the Granada Theater with voices that created one of the night's most memorable moments.

Coincidentally, much of the evening's setlist mirrored the band's upcoming live album, Live from the Guild Theatre, scheduled for release on July 3.

After decades on the road, Tracii Guns continues delivering sharp, energetic guitar work. Lewis's vocals remain remarkably strong, sounding as powerful today as they did during the band's classic era.

As L.A. Guns exited the stage, the audience continued to swell. Movement throughout the sold-out theater became increasingly difficult as anticipation built for Tom Keifer and the Tom Keifer Band.

Following a brief pre-show huddle beneath blue stage lights, Keifer emerged wearing a black coat, a long scarf, and a gold Les Paul. He eased into the evening with the slow-building title track from Cinderella's debut album, Night Songs.

After handing off the Les Paul to a stage hand / guitarist, Keifer stepped to the microphone for "All Amped Up" from his second solo release, Rise.

With seven musicians—and occasionally an eighth performer—sharing the stage, space was limited, but the band made it work without appearing crowded.

Keifer's acoustic performance of "Heartbreak Station," the first of three consecutive Cinderella songs, sounded bright and crisp. He quickly demonstrated his versatility by moving effortlessly between acoustic guitar and slide guitar during what he jokingly referred to as the "train song."

The evening featured yet another instrument in Keifer's arsenal: a Dobro mounted on a stand. As soon as he struck the opening slide notes, the audience immediately recognized "Bad Seamstress Blues," which seamlessly transitioned into "Fallin' Apart at the Seams" before Keifer switched to a white Explorer with a gold pickguard.

The Cinderella faithful enthusiastically sang every word to "Comin' Home," "Nobody's Fool," "Somebody Save Me," "The Last Mile," "Don't Know What You Got (Till It's Gone)," "Shake Me," and "Shelter Me."

Despite having multiple platinum albums with Cinderella, Keifer didn't rely solely on the band's catalog. While songs from the first three Cinderella albums comprised the majority of the sixteen-song set, he also showcased selections from his solo career, including "The Death of Me" from Rise and "Solid Ground" from The Way Life Goes.

Keifer also treated the packed Granada Theater to a spirited rendition of the Rolling Stones classic "Tumbling Dice" before closing the evening with "Gypsy Road" from Long Cold Winter.

By the end of the performance, the bright red shirt beneath Keifer's jacket had darkened with sweat—a testament to the energy he poured into every song. There was never any question that he gave the audience everything he had from the opening note to the final encore.

The Tom Keifer Band continues its summer tour throughout July, with only a brief break from July 12 through July 16.

TOM KIEFER BAND

L.A. GUNS