Tom#Keiferband
Jergels –Warrendale, PA
October 17, 2019
Over the years, I had the good fortune of seeing Cinderella in concert on numerous occasions. The first time was way back in July of 1989 at the Buckeye Lake Music Center (which was basically a big–ass campground with a stage on one end) in Newark, Ohio with Bon Jovi, Winger and the Bullet Boys. The years have kind of fogged up the specific details of that show,but I recall that day being extremely hot and Cinderella blowing headlines Bon Jovi off the stage. The last time I saw Cinderella in concert was at Wild Bill’s in Atlanta, Georgia in August of 2010. I mentioned this because each–and–every time I saw themin concert, Cinderella put on a spectacular rock show and to this day I firmly believe that they were, hands down, one of the best live bands of their era.
However, for one reason or another, in recent years I hadn’t been able to catch Tom Keifer’s as a solo act until his recent sold–out performance at Jergel’s Rhythm Grill in Warrendale, PA. Not surprising in the least, he didn’t disappoint.
Opening the night with the heavy blues-scorched track “Touching the Divine”, from his recently dropped 2nd solo album “Rise” (on Cleopatra Record), Tom and the appropriately name #Keiferband delivered a stellar 16 song set which was a essentially a Cinderella greatest hits show with a few solo tracks sprinkled in for good measure.
Speaking of Tom’s solo records, if you haven’t picked “Rise” yet you should stop reading this review and head immediately to your local record store and buy the album (and yes, my old-ass said record store –go buy an actual album and don’t just stream the release). But be forewarned, “Rise” isn’t your mama’s Cinderella. Whereas 2013’s “The Way Life Goes“was washed in a straight-forward blues approach, “Rise” is a definitely darker and more brooding slice of hard rock nirvana. Admittedly, the album may take a listen or two before the full weight of the Tom’s contemplative and reflective song writingsinks in, but once it does, I guarantee “Rise” will quicklybecome one of your favorite albums of the year.
?OK, back to the concert review. One of the first things that struck me about Tom’s performance at Jergel’s was that he and the #Keiferband – guitarist Tony Higbee, bassist Billy Mercer, keyboardist Kory Myers, drummer Jarred Pope and background vocalists Savannah Keifer and Kendra Chantelle seemed to be having a damn good time. From classic, crowd pleasing favorites such as “Night Songs” “Nobody’s Fool,” and “Somebody Save Me’ to more recent solo cuts like “It’s Not Enough,” “Solid Ground” and “Rise,” Tom’s vocals where strong, the band was musically tight and the energetic crowd of 600 plus was revved up all night.
One of the highlights of the night came when they rolled out a piano on stage for Tom to perform “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” with his wife Savannah. Tom took the crowd to church with a meticulously performed rendition before going on too close out the set with two more Cinderella classics “Shake Me and “Shelter Me.”
When the band returned to the stage for their three–song encore that included closing out the night with “Gypsy Road,” I couldn’t help but smile at the ladies in front of me. All decked out in their jean jackets and concert shirts, these (let’s say middle-aged) ladies at had their beers held high and had been singing along with every word all night. Watching them relive their youth, even for a brief time, made me appreciate Tom’sperformance all–the–more. With all the well-documented vocal struggles he has endured over the years (7 surgeries at last count), Tom proved that even at 58 years of age, Tom is still a rock n’ roll badass.
Set List
Touching the Divine
Night Songs
Coming Home
It’s Not Enough
Somebody Save Me
Rise
Nobody’s Fool
Solid Ground
Bad Seamstress Blues / Fallin’ Apart at the Seams
The Last Mile
Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)
Shake Me
Shelter Me
Encore:
Long Cold Winter
The Death of Me
Gypsy Road
Videos (I did not shoot or post these)
Don’t Know What You Got Til it’s Gone and Shake Me: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dU5WBhWtRpE
Gypsy Road: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rzZybinIllo
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