L.A. Guns (supporting Tom Keifer)
Myrtle Beach, SC
House of Blues
June 20, 2026
I hate the heat. H.A.T.E it with a passion. I hate the beach, and I hate summer. So why live in Myrtle Beach then? That’s not the point. The point is that it was fucking hot, muggy, and miserable outside on Saturday night at the House of Blues, and when legendary Hollywood sleaze rockers L.A. Guns pulled into town supporting former Cinderella guitarist/vocalist Tom Keifer. Now THAT is a reason for me to be hot and miserable, even for just a moment.
The last time I saw L.A. Guns, believe it or not, was 1990 at the Masquerade in Atlanta, GA, and they were fucking badass. L.A. Guns was a band that I loved in the ‘90s for exactly three albums (the debut s/t, Cocked and Loaded, and Hollywood Vampires). After that, I gravitated to other bands, and L.A. Guns was just one of them that got lost in the shuffle.
After my interview with Tracii Guns about their most recent album, Leopard Skin, I immediately ran back to play the Cocked and Loaded album. The minute it was done, I was on to the debut and Hollywood Vampires. Good lord, how did I let this band out of my sights? Getting to see them again, finally, after all these years, wasn’t something I was going to sleep on.
The House of Blues was packed beyond belief. The only thing I could think of was the Station fire back in 2003. I’m all about a good sold-out show, but there is no way that was a legal number of people. Anyway, it was so great to see so many people packed into that place to see L.A. Guns so early. The band came out on stage and kicked things off with “Cannonball.” This was such a great opening track, and I had never even heard this. It was the perfect combination of sleaze rock and punk rock, and it works brilliantly.
“Electric Gypsy” was next, and the minute that riff kicked in, I knew immediately what it was. I pumped my fist in the air, gave a good holler, and even busted out a little air guitar. The third song, “Over the Edge,” was the absolute highlight of the night for me. Tracii teased the intro for the Ratt classic “Back for More,” and while I’m not sure how many caught on to it, I loved his nod to Robin “The King” Crosby.
While we’re on the topic of it, I have to say that Hollywood Vampires is such an overlooked album. Maybe it’s because it was a darker album and less “friendly” than the others? Either way, I would’ve loved to have heard them open with this one. That sludgy groove mixed with Led Zeppelin hooks creates such a presence: hands down, one of their best pieces.
The band was in absolutely amazing form. The only two members I knew were longtime vocalist Phil Lewis and founding member, guitarist Tracii Guns. While not the same “classic” lineup, the other guys fit in perfectly. They played the parts as they should, but over time, they’ve managed to make them their own pieces, so it’s cool to hear a band not just duplicating a previous band’s lineups.
Tracii Guns looks like he has literally aged backward, and as for Phil Lewis, the man is now a legend in my mind. Looking more like a skuzzy backroom Casino rat than a glam rock prince, Phil Lewis was strutting around and taking on this kind of persona. David Lee Roth has been doing that for the last 15 years or so, and I love it because it shows that they’re having fun. It’s not just a job for these guys; it’s what they do, and Phil Lewis definitely commands your attention. It was kind of entertaining to watch him sing “Sex Action” while looking like he was in the movie The Sting.
The rest of the set featured “Speed” from 2017’s The Missing Peace and the four bangers of “I Wanna Be Your Man,” “Never Enough,” “The Ballad of Jayne,” and “Rip and Tear,” making most of the set made up of Cocked and Loaded material. Fan favorites, hits, and deep cuts were all present, and they did it all with about an hour to work with. It was a perfect opener setlist, and it made me want to claw my way to the next L.A. Guns headline show.
L.A. Guns in 2026 is something that I was not prepared to love. Where most bands from their era tug on the strings of nostalgia and just phone it in, L.A. Guns sound relevant, exciting, and fun. The camaraderie between Lewis and Guns is undeniable, and to see them on stage and enjoying themselves and each other so much, it’s confirmation enough that those guys were born to make great fucking music together. As an “old” fan, it was fun to see L.A. Guns still loving what they do. It was like catching up with an old friend that I hadn’t seen in decades and much like I’d have to do with an actual friend, I have a lot of lost time to catch up.
L.A. Guns, welcome back, friends.
About The Author
