Rockin’ at the St. George Theater
Staten Island

When I was a little girl of 9 or 10, I used to sneak out of bed to watch Headbangers Ball. My early crushes had long hair. I poured over Metal Edge magazine, hanging assorted men to cover my flowered wallpaper. I wished I was old enough to go to concerts and dress like a hooker as all the metal chicks did. So much that it was my Halloween costume of choice for several years. I was fascinated by the heavy metal subculture, allured by the rawness that contrasted the simplicity of radio-friendly popular music. It holds a special place in my heart’s development… the extreme, the taboo, the bad ass… the start of my discernment, wanting more, different, more exciting than the others around me.

This deep nostalgia inspired my purchasing tickets to the Live/Loud Tour at nearby St. George Theater, a historic Vaudevillian theater renovated to its exquisite former glory.

The hair metal men were kings, in their elaborate stylings, in their excessive lifestyles. But now, so long after their reign has ended, as I watched with a childish excitement, I realize the softened and distracted world needs them even more–pure, authentic, unapologetic, true to the ideals of a bygone time. They are special simply in their continuation of remaining who they are–in spite of the degradation of quality in popular forms of art and the ubiquitous superficiality that was left in its place. I cheekily remarked during the show that I would only see musicians over 55 now as they embrace a higher standard, they have what I miss most. And it is that magic, that missing piece, that made the show so fantastic.

The gorgeous theater.

We had a two-seat row. Perfection!

Winger. Kip Winger was most certainly on my bedroom wall back then. Though I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from them–here and now in 2023–I was so impressed with their set. Kip’s magic was just as potent, perhaps because I have aged as well in proportion to these hard rockers. They rocked with enthusiasm and with a musical talent that I am certain was not my biggest priority back then. This is live music.

It was Kip’s birthday and we all sang for him. He was sweetly excited about the rendition of Happy Birthday.

My vinyl–should have brought it to get signed.

Next was Kiefer Band, the band lead by Tom Kiefer of Cinderella. His talent is through the roof. I was floored by the show and did not want it to end. The transformative performance had me and my friend texting repeatedly the next day about how the show had lingered on in our minds and hearts. The way it used to be. It is no wonder Tom Kiefer endures.

If either of these bands returns, I would see them again without hesitation. For so many reasons. Support quality. Support live music. Support your local metal show.