Concert Review/Gallery: Skid Row/Warrant/Winger @ The Colosseum at Caesars in Windsor, ON 7/28/22

The Live To Rock Tour featuring Winger, Warrant and Skid Row, rolls into Windsor, Ontario on July 28th, a hot and sunny Thursday. The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor is filled with rock fans as they make their way into the auditorium, ready for a night of live music. Promptly at 8 o’clock the house lights go down and Winger takes the stage.

Loud cheers erupted throughout the venue as Kip Winger began to sing the words to their well known hit. The setlist contains more fan favorites such as “Hungry”, “Miles Away” and “Headed for a Heartbreak”; K. Winger’s vocals soared across the venue on all of them. Impressed was the one word that came to mind when their set came to a close. Although original members Beach and John Roth are currently both out, the musicianship of this band is never faulting.

Up next are the down boys themselves, Warrant. Being an avid Jani Lane fan I was intrigued to see Warrant live with the talented Robert Mason in his place; keeping an open mind going into their set. Taking the stage at full energy right out of the gate, Mason had my attention within seconds. Tackling the songs with his own flare, but staying true to the classic Warrant sound, Lane’s songs have been left in great hands. Erik Turner and Joey Allen create a fun atmosphere, their longtime friendship shining through as they interact onstage. The ballads “Sometimes She Cries”, “I Saw Red” and “Heaven” were the crowd favorites of the night, the room erupting into loud cheers as they played each one. My personal favorite of the night however, was “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. Collectively as a band their energy shone through on this one; from Mason’s vocals, Steven Sweet’s harmonies, Turner and Allen’s roaring guitars and Robbie Crane’s bass lines, the performance was a 10/10.

“Blitzkrieg Bop” by The Ramones plays through the PA as the lights go down. The crowd erupts into loud cheers as the mighty Skid Row emerges from the darkness at full force. The heavy opening riff to the title track off of their sophomore album, “Slave To The Grind” rips through the venue. With Erik Gronwall at the helm, Skid Row are better than ever. Gronwall commands the stage with pure confidence, having the entire audience’s attention within seconds. Horns raised high in the air, the crowd sings along loudly to the heavy metal classic. Going straight into “The Threat”, the energy doesn’t waver. “You know what to do” Gronwall growls into the microphone before clapping his hands above his head, the audience following suit. Watching original members Rachel Bolan, Scotti Hill and Dave “The Snake” Sabo play the stage, you would think that it’s still 1990; their energy matching Gronwall’s to a T. “Big Guns”, “18 and Life” and “Piece Of Me” follow in the setlist, all tracks off of their beloved debut album.

“This is more like it” Gronwall smiles, taking a moment to admire the crowd. The energy in the room grows now that the fans can fully interact with the band. They close out the night with the anthemic “Youth Gone Wild”, the audience never wanting it to end.

All three bands came to rock and they did not disappoint. The energy in the room was high all night, the live rock music fueling everyone’s souls. If you have the chance to catch this tour out on the road this summer/fall, I highly recommend taking the opportunity.