Winger, Dokken, Slaughter, Pearcy & Blades at the Badlands

by Derric Miller
– Managing Editor —

February 18, 2016 at Badlands Gold & Pawn in Sioux Falls, S.D. —

Kip Winger, Don Dokken, Mark Slaughter, Stephen Pearcy, Jack Blades with the Badlands House Band …

Well this was crazy …

Badlands House Band was tasked with a damn hard feat of musical strength—learn to play the biggest hits by Winger, Dokken, Slaughter, Ratt and Night Ranger. That had to be nigh impossible. But it wasn’t—the band killed, the singers (albeit one fell a few notches below the other four) were brilliant, and the joint was packed. It was the ‘80s all over again.

In fact that might surprise more than a few, one of the Badlands House Band members noted that out of all the songs to learn, Winger’s were the hardest. Shocking? Shouldn’t be if you were or are paying attention. You’d think it was trying to blaze the solos by George Lynch or Warren DeMartini, but nope, it was the Winger compositions. But they figured it out in time and everything was on point.

Mad props have to go to guitarist Dave Couthern. He pulled off all of those memorable solos with aplomb. Some of those solos could have been sketchy and no one would have blamed him, but he was nearly flawless.

Out of order, but the best of the night, was Mark Slaughter. He’s been hit or miss at times in live shows over the years, but his melodic banshee wail was almost cartoonishly good. It was a mob of screaming fans looking at each other like “did he really just hit that note?” Songs like “Mad About You,” which probably couldn’t compete with songs like Ratt’s “Round and Round” or Winger’s “Madelaine” back in the day, may have been the best song of the night. Of course “Fly to the Angels” resonated with everyone.

In a comeback, Don Dokken had been struggling with his vocals for years. Key changes, down tuning, all of the tricks were made live to try to pull the songs off in some semblance of the original recording. Sure as hell didn’t happen this night, though. “Into the Fire” and “Alone Again” were the Dokken of old, only choosing not to go for the higher notes a couple of times during his set. He’ll likely never be able to pull off songs like “Kiss of Death” again, but to hear one of the best Metal singers back on his game was honestly uplifting.

Kip Winger … there’s little chance he wouldn’t be great. If you’ve ever heard the band Winger live, they are all virtuoso’s with their instruments, including Kip and his voice. “Seventeen” sounded surprisingly refreshing, and somewhere in the crowd there was a kid named Stewart wearing a Winger shirt standing next to two burnouts in AC/DC and Metallica shirts, respectively.

Stephen Pearcy was the one guy who wasn’t quite on his game for the show. He did not sound bad; hearing him sleazily snarl his way through “Lay It Down” was a highlight of the night. Obviously, people went bonkers for “Round and Round.” His voice just sounded a little thin, and tinny, at times … but he’s still Pearcy, so it rocked.

Jack Blades closed down the show. He was a last-minute replacement for Tom Keifer of Cinderella, who was double-booked and couldn’t make the show. (He is coming to Badlands later in the year for a concert.) Blades has been in town recently playing at another venue, The District, and like the others, he takes his showmanship seriously and always has a seriously good time. His pipes were stellar, and in fact, all of the other gents joined him on stage for the last song of the night, “You Can Still Rock in America.”

Of course, Ron Keel is the Badlands House Band singer and he was on stage all night providing mammoth backing vocals and sometimes co-lead vocals. The band actually opened the night with a short set, so yes, lead vocals too.

It seemed a bit of a quirky idea and really, a somewhat “dangerous” one, because the band had to learn all of that music and play it as the singers have done it a thousand times. There was a chance it could backfire. It surely didn’t. Congrats to the Badlands House Band, and whomever thought of the idea in the first place.

It was a sold out, incredible show that brought back so many memories for the older audience, and made new memories for the younger ones who didn’t grow up in the ‘80s.

Let’s hope they invite a few more singers back for another invitational. Ted Poley, anyone?

Kip Winger, Don Dokken, Mark Slaughter, Stephen Pearcy & Blades with the Badlands House Band Concert Photo Gallery

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All photos by Eric Dalseide.