Concert Review
Stryper
Vixen
The Vine at Del Lago Resort
Waterloo, NY
Saturday April 1, 2023
Review/Photos: Joseph Suto
There was no April fooling as two bands from the glorious eighties teamed up for a show inside The Vine at Del Lago Resort and Casino Saturday evening. Both bands were a part of the scene of bands that rose to fame through the airplay of their videos on the once all music channel MTV. Stryper leader Michael Sweet talked about how their video shot to number one on Dial MTV back in the day. He also let the crowd know how much the band appreciates what they do and are very thankful for everything they have achieved.
While most bands from that era have found it hard to maintain a stable lineup, Stryper has stayed intact for the most part with Sweet, his brother Robert on drums and guitarist Oz Fox. The lone exception has been the bass player which has now been occupied by former original FireHouse member Perry Richardson since 2017.
I must say I never had the pleasure of seeing these guys until now. It was everything I had envisioned and more. Michael Sweet is one of this era’s greatest singers and sounded every bit as good as I could have imagined. Add to the mix Fox on guitar and the powerhouse drumming of Robert Sweet along with Richardson holding the back end it really made for an extremely solid show from start to end.
I was hoping to hear “Honestly” but oddly enough they left their lone top 40 song off this setlist. I will say “Calling On You” and “Always There For You” really stood out. The two tracks they played off their latest effort The Final Battle “Transgressor” which opened the show as well as “No Rest for the Wicked” fit right in nicely with the rest of the set. It is good to see bands who still put out new music and are not afraid to mix it into their set. The cool thing about Stryper was it was not about being a nostalgia act.
Set List
Transgressor
Loving You
More Than a Man
Surrender
Calling on You
Free
In God We Trust
Revelation
Sorry
All for One
Always There for You
Divider
No Rest for the Wicked
No More Hell to Pay
Soldiers Under Command
To Hell With the Devil
Sing-Along Song
Vixen kicked things off in fine style. It had been some seventeen years since I had last seen the band. These days the band features only drummer Roxy Petrucci from the classic lineup. The rest of the band is comprised of vocalist Lorraine Lewis, guitarist Britt Lightning and bassist Julia Lage. The best thing was that no one in the audience cared who was in the band. These gals put on a dynamite performance and that was the bottom line. Catch these gals if you can as they will be back at Tags in the summer as they open for Tom Keifer and Stephen Pearcy.
Vixen Set List
Rev It Up
Waiting for the Big One (Femme Fatale Cover)
How Much Love
Cruisin’
Cryin’
Runnin’ With the Devil / I Want You to Rock Me / Still of the Night
Hell Raisers
Edge of a Broken Heart
