Setlist (not in running order):
Contagious
Hungry for Rock – fan request
Black Tiger
Dirty Girl
Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark
Mean streak
Hurricane
Barroom Boogie
Midnight in Tokyo
Eyes of the Strangers
Rescue me
Summertime Girls
I’ll Keep on Believin
Lipstick and Leather
Don’t Stop Runnin
Winds of Change
I Believe
Forever
I’ll Cry
Hard Times
Straight Through the Heart
The night started off with Zebra guitarist Randy Jackson doing an acoustic set including some solo material along with Zrbra classics like “Tell Me What You Want” and “Who’s Behind the Door”. Randy has one of the more recognizable voices in hard rock and is very much a trademark to Zebra’s sound. In the stripped down setting Randy delivers with both his voice and guitar. He hits all those high pitched notes just like the records (remember those? albums) and in arrangement, Zebra has always lent to the acoustic sound which really shines throw on “Behind the Door” as Randy strums the twelve string.
It was a strong set but with only just one person providing such a rich sound you really crave more and wish the trio was complete to fill out the sound.
Y&T have been seeing a lot of success, especially in Europe, ever since reforming several years ago and this is the third time I am seeing them on this coast within the last couple years. I gotta say its great to have these San Francisco rockers back in action after such a long absence (its got to be at least twelve maybe thirteen years since they actively toured).
Tonight’s setlist was great. The boys played two hours worth of twenty songs plus fan request “Hungry For Rock” which was excellent. NY/NJ area heavy metal radio DJ Ed Trunk also got his wish in the form of “Straight Through the Heart”, a track I was also hoping would make its way into the set at some point. And for another change in rotation, “Contagious” opened the show and was a much welcomed addition in this journalist/fan’s opinion. I always thought it was a solid rocker and you gotta love the cheesy video from the 80’s.
Dave Meniketti (vocals and guitar) and Phil Kennemore (bass) remain at the core of the band joined by second guitarist John Nymann and Mike Vanderhule on drums. After twenty plus years (yes that’s right the first Y&T album came out in the late 70’s when they were called Yesterday & Today) of making music, Mr. Meniketti continues to play his ass off on that guitar. His tone is warm and leads are as sharp as ever. He is definitely one of the most underrated and least recognized guitarists.
Up to this point the band has not recorded any new material and it is unknown if they will. This recent post 2000 touring cycle has just been an opportunity for the band and fans to get reacquainted with their well regarded past.
Y&T recently released their first official live concert for DVD (see below for details) so do yourself a favor and add it to your collection. Y&T have deservedly earned their place as A class Hard Rock/Heavy Metal that should be part of every metalhead’s library.
“Earthshaker”, “Black Tiger”, and “Mean Streak” are essential.
DVD1:
1. Intro: From the Moon
2. Open Fire
3. Lipstick and Leather
4. Don't Stop Runnin'
5. Dirty Girl
6. Surrender
7. Don't Be Afraid of the Dark
8. Mean Streak
9. Lonely Side of Town
10. Barroom Boogie
11. Winds of Change
12. Eyes of a Stranger
13. Summertime Girls
14. Hurricane
15. Rescue Me
16. I'll Cry for You
17. Rock & Roll's Gonna Save the World
18. I Believe in You
19. Forever
20. Black Tiger
DVD2:
Bonus Materials: Backstage after the show, meet and greet, sound check, before the show, outtakes, photo gallery, Live at Bang Your Head Festival 2006. |
