BY THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR.
North Tonawanda, NY – “I can’t see you, but I can feel you and it feels so good,” declared L.A. Guns singer Phil Lewis. His stage-lit, almost blinded face captured the raw emotion of the moment. The legendary 80’s Sunset Strip hard rock band L.A. Guns performed at the beautiful West Herr Riviera Theater on Wednesday evening. It was the second date of their “Lucky MF’r Tour.” Despite the crowd being at only half capacity, the passionate and loyal fans who attended were treated to an unforgettable performance.
Powered by the classic lineup—dynamic duo Phil Lewis on vocals and Tracii Guns on lead guitar—along with Ace Johnson on guitar, Johnny Martin on bass, and Shawn Duncan on drums, L.A. Guns was dialed in: fresh, hungry, and ready to rock. They quickly proved that not only had they survived the ’80s, but they had also evolved into one of the most polished, entertaining and creative bands in rock music today.
L.A. Guns has been on a creative high in recent years, releasing five studio albums in just eight years. Their latest release, “Leopard Skin,” dropped on April 5 and has been hailed as one of their best in decades. This album leans more toward the blues-rock stylings, diversity, and swagger of The Rolling Stones and classic Aerosmith than their previous releases.
On this evening, L.A. Guns launched into a compelling 13-song set, kicking things off with the explosive track “Cannonball” from their 2021 album “Checkered Past.” The band looked sharp and energized, defying their years—Phil Lewis rocked a sleek black muscle shirt and sounded vocally incredible all evening, while Tracii Guns flaunted his FU-Tone FU PRO GUITAR, the Tracii Guns Signature Model.
After a barrage of three classic tracks—”Electric Gypsy,” “Over the Edge,” and “Sex Action”—during which a female dancer joined the band on stage, they performed a new track entitled “Hit and Run.” This also saw Tracii switch to a new hollow-body Gretsch guitar. This was only the second time the band had played this song live, and Lewis had to check the lyrics on his iPad, which was brought out on a bar stool next to him.
Before the sleazy rock anthem “I Wanna Be Your Man,” Tracii Guns dazzled the audience with an intro guitar prelude that began with lightning-fast notes, slowly burning blues, and seamlessly segueing into the riff of the Ted Nugent classic “Cat Scratch Fever.”
Soon after, the band kicked into their second single, “Lucky Motherfucker,” from the “Leopard Skin” album. It’s an extremely catchy song, and it sounded even better live. Afterwards, Lewis briefly left the stage, and Tracii Guns launched into the opening riff of the classic AC/DC song “Hells Bells.” The rest of the band joined in, and the crowd went wild, raising their fists and devil horns in the air.
Shortly afterward, L.A. Guns closed the evening with their Billboard-charting hit, “Ballad of Jane.” A timeless classic, the song has evolved over the years, taking on new layers of emotion each time the band delivers it live. As the first notes rang out, the crowd was transported—swept into a time machine that carried them back to a familiar and comforting moment in their lives. Some songs never lose their magic—they just grow more special over time.
The show wrapped up with the high-energy rocker “Rip and Tear.” During the song, Phil Lewis introduced the band members, giving each a brief instrumental solo moment to shine. Drummer Shawn Duncan’s solo was particularly impressive, as he summoned the power and intensity reminiscent of the late John Bonham.
Afterward, the band met at center stage, bowed to the audience, and then broke into a sarcastic celebratory dance that left the crowd laughing and wondering, “What the hell are they doing?”
This was an incredible show from a band that truly deserves to be more popular than they are. Through no fault of their own, the music industry can be weird, rude, unfair, and even corrupt. But L.A. Guns and their fans don’t let it faze them—they know this band is one of the best, only getting better with each passing year. It was also great seeing the band playing a headlining show. The last time L.A. Guns performed in the Western New York area; they were an opener for former Judas Priest guitarist KK Downing’s band KK’s Priest.
Beyond the powerhouse duo of Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns, bassist Johnny Martin and guitarist Ace Johnson proved to be invaluable parts of the lineup—both entertaining performers and exceptionally talented musicians who added energy and precision to the set.
If you get the chance to catch this tour, don’t miss it, there are a ton of dates. You won’t regret it, and you’ll be one lucky mutherfucker!
For more on L.A. Guns visit http://www.lagunsmusic.com/
Red Reign delivered a powerful and well-received 35-minute set as they opened for LA Guns on the second night of the “Lucky MF’r” tour. With their signature melodic hard rock sound, the Richmond, Virginia-based band won over the audience, with their impressive vocals, harmonies, and high-energy performance.
Formed in 2013, Red Reign has built a strong reputation in the rock scene, culminating in their 2023 full-length album “Don’t Look Back,” which features legendary guitarist George Lynch on the title track. The band consists of Carlton “Bubba” McMichael (lead vocals/guitar), Stevie Shred (lead guitar/backing vocals), Larry Moore (bass/backing vocals), and Sammy Lee (drums).
Red Reign will be with L.A. Guns for four more dates. Check them out at www.redreignband.com.
L.A Guns setlist 04-23-2025
Cannonball
Electric Gypsy
Over the Edge
Sex Action
Hit and Run
Like a Drug
Speed
One More Reason
I Wanna Be Your Man
Lucky Motherfucker
Never Enough
The Ballad of Jayne
Rip and Tear
Photos of Red Reign below.
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Thomas S. Orwat Jr.
RockMusicStar.com 
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