BY THOMAS S. ORWAT, JR.
North Tonawanda, NY—Another spectacular hard rock show took center stage at the beautiful and historic West Herr Riviera Theatre, an intimate venue with a 1,100-seat capacity. On this sunny spring evening, rock fans gathered to witness the legendary Lita Ford—former member of the iconic all-female ’70s band The Runaways—deliver a mesmerizing performance. Opening the show was the multi-platinum duo Nelson, fronted by twins Gunnar and Matthew Nelson, the sons of acclaimed 1950s actor and musician Ricky Nelson.
Fresh off her electrifying performance at last week’s prestigious M3 Rock Festival in Maryland, Lita Ford, dressed in a skin tight red outfit- showcased spot-on vocals and blistering guitar skills. Nearly five decades into her career, she continues to captivate audiences with her undeniable talent. Over the course of her acclaimed solo career, Ford has released eight studio albums, with her most popular, Lita (1988), reaching No. 29 on the US Billboard charts and earning Platinum certification.
Lita and her band—Patrick Kennison on guitar, Bobby Rock on drums, and Marten Andersson on bass—hit the stage at 8:45 PM and immediately tore into the heavy-hitting track “Gotta Let Go” from Lita’s second studio album, ‘Dancin’ On The Edge.’ The music-loving crowd, which filled more than half of the theater, was dialed in from the first note.
Lita Ford’s performance of “Hungry,” the fourth song of the evening, was a testament to her lasting talent. She delivered a wickedly fabulous solo at the conclusion, showcasing her skill and ability to improvise. At 66 years old, she continues to impress with spot-on vocals and effortless guitar work. Recognized as the first queen of metal, she proves that she has no plans to slow down anytime soon.
“Play some country,” Lita jokingly said to guitarist Patrick Kennison. After a Kennison played a few tasty licks, Lita sarcastically responded, “I guess that was country.” She and Patrick laughed and then launched into the track “Play with Fire” from her highly underrated 1991 release, ‘Dangerous Curves.’
The next song, “Back to the Cave,” became a showcase for each band member, with Rock kicking things off with a short drum solo, followed by Marten Andersson delivering an EPIC mind-blowing bass solo. Kennison was next, his tasty solo building toward a stunning twin-guitar harmony between Lita and Kennison. Their undeniable chemistry was on full display, weaving melodies that felt both effortless and powerful. Though the song wasn’t a major commercial hit for Lita, this particular performance stood out as a true highlight of the evening.
Next up was the drum-heavy rocker “Can’t Catch Me,” which built to a high-energy drum longer solo from Rock—ending in a dramatic finish as he slammed his head into his drums.
Shortly after, Lita broke into the classic Runaways hit, ‘Cherry Bomb.’ The audience had remained seated for most of the show, but a few fans couldn’t resist the overwhelming urge to get on their feet for this one. Lita truly made the song her own, infusing it with a heavier, more metal-driven twist than the original.
After the hard-hitting track “Black Leather,” Lita strapped on her infamous white double-neck guitar as drummer Bobby Rock and bassist Marten Andersson left the stage. Lita and Kennison then delivered a haunting rendition of the Alice Cooper classic “Only Women Bleed,” a song that was also a minor hit for Lita on her 1990 release, ‘Stiletto.’
Lita saved her two biggest hits for the end of the evening. “Let’s light this place up!” she demanded, as the crowd responded by raising their cell phones in the air for the hit single “Close My Eyes Forever.” Originally a duet between Lita and Ozzy Osbourne, Kennison took on Ozzy’s vocal parts for this performance. Live, this song takes on a whole new intense dimension, making for a truly unforgettable concert moment.
The final song of the evening was the chart-topping hit “Kiss Me Deadly.” Before kicking into it, Lita addressed the crowd, saying, “Thank you, North Tonawanda, Happy Mother’s Day, and You guys kicked ass!”
Lita Ford and her amazing band unleashed an electrifying 75-minute performance, ending with a well-deserved standing ovation from the musically satisfied audience at the conclusion of the show.
Lita remains a remarkably enduring entertainer and a highly skilled musician. Her last appearance in the Buffalo, NY area—just 10-15 miles from North Tonawanda—was at the Erie County Fair in August 2016, where she opened a show for rock music legend Bret Michaels and glam-metal band Warrant. Hopefully, she won’t keep us waiting as long next time to experience the magic of one of her stellar performances.
For more Lita Ford visit her site at http://www.litafordonline.com/
For more shows at the West Herr Riviera Theater please visit https://rivieratheatre.org/
Lita Ford setlist 05/10/2025
Gotta Let Go
Larger Than Life
Relentless
Hungry
Playin’ With Fire
Back To the Cave
Can’t Catch Me
Cherry Bomb (The Runaways song)
Black Leather
Only Women Bleed (Alice Cooper cover)
Close My Eyes Forever
Kiss Me Deadly
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Opening the show was Nelson, performing as a duo with twins Gunnar and Matthew Nelson. They delivered an engaging 45-minute set, featuring songs from their 1990 album ‘After the Rain’—which sold over two million copies—along with a brand-new country-influenced track, “1,000 Wild Horses.”
Before performing a tribute to their late father, Ricky Nelson, the twins shared a heartfelt moment with the audience, saying, “These are great songs, and we miss our Pops.” They then played two of his classic songs -“Travelin’ Man” and “Hello, Mary Lou” -mid-set, later closing the show with his signature hit,” Garden Party.”
It was impressive how they seamlessly blended songs from their father, their 35-year-old album, and a brand-new track, making it all sound cohesive.
During the set, Matthew reflected on their early career, explaining that when they started in the late ’80s, they were often lumped in with hair metal bands. However, they saw themselves more as a modern version of the 1960 British band The Hollies.
Adding a touch of humor, Matthew joked about photos he had seen earlier in the day from a fan who had attended their 1990 performance at a local Catholic high school, which had won the show in a contest by sending in the most postcards. He remarked, “We were beautiful chicks, I must admit,” and the audience burst into laughter, reminiscing about their youthful hair metal looks back then.
The Nelson twins were engaging, their harmonies were out of this world, and their undeniable chemistry made for a truly memorable performance. Hopefully, they’ll return to the West Herr Riviera Theater for a headlining show with a full band.
For more on Nelson visit https://www.nelsontwins.com/
Nelson setlist
More Than Ever
I Can Hardly Wait
Only Time Will Tell
{Can’t Live Without Your} Love and Affection
1,000 Wild Horses
Travelin’ Man {Ricky Nelson cover}
Hello, Mary Lou {Ricky Nelson cover}
How Can I Miss You
After The Rain
Just Once More
Garden Party {Ricky Nelson & The Stone Canyon Band cover}
Thomas S. Orwat Jr.
RockMusicStar.com 
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