World-renowned rock legend brings his iconic hits to a small suburb in Colorado, in a rare, up-close acoustic performance. Don’t miss out if Kip Winger ever visits your area.
By Bryan Ahearn
For any other performer, the pandemic of the last 16 months may have just been an average pause in the action.
Not for Kip Winger.
Not since the age of eight—Kip remarked to the crowd gathered Wednesday night in Parker, Colorado—had he gone more than a year without a gig.
For even at age eight, his talent must have been that apparent—foreshadowing a career as a bassist with Alice Cooper, and as one of the founding member’s of MTV’s rock and roll generation with his band Winger, and a successful solo artist and composer. (Did you know Kip is a Grammy-nominated composer of a ballet score?)
Fast forward 40 years later past the prime of MTV, past the hair styles, past the shredded jeans and past the spaghettified guitar solos of the era, and you’ll find Kip Winger, still delivering on every ounce his standard of expertly arranged rock melodies.
And you’ll still also find scores of loyal fans, as he did in Parker Wednesday night, eagerly awaiting the return to Kip’s pitch-perfect, upper registry behind the mic, calculated guitar rhythms, and a list of impactful songs almost too long to mention.
On this night, his fans got that and more, as Kip delivered nothing short of a compelling performance at Deep Space, presented by Artist Plus Entertainment.
In a clean-cut venue more suited for Main Street, U.S.A. than the L.A. Sunset Strip, an indoor concrete staircase led fans down to a well-ventilated, air conditioned basement complete with a spotless bar and surprisingly well-maintained restrooms more fitting of a spa than a rock and roll venue.
But that’s where the clean stopped, and the grit began, as Kip Winger and his musical companion Robby Rothschild layed down one of the best shows I’ve been to of any genre, at any place.
Because great music is just great music. No matter the time. No matter the place.
Throughout the evening, Kip strummed his 12-string guitar with exuberance, while Robby thundered along mightily across a pair of bongo drums and floor stomps—a surprisingly invigorating translation of 80s rock staples.
Of course, the hits from Winger—the band of Kip’s namesake—were on full-on mode, and it was a mood.
Winger hits such as “Easy Come, Easy Go,” and “Headed For A Heartbreak” we’re particularly astounding when performed acoustically by Kip, with Heartbreak’s post-chorus, twinkling acoustic guitar interlude providing a requisite pause in energy, and perhaps reflection, from an amped crowd drawing from emotions that perhaps spanned longer than the last 16 months.
And there was “Can’t Get Enough,” where Kip implored the crowd to sing the refrains back as he moved the song to its rousing finish.
Sometimes, great music is just great music. No matter the time. No matter the place.
In fact all the songs sounded great, with Kip’s voice was relentless in it’s ferocity, precision and intricacy—somehow all at once.
Probably one of my favorite moments was an entrancing rendition of “Pages and Pages,” as Kip took the seat behind a keyboard for one of the most amazing and mesmerizing pieces of music I’ve ever heard.
So moved was I, that I sought out Robby Rothschild after the show to find out the name of that song, that ended up being from one of Kip’s solo albums, From The Moon to the Sun. Without hesitation, Robby was able to answer. So in-step with Kip that it must have been part of the reason the two came off so well together.
Kip Winger is one of those rare, landmark musician who is still great at what he does, and deserves equal mention along other influential frontmen of the genre such as Jon Bon Jovi (Bon Jovi) and Brett Michaels (of Poison).
Kip’s commitment to his craft is unwavering, as evidenced by his inclination to not start his set until he thought his sound was just right, even after soundchecking earlier in the day.
To the crowd, though, everything sounded just right, and were eager to sing along to favorite hits such as “Madeline,” “Down Incognito,” and yes, “Seventeen.”
Perhaps the most memorable moment of the evening, however, was Kip entertaining a request to play a song called “Daniel” from his solo album This Conversation Seems Like A Dream.
This, after retorting to a fan that yes, he would play it. Only tomorrow night.
In Wyoming.
Kip, in fact, did play “Daniel” after all, that nignt—in Parker, Colorado—along with every other classic he played, and then some—no matter how long the pause lasted.
Because Kip’s music has lasted, whether 16 months or 40 years.
Because great music is just great music. No matter the time. No matter the place.
Lucky for us, great music came to Mainstreet, U.S.A., if only for one celebrated evening in Parker.
And with any luck, it won’t be the last time great music visits Deep Space.
https://www.kipwinger.com/upcoming-events
Score: 10/10
Kip Winger: Astounding that he’s written these different types of music.
MavStar 