Tom Keifer at the Arcada Theatre (7/14/2023)

Has it been a whole year since I last caught legendary Cinderella singer Tom Keifer at the Arcada Theatre? It has? Well “somebody get the doctor” because this online metal journalist thought he was “gonna crash” if he didn’t get another live dose of “Night Songs” in him sooner than later. Thankfully, nearly a year to the day, Keifer and his band rolled back into town, armed and ready with mega riffs, singalong choruses, and enough energy to blow out the power grid of the entire western Chicagoland area. OK, they didn’t do that, but they did arguably ward off a tornado with their sonic attack (and that I’m not making up).

What changed from last year’s set? Not much aside from some setlist surprises. The solo songs that were played last year were switched out for new ones. A couple of Cinderella gems that didn’t make the cut last year were thrown in as well, namely the classic power ballad “Heartbreak Station” and “Hot & Bothered”, the latter a deep cut off the Wayne’s World soundtrack which channeled the sleaze of the Night Songs era. I was far from the only diehard in attendance who was pleased to hear this curveball in all its rollicking glory.

Musically speaking, Keifer and his band remain as invigorated as ever. This is a man who refuses to surround himself with anybody less than professionals, among them being two guitarists, a bassist, a drummer, a keyboardist, and two backup singers, one of which is his wife Savannah. Together, these lifers nail every last nuance of the Cinderella catalog, dead set on recreating the magic of those classic late 80s and early 90s albums without relying on pre-recorded trickery. While this was the bare minimum in Keifer’s heyday, by today’s standards, it’s quite the achievement.

As for Keifer, he remains the star of the show, “screaming his heart out” and commanding the 900 capacity Arcada with stupefying charisma. Leading up to a knockout rendition of The Beatles’ “With a Little Help from My Friends” (done in the manner of Joe Cocker), he thanked the sold-out audience for their undying support, even despite his vocal issues (first polyps and then a paralyzed vocal cord). He then promised that he’d keep doing this until his “last drop of sweat leaves his body”, so there you have it folks: No farewell nonsense from Mr. Keifer!

To expand upon these last points, one can’t help but feel anger and resentment towards some of Keifer’s peers. This man broke his back to buildup his voice again, beating all the odds and refusing to sing any lower than the original key. Meanwhile, other bands of the era trot around the nostalgia circuit with the nerve to cheat their fans with a mime act? Screw that. Clearly, I’m not the only one who feels this way. Even Eddie Trunk agrees, and that’s the first and last time you’ll see that on this webzine! On that note, if you like your rock n’ roll LIVE and LOUD, do yourself a favor and catch Keifer on this summer jaunt. You’ll thank me later.

Setlist