Celebrating their 25 year anniversary L.A.’s original rocksters RATT played a sold out show this past Saturday night at the House Of Blues on the Sunset strip in Hollywood California. This was definitely the only place in town for a diehard rock fan to be being that the Sunset strip served as the bands former stomping grounds back in the day and launched them into mega superstars. As it was expected fans turned out in droves to celebrate with the RATT gang and in all my years of concert coverage and attendance I’ve never seen so many people out front of the venue on the hunt for an extra ticket. The guest list was way over their limit and the word was that the band themselves were actually buying tickets to give to friends and family who got cut from the list. As if RATT alone was not a good enough draw the guys tapped the revamped White Lion as support to warm up the crowd prior to the main event.

Vocalist Mike Tramp is the only remaining member of White Lion and according to him if others can do it so can he. Surprisingly Tramp explained to the audience that this was only the second time the band had ever played in L.A. boy I suppose we were pretty damn privileged! Mike and company put on a decent show playing a mix of hits such as their signature song “Wait”, “Little Fighter” and “Radar Love” as well as a couple of new tunes from their forthcoming release Return of the Pride (due in stores on April 29^th). I have to say that I was a bit skeptical as to how this would go down without guitarist extraordinaire Vito Bratta but new axe slinger Jamie Law did a fantastic job. However, as for whether or not the band have the chops to pull of a successful new album that still remains to be seen but if the female fans have anything to say about it there are no worries as long as Mr. Tramp is still onboard. I did find it interesting that Mike not unlike many of the vocalists from this genre has opted to sing the songs in a lower key. Now normally this just doesn’t wash but for Mike I think he sounds better than ever and more of a man than the boyish tones he used to boast. All in all they pulled off a great set. The only thing missing was their top 40 ballad “When the Children Cry” hopefully it won’t take another decade for them to return to L.A. and deliver a proper headlining gig.

When you think back to the 80’s heyday and all the exploits of that era it goes without saying that no RATT show would ever be complete without half naked drunk chicks scattered throughout the audience and there were plenty at this show! Two of which had more eyes on them at times than the band did and yes they were standing right next to me. As the band hit the stage and tore through an hour and a half of their most popular tunes it was one gigantic party from start to finish. I’d say that just about everyone in attendance were reliving their past or for the younger pups whishing they had come from the wild and crazy times before their entrance into the world. Every song with every lyric was sung out loud by the mass that had gathered to see these guys in all their glory and the intimate setting of the club atmosphere made this a party that no one will ever forget. Even I, being the reserved man that I am (yeah right!) went hoarse from yelling out all the words of these killer songs of yester year. Included in the bands set were “Wanted Man”, “Back For More”, “Way Cool Jr.”, ”Lack Of Communication”, “Body Talk”, “Your In Love”, “Lay It Down”, and “Round and Round” among others. As for the band themselves they were all spot on in their performance and really blew my mind and my ears!

The sound was nice and fat and saved the show from the piss poor lighting that was shed upon the guys. Whoever the light guy was he must have missed the memo on how to properly light a stage. Then again he’s probably some scrub who never witnessed the stellar light shows from back in the day when RATT ruled. Next for these guys I hope will be a new CD as it is long overdue and maybe, just maybe they will be able to bring us back to a bit of those glory days when music was actually good. I’d been anticipating the return of RATT for a full scale headlining tour since last summer’s jaunt with Poison and they did not disappoint in the slightest. To the band: Stephen, Warren, Bobby, John and Robbie I must give massive kudos, you guys are the best and I had a blast, thank you. Ratt N Roll baby! 

-Priest