If you’re from outside the United States then it’s unlikely you grew up on Night Ranger unless you were pretty driven. Night Ranger was just one of those big US Rock bands whose label never seemed to make an effort to get them out into the world, still I guess when you shifted as many units domestically as they did why would you? (Their first 3 albums ‘Dawn Patrol’, ‘Midnight Madness’ and ‘7 Wishes’ were a huge). Years later of course that seems like a wasted opportunity – the band had the songs that many that made it across the pond couldn’t match.
35 years later this live CD/DVD shows that they still have it where it matters these days – on the road. Some might of course see Night Ranger 2016 as a ‘heritage act’ or as we say down under ‘Dad Rock’ ; but if you were to check out their last couple of albums you’d find a band arguably writing songs as well s they ever did.
Sadly all bands of ‘a certain age’ seem to think that fans only want their old material – and here spread over 2 CD’s you’ll find 18 tracks – only two of them released in the past twenty years – ‘Growing Up in California’ from 2011’s ‘Somewhere in California’ and ‘High Road from 2014’s even better album of the same name.
For those still curious there’s also a track from a forthcoming album included called ‘Night and Day’ that is also pretty good. Sadly for fans the other ‘new’ track played on the night at Chicago’s House of Blues (off that same forthcoming album) doesn’t make it here – the absence of ‘Running Out of Time’ therefore means you don’t get the full show. On the plus side it certainly sounds like the band’s run of recent form is set to continue.
If you want another live Greatest Hits to go with their 8 other live releases (fair enough 3 were Japan only) then feel free, the sound after all is great, though the keys are lost somewhat in the mix, and the band is in full flight, me personally I’ll wait for the new album or shell out for the DVD release.
Night Ranger -35 Years and a Night in Chicago is also released as a DVD (not reviewed)
