Must Buy Alert - Winger: Live

Kip Winger and crew recently released a new live double disc set showcasing their most famous tunes. Live (recorded during a 2007 tour stop in California) is on Shrapnel Records and features these songs:

Disc One

Blind Revolution Mad
Loosen Up
Easy Come, Easy Go
Your Great Escape
Down Incognito
Rainbow In the Rose
Generica
Junkyard Dog

Disc Two

Right Up Ahead
Reb's Guitar Solo
You Are the Saint, I Am the Sinner
Rod's Drum Solo
Headed for a Heartbreak
Can't Get Enough
Seventeen
Who's The One
Miles Away
Madalaine
Blue Suede Shoes (acoustic)

I honestly don't have much to even say about this double disc set because it's just so darn good. Of course, if you've ever seen Winger in concert you know the band is a really tight group of true musicians. Reb Beach sounds awesome here and Kip's voice is particularly strong.  I want to believe that this album is basically raw - there doesn't seem to be a lot of studio fixes. I've always been of the opinion that a live album should be just that, but I know a lot of artists disagree and "patch" mistakes via Pro Tools and other recording techniques.

My favorite Winger song is "Down Incognito" and I really love hearing the song live. The bass line is top drawer - it's so good here it makes me remember why I fell in love with Kip Winger in the first place (and yes, the good looks don't hurt!).

I do have a criticism: "Spell I'm Under" is missing. "Spell I'm Under" is one of Winger's best songs, and Kip performs it wonderfully during his solo gigs. That song error aside, the Live release is well worth 15 bucks. The crowd is definitely into the show and that seems to help the momentum throughout the set.  Did I mention Reb Beach wails? My Glam goodness...you don't even need to listen to his solo to appreciate his talent. The guitar solo during "Headed for a Heartbreak" stands up as one of the best of the entire Glam genre - and he nails it here.

I seriously have nothing else to add. Trust me - you need to buy this album. I typically hate live releases, but I've listened to this album about 20 times now - and I've had the CD for exactly one week.

Comments

[Christian Graus]

Winger have some good songs, and Pull is their best, but I bought the new CD at ROK last year and never got into it much, nor did I get into their live show especially. This is on DVD as well, I believe, and I was not planning to buy it.

[JT]

I agree with you Allyson, this is a great CD, and I'm not a big fan of live albums either. I've enjoyed almost everything Winger has done, and I think a big reason is Reb Beach the guitarist. I like his recordings with Dokken also, and I don't really like Dokken.

[Joe]

I'll definatelly pick this up..I met Kip and Reb years back and theyre both super cool guys..Thanks for the awesome review Allyson..Take care =)

[Frank66]

GREAT DVD/CD!

If you guys like Reb Beach, you have to buy the Whitesnake - Live: In the Still of the Night DVD.

[Christian Graus]

That I agree on, although he is totally outshined by Doug Aldrich

[Chessie]

Yes, I'm grumped that Spell I'm Under was dropped from the setlist because that's one of my favorites (Heading For a Heartbreak being #1). I do like that they give the other two guys--John Roth and Rod Morgenstein--a chance to shine as well with long solos. The only thing that could have made this perfect would have been to have Cenk Erglou (keyboards on IV) there so Kip wouldn't have had to alternate between keys, bass, and acoustic guitar so much. Some folks also argued it would have been better to have Paul Taylor back too but he's doing his own thing now.

It's a popular album on the iPod here. :) I've watched the DVD twice because it was the closest I'd get to see Winger on tour (they haven't been in my area since 2002 and the Poison Hollyweird tour).

>^..^<

[Hollpass]

As a big fan back in the day of Kip Winger - couldn't wait to actually be 17 when that song was a hit! LOL! I was quite disappointed when I saw him recently in Denver! Probably won't pick this one up!

[EddieLongHair]

I was never really a fan of Winger, but when I saw them a few years back with Poison, I must admit I was pleasantly surprised. Now, with that said, I just saw them a month or two ago at the famed Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ and was truly dissapointed. It felt like they were just jamming in a garage... and not in a good way. Voices were off, no energy, sound was bad (of course that could have just been because The Stone Pony is a shithole). But overall, not impressed. But for Reb fans, you can check out an interview on my friends podcast at nefariousbovineradio.com, episode #145. Just ignore most of the music he (The Nafarious Bovine, that is) plays. I do!

[Gary]

Never a huge Winger fan, but Reb truly is one of the most under-rated guitarists from the era. (and yet another Pennsylvanian might I add...)

[Vicky]

I saw them in Toronto in February. Very mediocre show I must say. Although, it was quite funny when Kip (who hasn't aged very well in my opinion) started singing "She's only 35!" because almost all of the women in the crowd were in their mid-30's.

[J Lucas]

Wow... can't believe some of the live reviews in here. As far as 80's bands go, Winger is by far the most talented... musically AND vocally. They don't 'run tape' live like most hard rockers do and can actually sing harmonies in key. I saw this recent tour and they were excellent.

[don]

most talented? that makes me laugh. not gonna buy this or any of theirs. just not into them. most talented...............i think not.

[Vicky]

it's all personal opinion kiddos. Let's remember that.

[Christian Graus]

Well, Don, I don't like Winger much, but there's no question that Reb is a killer guitar player, and Kip is a talented musician, too.

As Vicky said, it's all personal opinion ( but there's no arguing Kip or Reb's technical skills, regardless of if you like what they do with them )

[Vicky]

Case and point...My husband HATES my kind of music. He cannot stand it. (He's the original drummer of Cannibal Corpse, and he's been the drummer for Goldfinger since 1994, so he likes heavy heavy shit, and punk)...anyhoo...I dragged him to Winger because my friend cancelled on me at the last minute. He cursed me the whole way there saying how "lame" my music is, however, after seeing the show, he DID comment on what talented musicians they are. So no matter what you may think of Winger, there's no denying their musical talent.

[Christian Graus]

Yeah, that's exactly the point I was making :-)

[don]

yes but "most talented" is a very bold statement. i agree that reb is a very good player and the kip really does know how to play bass. after all, he played for alice cooper before starting winger. but to say that they are the most talented band i have to disagree with...........and i did just that. maybe my opinion was a bit harsh to you but that is my opinion. no bad feelings or anything, just stating my opinion.

[J Lucas]

I meant all around, the band seems better than the rest of the hair metal. Yeah, Yngwie can blow all these clowns away, but overall.. (vocally and technical wise) I gotta give it to Winger. Whitesnake was also very good. 10 times better than stuff like Crue and GnR... (sloppy, mistake filled garbage live)

[don]

to each his own.