Sunday, May 3, 2015

Indy Concert Review: Kip Winger (solo acoustic) w/Special Guest: Karma - Southport Bar & Grill - Saturday, May 1, 2015



Karma
Hometown: Indy
Genre: 70's to current rock
 

The concept of 'karma' in general is if you do something good or bad, it will return to you in like manner.  If you define it on the local music scene...it's all good! Indy's own, opening for Kip Winger, rocked Southport Bar & Grill, prepping patrons for a kickin' show. Vocalists Gina and Joe traded off and even shared the mic throughout their set.  From Journey to Ozzy Osbourne, the crazy train kept a rollin'. The evening's line-up included Mark Ronson (Uptown Funk), Pink (Raise Your Glass), Bruno Mars (Locked Out of Heaven) and classics from AC/DC (You Shook Me All Night Long), Def Leppard (Pour Some Sugar On Me) and many others. Hey, it's cause and effect, it's rock 'n roll...it's Karma!
 
Karma is:
 
Gina Dowling - vocals/keyboards
Joe Fortin - vocals/guitar
Scott Maxwell - lead guitar/keyboards
Nate Wiencken - vocals/drums
Eric Hammes - bass guitar
Joel Dowling - lights, sound, back-up vocals
 
'Like' and share their Facebook page:
 
 
 
 
Kip Winger
 
The more I get back into the music scene, the greater my musical horizons become.  A solo acoustic show is quite an experience, but a good one...I didn't even miss all those other instruments! There have been times over the last fifteen years when I was away from this that I wondered what certain people were up to. It was sad to see the 80's era fade away...and with it, those who made it what it was.  But life went on...my life, your life...their life.  Time has an interesting way of changing our perspective, and every experience impacts the person we are and the person we become.  Some of those past rockers moved on to other interests, others stuck it out in the music business.  Most of the groups are no longer together, but fortunately, solo artists are popping up from these defunct bands and it seems acoustic and solo is the new musical wave to ride.
 

Kip Winger – Southport Bar & Grill – 5/1/15
Photo credit: Daren Short/Rising Star Photography
 
In retrospect, I can see many changes in music, on the local level and even nationally.  Young women were certainly on the minds and in the music of pretty much all the hair/glam metal bands...example, Winger's 'Seventeen', who Kip quipped is now 43! What does nearly three decades change in your style of music? Just listen to his songs now like 'How Far Will We Go?' and 'Miles Away' and I think you would agree that Winger the band of the 80's sounds much different than Winger the man of today. When I first listened to his newer music, my first thought was 'wow, I don't remember him sounding like this!'  The hard driving, head banging sound that defined the 80's hair metal has become a quieter, more mellow side that I believe comes with age, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that! That being said, Kip can still rock it! Concerned that he'd break a string Friday night, it was actually a fingernail that went (nail file please!)
 

Kip Winger – Southport Bar & Grill – 5/1/15
Photo credit: Daren Short/Rising Star Photography

 
Kip was very 'chatty' and quite interactive with his audience, including them in conversation which involved a few cell phone calls that came through while he was onstage. Hey, when your a** vibrates you know, you just have to answer it!  He was light hearted and seemed quite humored by patron response on more than one occasion. Kip stated, 'you can't take yourself seriously when you're an 80's guy.'  I truly feel that the smaller venue lends an intimacy that is unmatched by larger arenas, and that is a benefit to the performers, especially in today's 'reality' society. Mingled with the dialogue, Mr. Winger performed many older Winger tunes along with his solo music. 'Easy Come, Easy Go', 'Can't Get Enuff', 'Who's The One', 'Headed For A Heartbreak', an instrumental titled 'Songs From The Ocean Floor', 'Miles Away', 'Rainbow In The Rose', 'Spell I'm Under', 'Down Incognito', and of course, 'Seventeen', plus several others.
 
Kip Winger – Southport Bar & Grill – 5/1/15
Photo credit: Daren Short/Rising Star Photography
 
 
Kip has numerous shows scheduled across the U.S. this spring and summer.  I hope you have opportunity to see him in your town.  Check out his official website http://www.kipwinger.com/ for the latest information including his upcoming shows.  'Like' and share his Facebook page too! https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kip-Winger/265389465470?fref=ts  Take a listen to his 2014 release 'Better Days Comin'...( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iar9r_oS5I)  Going solo can be a good thing, and I think with Kip you'll agree, you still can't get enuff...of him! Rock on! 'Nuf said!
 
 
 
 
 


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