Cinderella, photo by Chantel Donnan
There are a vast number of Cinderellas at Disneyland. There are the plushy ones with disfigured oval faces in the Main Street shops, the miniature ones painted onto figurines and Christmas ornaments, and even the living, breathing ones that walk the cobblestones of Fantasyland. Last week, however, the best place to find Cinderella was just outside “The Happiest Place on Earth.” The 80s metal group named for the fairytale heroine stopped at Anaheim’s House of Blues on their 25th Anniversary Tour, and the evening was filled with incredible music, screaming fans, and the finest of glam rock fashions.
Cinderella stacked the deck on this tour, bringing with them a pair of talented opening acts certain to get the crowd riled up. First up was the rock group Kettleblack, Orange County locals who got the audience moving with their blues and funk-influenced sound. Kettleblack’s presence on the stage was one of genuine excitement and awe; they tossed EPs into the audience and profusely thanked Cinderella for inviting them on tour throughout their short-but-sweet set. Once the crowd was sufficiently warmed up, Los Angeles rockers Silent Treatmenthit the stage with a heavy, aggressive sound and stage presence that left the crowd hungry for more. Their time on stage, like the group before them, was brief, but Silent Treatment performed at a high octane level and made the most of the their moment.
As Silent Treatment cleared the stage, the house speakers began playing AC/DC’s “Rock And Roll Ain’t Noise Pollution.” The crowd below lazily mouthed the lyrics along with Brian Johnson’s voice, hardly paying attention to the roadies on stage busily making last minute preparations. As the song came to a close, all the lights in the building dramatically shut off, and Cinderella made their entrance. The band (which, unlike most of their generational counterparts, is still touring with the original lineup) opened with an energetic performance of “Once Around the Ride,” and segued immediately into the equally thrilling song “Shake Me.” Lead singer Tom Keifer’s vocals were just as strong as in the earliest stages of his career, and he smiled as he showed off his incredible range to the crowd.
Cinderella, photo by Chantel Donnan
Cinderella’s set included a number of their biggest hits, including “Night Songs,” “Gypsy Road,” and “Don’t Know What You Got.” The Philadelphia boys put on a well-rounded, rich performance during the night. Both Keifer and guitarist Jeff LaBar played myriad instruments, from guitar to harmonica, piano, and saxophone. Drummer Fred Coury sang backup vocals, and even got a chance to step up to the microphone during “Heartbreak Station.” The addition of keyboardist Gary Corbett to the group meant jazzy keyboard solos that added soul to the songs and brought many old favorites to a whole new dimension.
In addition to their incredible talent, the band put on a show in true glam rock fashion; LaBar changed outfits three separate times during the night, and Keifer’s black leather pants, blue crushed velvet coat, and polka-dotted scarf (he even donned a Slash-style top hat for a few numbers) screamed of nostalgia for the glory days of rock n roll. The fans on the floor ate the whole scene up, and were screaming for more as the band took a bow – at precisely 11:49 pm, just enough time to flee before their tour bus turned to a pumpkin.
