White Lion and Enuff Z'Nuff Li

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REVIEW BY: Marr

"We've grown up, but we've held onto our rock 'n' roll…" -Mike Tramp 3/2/2005

Hey Headbangers,

I caught Mike Tramp/Enuff Z‘Nuff on their tour Wednesday night when they stopped in Dallas.

Started the evening with a warm-up at B.D.'s, before heading down the street to Firewater Bar & Grill. Normally bands play outside on the patio. This would be really cool with the fountains and lights, but lately the weather here has been crummy. They cleared the floor and set up in the corner of what's basically a sports bar. $15 ticket for the show. The clueless teeny-bopper at the front door wanted a tip as you come in. Yeah right. Maybe she works for TicketMaster.

I watched the show from the left side of the stage. Enuff Z’Nuff plays as a trio, since Donnie Vie is surgically attached to his bong. He doesn't tour anymore with the band he founded. Monaco handled vocal duties. He wore a tie and black pin-striped suit. Chip had his purple fuzz hat and old bass that's beat to hell. Someone filled in on drums while Ricky Parent recovers from cancer. I'm a big fan and go to see Enuff Z’Nuff every time they play here.

They did the best they could with technical difficulties and the "Bennigan's" sound system. Talented band that deserves so much better. They're off to Europe after this leg of the tour. (Swing by Amsterdam and pick up Donnie!) Here's the set list (confirmed off the infamous paper plate):

Heaven or Hell
One Step Closer to You
All Right
For Now
Kiss the Clown
Your Baby Loves You
Coming Home (intro)
There Goes My Heart
Downhill
Vacant Love
Day in the Life
Fly High Michelle
New Thing

Mike Tramp's White Lion took the stage shortly after as a five piece (drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards) of musicians he put together for this tour. White Lion is one of the few bands I never got to see live back in the day, but I have always been a big fan.

They ripped through a set of classics. Alot of songs were not played as fast as the originals and tuned down a bit, but Mike still has the pipes and eventually warmed up to the crowd. He's stayed fit over the years and reminds me for some reason of Arnold in Terminator (accent and one arm covered in wicked tattoos). Too bad Vito Bratta will not come out of retirement. His guitar wizardry is greatly missed. It was difficult to hear some of the solos from the lead guitar player in the mix. Maybe I'm just sentimental, maybe it was the Bacardi. The medley of slow songs brought a tear to my eye. I grew up on these tunes and will probably never get to hear them played live again.

Here's the setlist:

Hungry
Lights & Thunder
Lonely Nights
Love Don't Come Easy
Broken Heart
Fight to Survive
Cry for Freedom
(medley) Valhalla / Til Death Do Us Part / You're All
I Need
Little Fighter
It's Over
Living on the Edge
Tell Me
Wait
Lady of the Valley
(encore)
When the Children Cry
Radar Love

I'd say there were only between 100 and 200 people in attendance. Once again, these guys should be playing to a larger audience. I can't stand to listen to regular radio anymore. Mixed crowd of mid-week yuppies. No metal babes like the old days. The souvenir table had a wide selection of CDs and DVDs. I snagged a mini poster off the wall for Mike to sign and picked up a cool t-shirt before heading off into the sunset...