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M.O.R.C. Day 4: TESLA, NIGHT RANGER, STEPHEN PEARCY, HARDCORE SUPERSTAR, L.A. GUNS & More!

April 3, 2025

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2025 Monsters Of Rock Cruise Day 4

w/ Stephen Pearcy, Tesla, L.A. Guns, Night Ranger, Hardcore Superstar

Nassau, Bahamas – 3/13/25

Coverage/Pics: Will

The penultimate day! Ugh. The dread started to creep in that it was almost over. (and didn’t it JUST begin?!). Blah. I didn’t feel too good this day. A little too much fun the previous night? Attack of the Cruise Crud? Whatever the reason, I took it easy and only caught 5 shows on this day (3 of which happened to be killer Pool Stage shows)

But before all that started I headed to the “So You Think You Can Shred” contest. I don’t have pictures from this year’s event, but the quick recap is: One of the most entertaining hours on the boat. 10 Cruisers get the chance to shred in front of a panel of judges who are usually brutally honest (and funny) about what they just witnessed. The winner gets a boatload of prizes. Kip Winger is the host and the panel this year consisted of Nuno Bettencourt, Joel Hoekstra (who whipped out an amazing David Coverdale impression), Aldo Nova, Courtney Cox, Jared James Nichols, Don Jamieson and Courtney Cronin-Dold. I will say that in past years (when Kip was a judge) the comments and critique’s were scathing. The panel has evolved into providing a much more “constructive criticism” type approach, but every now and then there are some crowd cringe-inducing comments. The whole event is coordinated by the amazing Rob Meives and it’s definitely worth the price of admission! (it’s free btw).

Stephen Pearcy

The first show of the day was a makeup one (for me anyway). After not being able to get in to the Joy on Day 1 to catch Stephen Pearcy, I was happy to find a perch to catch his whole set this time. A blazing day in the sun hearing old school Ratt tunes blasted out was just what the Dr. had ordered. Last year on the boat I was critical of how Stephen sounded, (It wasn’t great), but I’ll chalk that up to a bad day, because he sounded GREAT this time!

Out Of The Cellar just turned 40 years old and we got a very healthy helping of tracks from that album. The band is killer (unfortunately no DeMartini on the boat: BOO!) but along with Erik Ferentinos (guitar, backing vocals), Matt Thorr (bass, backing vocals) and Johnny Monaco (guitar, backing vocals) we were graced with one of the most entertaining drummers out there, Blas Elias.

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This leads to a great segue. Was there anyone else on the boat having as much fun as Jeff Keith was?! The Tesla frontman was out and about more that anyone else. He was stopping by shows, singing along, hanging with the fans, always looking like just another dude on vacation.

Jeff Keith Rockin’ out and Singing along with Pearcy and Fans.

And with that…

Tesla

Before the set, Eddie Trunk introduced two fans who had donated a generous amount of money that was to be put towards the California Wildfire Relief. They had the chance to choose a band to introduce on the cruise and, just like I would have done, they got to introduce Tesla.

One of my favorite live bands to see. I have never been disappointed by a Tesla show and this one was no exception. Just inject it all straight into my veins, because Tesla are one of the best rock bands to come out of any era.

The sun was setting; Jeff Keith was singing his ass off; Frank Hannon (one of THE most underrated guitarists around) was effortlessly shredding his fretboard to splinters; Dave Rude just being… cool. No Tracks. INJECT IT! The Power-punch opening of “Cumin’ Atcha Live“, “Modern Day Cowboy” and “Hang Tough“;… I sang my ass off to this set.

All the above made this one of my *SHOWS OF THE CRUISE.

Setlist:

Cumin’ Atcha Live

Modern Day Cowboy

Hang Tough

All About Love

Walk Away (James Gang cover)

Forever More

Heaven’s Trail (No Way Out)

Miles Away

Changes

Call It What You Want

What You Give

Love Song

Little Suzi

Signs

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L.A. Guns

After being on the Pool deck almost all morning it was time to head inside to the Manhattan Room to grab a good spot to shoot me some L.A. Guns. If you remember ALL the way back to my Day 3 coverage of their Atrium show, you’ll remember it was one of my *Shows of the Cruise. Outside of a couple of pics I snatched by throwing my camera over people’s heads, I wanted to make sure I was front and center for this set to get some decent snaps!

I LOVED that for their intro., Ozzy’s “Diary Of a Madman” started while just Tracii took the stage. He played along to the whole song before the rest of the Guns joined him onstage to blast off with “Cannonball“.

I already mentioned before how great, Tracii, Ace Von Johnson, Johnny Martin and Shawn Duncan are, but damn, Phil Lewis is just killing it on vocals. Dude is closing in quickly on 70 years old and absolutely delivering top-shelf work night after night.

Another blistering set that chugged out all the hits (along with a few newbies) you’d want to hear from L.A. Guns.

On another note, I listened to “Diary” today and all I could see and hear was Tracii playing along.

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Night Ranger

Back to the Pool Stage! The interesting story of Night Ranger on this cruise. Originally this show was meant to take place at the amphitheater on Nassau, in the evening while we were docked. The word is that due to issues with production equipment that idea was scrapped and moved to the pool stage.

I haven’t seen Night Ranger since the 90’s and this was another show where I sang along to EVERYTHING. I’m going to say that 90% of the people on deck were doing the same. Night Ranger have one of those catalogs (similar to Journey) where every tune is a sing-along anthem. Throw in a bunch of covers that included “School’s Out”, Crazy Train” and not one, not two, but THREE Damn Yankees songs and well, I have to add this as another one of my *SHOWS OF THE CRUISE.

Setlist:

(You Can Still) Rock In America

Sing Me Away

Coming of Age

Sentimental Street

School’s Out

Crazy Train

Night Ranger

Drum Solo

Come Again

High Enough

When You Close Your Eyes

Sister Christian

Don’t Tell Me You Love Me

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As a side note (which maybe someone could verify…) the word on “the street” was that we were meant to have a surprise Bret Michaels show at the amphitheater on Nassau on this night. For whatever reason, this didn’t pan out and Night Ranger were enlisted to fill the hole. (Anyone care to confirm or deny?!)

I almost, ALMOST called it a night after Night Ranger because I was still feeling a little bit crappy. But I rallied because I simply couldn’t miss…

Hardcore Superstar

Another band who just raises the energy level to…well…another level. Mainly due to frontman, Jocke Berg, who is like an epileptic emu, strutting around the stage.

I love the synergy and camaraderie of these 4 guys on stage. I hate in reviews where people say “they looked like they were having fun”…BUT I get the impression that Jocke, Vic, Martin and Johan REALLY do enjoy each other THAT much. Jocke is kissing Martin’s Head, Vic is playfully, repeatedly knocking down Jocke’s mic stand. I honestly stood there grinning like an idiot for the whole set.

My one beef with HS is that out of the 2 sets they played on the boat, they didn’t include ONE song from their last album, Abrakadabra. I get that they have an extensive catalog, but I really feel like this is a fantastic album that deserves a bit more love. Just… sayin’.