I had just graduated from high school around the time of the whole hair-metal explosion in the mid 80's, so the music of Winger and other popular bands of the genre continue to hold a special place in my heart. I was a decent fan of Winger's first two albums, 1988's self-titled debut, and 1990's In the Heart of the Young, but I lost touch with the band during the mid-90's after grunge-rock came along to kick hair-metal off the block.

It had been almost 15 years since the last time I took a Winger album for a spin, but my interest was peaked again last year when I stumbled across Kip Winger's Down Incognito album in a music store bargain bin, where I think they were actually offering you money to take it. I thought, "why the hell not?" and I'm now glad I gave it a chance. The album is chock full of excellent acoustic makeovers of many Winger band classics, as well as Kip Winger solo songs. Most importantly, it introduced me to many of the best songs from Winger's oft-forgotten, and very underrated, Pull album of 1993.

Last year the original Winger line-up, with the exception of John Roth taking Paul Taylor's spot, reunited and hit the U.S. club circuit to promote their new album IV. Their March 3rd, 2007 performance at the Galaxy Theatre in Santa Ana, CA. was also recorded for posterity and comes to you as Winger Live, a 19-song, career spanning concert DVD that is also the band's first.

The video abruptly starts off as the band is already playing the first few notes of their opening number, "Blind Revolution Mad." This is one of my very favorite Winger tracks, but they skipped the cool acoustic intro section that dramatically builds to Reb Beach's potent electric guitar riff, which really kicks the song into gear. They simply started in second gear.

Led by Kip Winger's movie star good looks, Winger were once the quintessential, pretty-boy, hair-metal band throughout the late 80's and early 90's - topped only by perhaps Bon Jovi. Their current appearance could not be more polar opposite from those glory days. Yeah, Kip still sports the same perpetual three day shadow that he always did, but it somehow looks more scruffy these days. The giant, teased hairdos have all been replaced with the straight, unwashed look, and the new wardrobe is simply jeans and tee shirts. The focus now is only on the music and the musicianship.

I have not heard the new IV album yet, so I was anxious to hear a few of the tracks that were performed at this show. "Your Great Escape," "Generica," and "Right Up Ahead" are the three new songs they tackled, and it sounds like IV continues in the much darker, heavier, and more progressive vein of Pull. None of this stuff has the real "catchiness" factor of some of their earlier hits, but, then again, I wouldn't be the slightest bit interested in a bunch of "Seventeen" and "Miles Away" rehashings.

The rest of the set is a smorgasbord of greatest hits, with my favorite performances being "Rainbow In The Rose," "You Are The Saint, I Am The Sinner," and "Hungry." Even more so than on the album version, "Headed For A Heartbreak" is transformed from a mere gorgeous power ballad into a guitar-fueled epic, thanks to Reb Beach's phenomenal solos.

The first set is also broken up by some extended solo performances from both Beach and Rod Morgenstein. John Roth, who is a superb guitarist in his own right, had already been given a few short solo spots during the set, so now Beach could have the spotlight all to himself for his solo. Morgenstein, who came from more of a jazz fusion background, playing with the Dixie Dregs, and Dream Theater keyboardist Jordan Rudess (also formerly with the Dregs) before joining Winger, throws down an impressive drum solo that is sure to please his fans.

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