The long-awaited return of Trixter to perform in Pennsylvania finally arrived. Original members Steve Brown [guitar/vocals] and PJ Farley [bass/vocals], who brought us the radio and MTV hits like “Give It to Me Good” and “One in a Million,” have reignited the band and put together a 14-date tour through the US with Enuff Z’Nuff and Pretty Boy Floyd as supporting acts.
The tour started on May 16th in Binghampton, NY, and winds through several major cities before concluding in Sarasota, FL, on June 4th. For devoted fans of the three bands explosive riffs, virtuosic shredding, and soaring vocals, this tour represents a chance to experience Trixter, Enuff Z’Nuff, and Pretty Boy Floyd‘s electrifying live energy in an old-school rock n’ roll setting like tonight’s show at Reverb in Reading, PA.
Pretty Boy Floyd, led by Steve Summers, was on a mission to bring their brand of sleazy Hollywood glam to Pennsylvania. A fan in the front said he waited his entire life to see Pretty Boy Floyd, and they delivered on that request by putting on one hell of a show.
Steve drew the audience into the show and music while decked out in black from head to toe, along with full-on black bandit make-up with a Joker’s smile. The songs performed predominately revolved around the band’s debut album, “Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz.” The set was short and tight, filled with songs like “Leather Boyz with Electric Toyz,” “Wild Angels,” “Rock and Roll Outlaws,” and “48 Hours.” Nearing the end of their set they did a sleazy version of “I Wanna Be with You” that brought down the house. No Pretty Boy Floyd show would be complete with “Rock and Roll (Is Gonna Set The Night On Fire)” as the closer. In all, seven songs were played with the same swagger and sex appeal as when they were written in the 80s. Steve‘s voice continues to sound great live with the same quality and range as if no time had passed, particularly on his steel-belted scream during “Your Mama Won’t Know,” which shook the venue’s walls.
Cheap Trick‘s cousin, Enuff Z’Nuff, delivered their brand of incense-scented lush psychedelic music. They came on the scene in 1989 with their titled debut album and have never looked back releasing 17 studio albums since. Their debut singles received airplay on MTV and created a buzz for the band. Chip Z’nuff and the band were aware of their audience’s desire to hear their hit while paying homage to their influences.
As their cover of The Beatles’ “Magical Mystery Tour” rang out with its lavish harmonies, they instantly had the crowd’s full attention. They then slowly eased us through the decades with “New Thing,” “Fly High Michelle,” and “In the Groove,” as well as a second cover song, “Jet,” by Wings. Chip mentioned it was a song they performed on the Howard Stern show many years ago.
Enuff Z’Nuff may have been formed decades ago but their performance proved that their youthful spirit continues. The veteran rockers effortlessly blended their classic hits, cover tunes and newer material. Music has a way of transcending time and space, and Enuff Z’Nuff crammed the audience at Reverb in their Hot Tub Time Machine and spun the dial back to the ’60s, ’70s, hey-days of 80’s rock on the Sunset Strip in Hollywood, then back to present day.
Trixter is now a trio with Steve and PJ sharing vocal duties, creating a powerful, dual-lead dynamic. Anchoring the trio is the newest member, drummer Ben Hans, whose driving rhythms and technical prowess perfectly complement the guitar and vocals of his bandmates. Tonight, fans were transported to a better and simpler time singing along to hits like “Human Era,” “Tattoos & Misery,” and “Surrender.” You couldn’t help but smile and get caught up in the moment of great songwriting washing over you. The band was feeding off the crowd’s enthusiasm and determined to deliver a truly captivating and memorable performance. Their passion was evident in how they poured themselves into the performance, rock star posturing, and infectious smiles. Steve told the crowd it was the band’s 40th anniversary since their first show, and they are still going strong due to their fans’ support! [editor note: I attended their first show in Paramus, NJ].
Steve‘s chunky, distorted guitar tone emanated from his fiery red SBS Guitar provided the powerful foundation to solidify the performance. Each song was accompanied by whammy bar dives, wah-wah proficiencies, and Steve‘s signature vibrato technique. PJ brought the energy to the big moments yet understood the sensitive ones, like “One in a Million,” making the music sound and feel good. He also knows the balancing act of when to use it and when to entertain the audience.
Not only is Steve a monster on the guitar, but his vocal abilities are equally impressive. He captured the distinct style and heartfelt sentiment that the original singer, Peter Loran, poured into the band’s songs. Steve handled the songs with a higher range while PJ sang leads on the songs in a lower register, including a rendition of Paul Simon‘s “50 Ways to Leave Your Lover.”
To close the show, members of all bands took the stage at Reverb for an impromptu version of KISS’s “Rock & Roll All Nite”.
Bands like Trixter, Enuff Z’Nuff, and Pretty Boy Floyd know how to transport their audience back to the glory days of rock with plenty of nostalgic hits. The energy of those sing-along anthems and fiery guitar solos created an electrifying atmosphere that will have you smiling all night! It’s amazing how music has the power to evoke such strong feelings of nostalgia and excitement. After tonight’s performance, you could argue who was having more fun: the fans or the bands.
This is a must-see event for any hard rock and glam metal fanatics. Tickets are selling out fast, so get them quickly!
