Night Ranger – PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC – August 6, 2023 – Concert Review

Back on Sunday, my neighbor had lawn seats to the Bret Michaels Party Gras concert that he couldn’t use. He asked and I said I would love to use them and why not as the show had Jefferson Starship, Night Ranger and Bret Michaels with friends Mark McGrath and Steve Augeri. Night Ranger was the only one I really wanted to see so it was a no brainer to take those tickets.

I was getting ready to leave when the rains came. I braved it and went anyway as the rain was supposed to stop soon. I had my lawn chair, some water and snacks ready to not only Rock America, but Rock Charlotte. I get to the show and stand in line holding my chair when I was told the lawn was closed tonight…WTF?? But good news, they were giving us seats. Apparently, tickets didn’t sell so they wanted to move everyone closer so the place looked full and it did. First though, I had to take my chair back to the car and then walk back and get in line…again.

Once in, I had to go to a table and pick up an actual seat ticket. I told the guy that if he only had front row left, I would make the sacrifice and take it. Sadly, he did not. I did get decent seats though as they were in Section 3, row S so it was fairly close off to the left of the stage. Once seated, I was ready to get started.

JEFFERSTON STARSHIP

Continue reading “Night Ranger – PNC Music Pavilion, Charlotte, NC – August 6, 2023 – Concert Review”

Night Ranger – “When You Close Your Eyes” – 7″ Single

For Night Ranger, how do you follow-up your biggest hit, “Sister Christian”. Well, you release another ballad and they did it this time with “When You Close Your Eyes” the third single off their 1983 album ‘Midnight Madness’. It was released on July 14, 1984 as a single and it didn’t do as well as “Sister Christian” as it only went to #14 on the Billboard Charts. Only..right! Most bands would kill for that. It did help continue to catapult the album to well over 1 million copes giving them their first and maybe only Platinum album.

The song was written by Jack Blades with the help of Alan Fitzgerald and Brad Gillis. The song came about from Jack noodling around on the piano and he sang the chorus and thought it was great. He had Alan and Brad help but he couldn’t finish it with all the distractions while recording the album. He flew home and sat around the pool and then was inspired by his ex-girlfriend and wondering if she ever still thought about him. That inspiration turned in to a big hit for the band.

My copy is a U.S. Pressing with the B-Side as “Why Does Love Have to Change” which is also off ‘Midnight Madness’. My copy is the Gloversville pressing as it has this little flower symbol in the runout. Plus it only has the Midnight Madness album cover on the back where later pressing have that plus Dawn Patrol. It is pretty good shape and plays great.

Continue reading “Night Ranger – “When You Close Your Eyes” – 7″ Single”