Youkley Theatre’s Crowd is ‘Nobody’s Fool’ as Tom Keifer and LA Guns ‘Rip and Tear’ Up In Lakeland.

Tom Keifer and Cinderella are synonymous with the 80s, but they were so much more than the usual cookie-cutter bands that were churned out back then. The big labels like Geffen and so many others, signed bands that looked the part, but when it came down to actual substance, they were lacking in so many ways. 

Cinderella was not one of them, and if it wasn’t for the onset of grunge, Desert Storm, and the aforementioned saturation in the industry, the sky was the limit. Decades later, Tom Keifer continues to prove why the band’s music has endured.

After overcoming the vocal issues that once threatened his career, Keifer has built a formidable solo touring outfit and once again brought fellow hard rock veterans L.A. Guns along for the ride.

Their tour has been going since the start of May, with this stop being at the Youkley Theatre in Lakeland, Florida, which lies between Orlando and Tampa. This venue is a new player in the game and it’s attached to the old Lakeland Civic Center.

The 2200-seat theatre was solidly packed as L.A. Guns took the stage promptly at 7:45 and performed a 9-song set starting with “Cannonball” and segued swiftly into “Electric Gypsy.” “Cannonball” is such a great opener if you are familiar with it from their 2021 album Checkered Past.

Unlike many of their contemporaries, L.A. Guns have continued to release quality new music, delivering five strong studio albums since 2017 and proving they remain creatively relevant rather than simply relying on nostalgia.

Tracii Guns played a love letter to classic 80s rock during the set with snippets from songs like Ratt’s “Back For More” prior to playing ” Over The Edge.” This was a huge song for them from the Hollywood Vampires release and as it was also on the Point Break movie soundtrack.

He also did this with “Alone Again” from Dokken before playing a short solo at the end of the crowd-rousing “Speed” from the 2017 The Missing Peace release. 

The 5-piece band that includes singer Phil Lewis, bassist Johnny Martin, drummer Shawn Duncan, and guitarists Ace Von Johnson and, of course, Tracii Guns was joined by their own dancing queen, Olga on stage during the house-wrecking track ” Sex Action.” 

Olga, whose primary job with the band is handling their merch, has joined the band on stage during the last few tours to the crowd’s delight, and as the band concluded the song, Tracii cranked the opening notes to the “Star Spangled Banner.”

After “I Wanna Be Your Man,” AC/DC’s “Hell’s Bells” rang out through the Youkley Theatre with a few odd looks thrown from the crowd. Those looks turned into smiles at notes from arguably LA Guns’ biggest hit, “Never Enough,” commenced. 

The crowd joined in singing the chorus up to the rafters as they also did to Phil Lewis’ request before the start of “The Ballad of Jane.”

L.A. Guns concluded their set with “Rip and Tear” from Cocked and Loaded, and it was apropos, and it was exactly what they did during their set. Though his dark hair has turned a much lighter shade, his voice and stage presence remains remarkably strong. The only complaint was that the set was too short—but that’s often the curse of being the support act.

During the brief intermission, Ace Von Johnson and Shawn Duncan mingled with fans, posed for photos, and even helped Olga sell merchandise. It’s a simple gesture that many veteran acts could learn from, and it undoubtedly helped move more product off the table.

The break itself was refreshingly short. Before long, Tom Keifer and his eight-piece band gathered in a circle near the drum riser, placing their hands together before taking the stage.

The band opened with the title track from Cinderella’s debut in “Night Songs” and gave the crowd what they wanted to hear early and often. The 15-song set was filled with the hits from Cinderella, with some solo material mixed in that worked very well.

Following the energetic “All Amped Up,” one of three selections from his solo catalog, Keifer led the band through crowd favorites including “Heartbreak Station,” “Coming Home,” and a powerful rendition of “Nobody’s Fool.”

The latter was particularly impressive, showcasing the remarkable recovery and continued strength of his voice. On this night in Lakeland, Tom and the band were simply fantastic.

Prior to “Heartbreak Station,” one of the three guitar techs brought out Keifer’s custom slide guitar to add a bit of the blues. I bring this up also as I have never seen a group of guitar techs work so hard during a show, changing out guitars after almost every song. Not only for Tom’s but also for guitarist Tony Higbee.

Higbee was a standout throughout the evening, matching Keifer’s energy while delivering impressive guitar work of his own. The band’s full sound was further enhanced by backing vocalists Savannah Keifer and Tonya Davis, who added harmonies along with percussion accents using tambourines and maracas.

Bassist Luis Espaillat, drummer Jarred Pope, and keyboardist Kory Myers also contributed backing vocals, creating a rich, layered live presentation.

The audience remained on its feet for nearly the entire performance. One notable exception came during the emotional ballad “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone),” when Keifer was joined by his wife, Savannah, at center stage beside a large piano. This song was definitely a highlight of the night along with “Shake Me” and the final and second song of the encore in “Gypsy Rose.”

Keifer and his band threw a wrench during their other encore song with a rocking version of “Tumbling Dice” by The Rolling Stones, with Keifer on his knees during the climax. It was a cool addition that was unexpected and appreciated by those who were familiar with the original. 

By night’s end, both bands and their fans left the Youkley Theatre with smiles on their faces. As the years pass, opportunities to see many of the artists who defined our youth become increasingly precious. The chance to hear both the hits and the deeper cuts performed by the musicians who created them is something no rock fan should take for granted.

On this Thursday night in Lakeland, fans were given exactly that opportunity. L.A. Guns delivered a set that encouraged everyone to “Rip and Tear,” while Tom Keifer and his outstanding band filled the theater with the spirit of “Night Songs.” For a few hours, the clock turned back, and classic hard rock once again felt timeless.

For upcoming tour dates for Tom Keifer with LA Guns and other bands:

#Keiferband 2026 Tour Dates

For LA Guns on their 2026 “Lucky MF’r” Tour

https://luckymfrtour.com