REDISCOVERING OLD BANDS MAKING NEW MUSIC

Court and I talk often about how one of our favorite pastimes is rediscovering bands that we were aware of in the 70s, 80s and 90s, but for one reason or another, we really never gave them a fair listen. Winger is one of the more glaring and timely examples at the moment. They just put out a new album called Seven featuring all the original members who, apparently, have soldiered on as a band for nearly 35 years. Who knew? What I remember of Winger from the late 80s was lead singer and band namesake Kip Winger on MTV posing, flipping his hair, pouting his lips and undulating on stage while rarely playing his bass. To serious rock and metal fans, Winger represented everything that was wrong with the genre. They were a pretty-boy pop-metal band who made their mark primarily because of their appearances and slick video production, but lacked any real depth or substance. The 80s were awash in a thousand carbon-copy hair metal bands who looked and sounded the same. Mercifully, tastes and the music industry changed, and we were spared the indignity of having to watch bands like Sleeze Beez and Candy Harlots pirouette across our TV screens.

But back to Winger (also a terrible band name) and their 2023 album. Like a cherry pie to the face it hit me: the new record is good. Really good. Seriously. I shouldn’t be surprised. After Winger broke up in 1987, Kip attended the University of New Mexico and studied classical music. He spent the next two decades producing classical scores and compositions for orchestras and ballets, and his original works were nominated for a Grammy in 2017! In other words, Kip Winger has legit music credentials. He got serious about the music, and it shows. Furthermore, Winger’s guitarist Reb Beach was, and continues to be, an absolute virtuoso on the guitar. Since reforming in 2006, the band has produced three records that are FAR SUPERIOR to anything they released during their MTV heyday. The new album is heavy, dark, and brilliantly produced.

Kip’s artistry is on full display as he knows precisely where to build to a crescendo, or pull back. Seven is full of big choruses, tasteful melodic interludes, and just the right amount of heavy guitars - a brilliantly-crafted album from a mature and talented group of musicians. Bands this old shouldn’t be making albums this good! So go out and give those bands you may have dismissed another look. You might be pleasantly surprised!

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