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MAYHEM AND EXCITEMENT

Warrant singer says nostalgia leads to success

By Christina Fuoco-Karasinski The album spawned the singles “Down V alley resident and Warrant singer Robert Mason says hometown shows mean one thing: nonstop calls and texts. Boys,” “Sometimes She Cries” and “Heaven,” the latter of which reached No. 2 on the U.S. charts. Warrant’s follow-up album, “Cherry Pie,” featured the singles “I Saw Red” and “Cherry Pie,” eclipsing the band’s previous effort.

“Seriously, it’s cool to see familiar faces The key to Warrant’s longevity are in the audience,” says Mason, whose those songs and the corresponding band will play the Pool at Talking Stick nostalgia. Mason says the tracks recall a with Skid Row and Winger on Saturday, simpler time. January 29. “I think there’s a strong nostalgic pull

“I get to sleep in my own bed, if I for that era and these songs,” he says. choose. There’s always a weird pressure “The demographics are not only the but no pressure. I feel like I’m in this people who lived through it the first traveling circus and I’m always playing time, but a generation or two later are these other cities. Very rarely do we come able to have fun. home; probably six or eight times in the “They recognize the ‘fun’ factor and 13 years I’ve been in the band. There’s the recklessness these songs have. It’s a little more mayhem because it’s a tongue-in-cheek sometimes, romantic hometown show.” and nostalgia at other times. The ballads

With a pair of double-platinum hold up and stood the test of time albums and three top 10 singles, because people loved them so much back Warrant inked a deal with Columbia then.” Records in January 1998 and released Mason says the songs have been given “Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich” one a second life in videogame, movie and year later. TV placements, introducing a new generation to the songs.

“It transcends the ’80s, early ’90s, Sunset Strip hair rock or whatever bad moniker you want to put on that time period and musical style,” he says. “I just call it good rock music.”

For the 2022 tour, Warrant is revamping its set, thanks to a discussion between Mason and guitarist Joey Allen.

“We’re going to do a little block of (the 1992 album) ‘Dog Eat Dog’ songs,” he says. “That record deserves attention and, 30 years later, it’s remembered fondly by enough fans. The songs have great energy, and the band was on fire musically. It may not have blazed a trail in the charts the way ‘Heaven’ or ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ did. But it definitely deserves attention, and we love it.”

The band will also talk about “Dog Eat Dog.” The rest of the show will feature hits.

“It’s all the songs you know and love by heart and want to sing,” he says. “Our show is pretty heavy on the first three records. That’s where the nostalgia and biggest success of the band lies. Obviously, we feel some sort of obligation to play those songs. Basically, it’s just a bunch of high-energy rock by guys who are happy to be out and doing what we do. Hopefully it shows.

“I like inciting a little mayhem and excitement in the audience. We want them to stare at our shows, not stare into their phones. Rock is heart, rock and a little south of the belt buckle. It’s supposed to be all those things. It’s how I grew up and I’m proud to be able to bring that.”

Skid Row, Warrant and Winger

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturday, January 29 WHERE: The Pool at Talking Stick Resort, 9800 E. Talking Stick Way, Scottsdale COST: Tickets start at $25 INFO: 480.850.777, talkingstickresort.com