Mike Tramp’s White Lion @ The Crown & Anchor Hotel, Adelaide 2/2/2025
Club shows traditionally invoke images of hot evenings, packed sweaty bodies and loud rock n roll. For those of a certain vintage, it is at the Whisky on Sunset, drinks outdoors at the Rainbow and bombastic music hidden behind leather trousers and big hair.
Tonight, Mike Tramp, the voice in New York’s classic White Lion, hits the stage at Adelaide’s own iconic music venue, the Cranker, where its oppressively hot, drinks are outside, and the hair is not quite as big.
Ninety minutes of what is now termed classic rock, is poured out – blood, sweat and tears – as fans of all ages sing, dance and reminisce of what was, or in some cases what could’ve been. The set list is all White Lion, the hits, the deep cuts, the lighters for the ballads, the beers for the rock.
See, that is the point about songs from this era. Behind the showmanship, the fireworks and MTV videos, there were some amazing songs and artists, and Mike Tramp gives us that ability to see behind the curtain tonight.
The Dane can still sing and play. Always jovial and cracking a few jokes with the audience, it’s the music that proves timeless.
Opening with All The Fallen Men and Out With The Boys, the harmonies are here, the solos flammable, and the crowd is already singing. The vibe in the room is this is going to be a great night.
Tramp, dressed head to toe in matching denim and a guitar that looks like it’s also come from the 80’s, drops jokes about being confused for Vince Neil, except skinny. For most of the night, Tramp has anecdotes and quips, although like most of us, it’s the ones about getting older that get the biggest laughs.
Tramp brings with him a impressive array of musicians, however special mention goes to guitarist Marcus Nand, who rips through the solos as if his life depended on it. Think Joe Perry if Perry was allowed to be let loose in Aerosmith.
Following on from realising how good these songs are, the stripped down band – no smoke, fireworks, just music – hit the catalogue of White Lion with prejudice. Whether it is ballads like Broken Heart or of course When The Children Cry, to straight out rockers Hungry or Love Don’t Come Easy, every song is loud, fun and a bloody good time.
Tramps voice sounds as clear as ever. His professionalism outstanding and his magnetism on the audience never wavers. His dedication to the craft still remains, commenting how photographers can shoot his whole show, he wants to be seen sweaty and loose at the end of the show not stiff like cardboard at the beginning. The photographers appreciate that.
Wait and Lady Of The Valley finish the evening, an evening that was built on White Lion’s rock n roll. A lot of us were around back then and to hear these songs – unfiltered- is joyous. Others of us know of them, like myself, but never had the chance to experience that electricity coursing through our bodies. Tonight, Mike Tramp delivered these gifts and more, in a sweaty club on a hot night with cold beer. It’s like being back on the Strip in the 80’s.
Live Review By Iain McCallum