Tom Keifer and L.A. Guns Rock Carteret Performing Arts Center with Power and Nostalgia
As someone who’s been photographing rock shows for well over a decade, I walked into the Carteret Performing Arts and Events Center earlier this month feeling that familiar buzz of anticipation. The venue, a relatively new addition to New Jersey’s live music scene since opening in 2021, was absolutely packed. I would say there were over 2,000 decked out in full metal regalia, black leather and vintage concert tees, swapping stories about the countless shows they’d seen over the years. These weren’t casual listeners—they were lifers who knew every lyric, every riff, and every lineup change.
L.A. Guns opened with serious glam metal energy looking like it was still 1983. Their current lineup—Tracii Guns (lead guitar), Phil Lewis (vocals), Ace Von Johnson (guitar), Johnny Martin (bass), and Shawn Duncan (drums)—tore through a 10-song set that leaned heavily into the classics.. The band ripped into tracks like “Electric Gypsy,” “Sex Action,” “Never Enough,” and “The Ballad of Jayne,” closing with a ferocious “Rip and Tear.” It was tight, loud, and exactly what fans came to hear. And near the end of the set, Von Johnson launched into a hellacious solo from the top of a speaker stack. It wasn’t just a photo op—it was a real rock moment, the kind we don’t get enough of anymore.
Then came Tom Keifer and #keiferband, and the energy in the room leveled up again. Keifer, known for his work fronting Cinderella, was joined by Savannah Keifer, Tony Higbee, Billy Mercer, Jarred Pope, Kory Myers, and Tanya Davis. Their 15-song set was a showcase of both legacy and evolution. Cinderella hits like “Coming Home,” “Nobody’s Fool,” “Shake Me,” and “Don’t Know What You Got (Till It’s Gone)” were mixed seamlessly with solo material including “The Death of Me,” “Solid Ground,” and “Rise.” The night ended with a powerhouse encore of “Gypsy Road” and a soulful cover of “With a Little Help From My Friends.”
The crowd was locked in the whole night—fists in the air, voices loud, and smiles everywhere. This wasn’t just a trip down memory lane. It was a loud, living reminder that real rock shows still matter
