JKB Entertainment Group, the publisher of Limelight Magazine, has several shows coming to The Vault in New Bedford, MA, this spring and summer. On March 30th, STRYPER return to support their new album The Final Battle with special guest FirstBoure. The following Saturday, April 8th, KIX will perform with opening act Purging Sin. On May 31st, former White Lion vocalist MIKE TRAMP will perform “The Songs of White Lion” featuring Marcus Nand on electric guitar. Lastly, LILIAC will perform their only New England date on July 11th with special guest The Devil’s Twins.
Purchase tickets to STRYPER by clicking HERE.
Purchase tickets to KIX by clicking HERE.
Purchase tickets to White Lion’s MIKE TRAMP by clicking HERE.
Purchase tickets to LILIAC by clicking HERE.
All shows are 21+. The Vault is located at 791 Purchase Street in New Bedford, MA.
ABOUT STRYPER
When it comes to groundbreaking bands in the Christian hard-rock genre, Stryper is renowned for its distinctive brand of “heavenly metal,” extraordinary crossover success and venerable endurance. The Grammy-Nominated and Dove Award Winning group ascended to prominence in the 1980s with Billboard Top 40 hits like “Calling on You,” “Honestly” and “Always There for You.”
Stryper’s career album sales exceed 10 million worldwide, including 1986’s multi-platinum release To Hell with the Devil. The band also made history in 1987 when it notched three songs in Dial-MTV’s Top 10 with videos “Calling On You”, “Free”, and “Honestly”, being the first band ever to have two sings in the Top 10 simultaneously.
Today, some 35+ years after emerging from the southern California nightclub scene, the foursome continues to record, tour and perform for loyal fans around the globe. Comprising three original members including brothers Michael Sweet (lead vocals, guitar) and Robert Sweet (drums), Oz Fox (guitar) and newest bandmate, seasoned bassist Perry Richardson (formerly of Firehouse), the group finds itself creating their finest, most powerful music yet.
With an amazing 19 studio albums under their belt (all of which have charged on the Billboard Charts), the band has remained very active since their reformation in 2004 with Sirius XM radio host Eddie Trunk saying Stryper is “more active than any other band from the ‘80s”
“We’re incredibly happy to continue to get to write a new chapter in the book of Stryper, We love making records and touring and consider ourselves incredibly blessed to get to do what we do.” says Michael Sweet, who has served as the band’s primary songwriter since its inception in 1983.
Through it all, Stryper continues to remain steadfast in their faith and their commitment to musical excellence. As for what the future holds, especially during these uncertain times, Sweet encourages everyone to be hopeful and prayerful. “Whatever you believe, I challenge you to bow your head, look up to heaven, and say a prayer to God,” he says. “Pray longer, pray harder and pray more often, and let’s see what happens. I guarantee it will change lives for the better.”
ABOUT KIX
The people know what’s best. Platinum-selling, hard rock icons KIX heed the audience’s call. At every live show, and with every new release, KIX raises the bar higher – not only for themselves, but also for their rock band peers. Steve Whiteman [vocals], Brian “Damage” Forsythe [guitar], Ronnie “10/10” Younkins [guitar], Jimmy “Chocolate” Chalfant [drums] and Mark Schenker [bass] continue to deliver their signature brand of raucous, roaring, and real rock ‘n’ roll.
KIX was founded in 1978 in Hagerstown, Maryland, and after slugging it out as a local band, they were signed to Atlantic Records in 1981. Their self-titled debut album was released the same year, and featured concert-favorites like “The Itch,” “Heartache,” and traditional KIX show closer “Yeah, Yeah, Yeah,” which is now incomplete without an originally unique ad-lib performance by Whiteman. Their second album, Cool Kids yielded “Body Talk,” and the ballad, “For Shame.” KIX then partnered with producer Beau Hill (Ratt, Warrant) to create the powerhouse album Midnite Dynamite, released in 1985, which yielded another concert favorite, “Cold Shower.”
When the members of KIX traveled to Los Angeles in early 1988 to begin recording Blow My Fuse, they knew that the album could make or break the band. And sure enough, upon its release in September of 1988, Blow My Fuse outperformed its predecessors. A video for the song “Cold Blood” dominated MTV’s popular “Dial MTV” program for so long that the network was forced to change the show’s rules to knock KIX out of the top slot.
Blow My Fuse was certified Gold. Then, “Don’t Close Your Eyes” was released, and it peaked at #11 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, propelling the album to platinum status. Blow My Fuse cemented KIX as one of the Eighties’ preeminent hard rock acts.
In 1991, Hot Wire was released, featuring the single, “Girl Money.” As a touring act, KIX had graduated to arenas and opened for Aerosmith, KISS, Whitesnake, Ratt, and Tesla. In 1995, the band released what they thought would be their final album, Show Business, for CMC International Records, which marked the end of an era.
KIX gracefully eased back into the public consciousness in 2008. After reuniting for sold out hometown gigs, the quintet hit the stage at Rocklahoma in front of over 20,000 people, venturing out of the Mid-Atlantic for the first time in 13 years. Delivering a triumphant set alongside the likes of Sammy Hagar and Alice Cooper, they left their mark on both old and new fans.
The members agreed to enter the studio once again for 2014’s Rock Your Face Off, produced by Taylor Rhodes (Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne), the band’s first studio album in almost 20 years. Rock Your Face Off debuted at #48 on the Billboard Top 200, #5 on the Independent Albums chart, #11 on the Top Internet chart, #17 on the Top Rock Albums chart, #27 on the Indy/Small Chain Core Stores chart and #33 on the Physical chart. It also debuted at #1 on Amazon’s Hard Rock and Metal chart.
A new KIX album is in the works, while the band continues to blow away audiences with their live shows across the U.S. and beyond.
ABOUT MIKE TRAMP (OF WHITE LION)
Former White Lion vocalist Mike Tramp is embarking on a U.S. tour this May and he makes a stop at The Vault in New Bedford, MA, on May 31st. “The Songs Of White Lion” trek will see Tramp performing all the White Lion favorites, including “When The Children Cry,” “Little Fighter,” “Wait,” “Lady Of The Valley,” “Radar Love,” and many more. Joining Tramp for the two-man show will be lead guitarist Marcus Nand.
Tramp stepped out on his own in 1995 and began his 28-year long solo career. With over a dozen consistent solo albums to his name, Tramp has never steered off his path and is charging forward with confidence, no desire to look back. Tramp says, “It really just meant that I knew who I wanted to be and sound like when I recorded my first solo album twenty-two years ago. I just wanted to be me, and I am damn proud I stuck to my guns. White Lion was a chapter and a journey I was on; it was a one-way ticket with no return.”
The hair trend of the decade has since faded, but the music lives on, stronger than ever. To tame the big sound of the 80s hair metal genre, Tramp is touring as a Power Duo, with his trusted guitar slinger friend Marcus Nand, adding the sound of the Electric Guitar to his already well proven solo set. Now in 2023 this Power Duo, will play an exclusive vintage White Lion set around the world, given back to the fans, who have supported and followed Tramp since the days off long hair. He states, “It’s both challenging and a joy for me. Still, the truth is that people don’t know that most of these big rock songs started out as folk music in a Brooklyn, NY, basement Which is the true secret why they still work on stage, even in the simplest version.”
ABOUT LILIAC
LILIAC, the ‘First Family of Rock’, is a 5-piece hard rock band from Los Angeles. The band is fronted by Melody, lead guitarist Samuel, drummer Abigail, bassist Ethan and keyboardist Justin. The sibling’s talents were discovered by their dear father, Papa Liliac, also the band’s manager and producer. After many crazy nights, they honed their craft as weekend street performers on the Santa Monica pier. Their sound takes the listener back to a time when rock was complex but told a story! LILIAC’s raspy vocals, catchy lyrics, scorching guitar solos, sparkling keys, thick bass and thunderous drumming provides a familiar, but fresh take on classic hard rock. The band initially went viral on social media for their impressive covers, and videos, of classic rock and metal songs. This opened the door for LILIAC to appear on The World’s Best on CBS and America’s Got Talent, catapulting them to international recognition. It is no mystery why their covers of Dio’s “Rainbow in the Dark” and Iron Maiden’s “The Trooper won the hearts of millions and had people dancing in the dark.
LILIAC was not afraid and began writing their own hook-heavy, original material produced in their home studio by Papa Liliac. Their debut original album, Chain of Thorns, was released early 2019 and hit #1 on Amazon’s Best Seller for Rock Music Charts; proving why they say “we are the children” sent to save rock n’ roll.
The summer of 2019 kicked off their first North American tour consisting of 40 dates of sold out shows in front of 1000’s of fangs! The band opened for classic rock icons such as Loverboy, Queensrÿche, Stryper, Slaughter, and even Kiss on the Kiss Kruise! Their follow-up, full length album, Queen of Hearts, brought 13 new songs in 2020: reaching #29 on the iTunes Rock Charts! LILIAC’s 2022 “Moonlight Tour” consisted of 48 shows (44 headlining) allowing the band to sail away across the country multiple times. During this tour LILIAC ‘grew up’, further sharpening their skills, and their fangs, on the stage and impressing the likes of Bret Michaels, Vinny Appice, and multiple other rock n’ roll icons. With nearly 1 million fans on Facebook, and quickly growing on other socials, LILIAC is ready to take the world by storm.
Limelight Magazine 