STEPHEN PEARCY / WARREN DEMARTINI
With Vixen
April 5, 2025
Mohegan Sun Arena
Uncasville, Connecticut
Photos & Review by Frank Piercy
UNCASVILLE, Conn. – Back on April 6th 1989, my best friend and I spent the afternoon and evening celebrating my 21st birthday, technically it was the day before on the 5th, but the 6th was payday and there was a concert at the New Haven Coliseum I wanted to go see. So we hit the local tattoo parlor where I got my first tattoo and then we were off to see one of my all-time favorite bands, RATT.
Who knew that so long ago, I would end up becoming a concert photographer and covering the two members of Ratt who gave them their sound, Stephen Pearcy and Warren DeMartini. Almost 36 years to the day, but first let’s talk about this night’s opening band, Vixen.
Vixen has become a mainstay at Mohegan Sun with these popular ladies making an appearance every year, either in the Wolf Den or as part of a package in the Arena. There have been a few line up changes over the years and this was the first time I got to see them with their latest vocalist, Rosa Laricchiuta. I was impressed; her voice fit the band beautifully. A dynamic stage presence that worked well with guitarist Britt Lightning and bassist Juliet Lage working the stage. The sole remaining original member of Vixen, Roxie Petrucci was getting her work out behind them on the drums and pardon the pun was not missing a beat. I have seen them perform over the years, through the band changes and one thing remains constant. They put on a great show and kick ass. Another solid performance by some very talented women.
VIXEN setlist:
Rev It Up, Charmed Life, How Much Love, Cruisin’, Cryin’, and the always fun cover medley of Runnin’ With the Devil / I Want You to Rock Me / Perfect Strangers, then it was back to their songs with, Streets in Paradise and Edge of a Broken Heart.
The excitement was building throughout the evening as more and more people were walking the Casino with Ratt t -shirts, wearing their jean jackets with the big Ratt back patches and more of them started filling the arena as Vixen’s set was coming to a close. The turnout out at Mohegan Sun Arena was fantastic with not many open seats and a very rambunctious crowd yelling, screaming whistling. A lot of people were excited to see Stephen Pearcy and Warren Demartini back together on stage. As Warren pointed out while on stage a bit more into the show, it had been seven years since they last shared a stage. The setlist was pretty basic, covering a wide range of their vast discography while skipping an album or two. There was only so much time and you cant please everyone.
The Pearcy/DeMartini setlist went like this:
Wanted Man, Walking the Dog (an Aerosmith cover that is one of my favorites to hear Stephen sing) I Want a Woman, In Your Direction, I’m Insane, The Morning After, Back for More, Dangerous but Worth the Risk, Nobody Rides for Free, Givin’ Yourself Away (a nice lil gem that Stephen said they had not played live before), Way Cool Jr., Over the Edge, Lack of Communication, Lay It Down, You’re In Love and the Encore of course, the song that ripped it all open for them, Round and Round.
People were complaining, that songs like, “Shame, Shame, Shame” or “Body Talk” were left off the setlist. Personally I felt too much was put on it from Out of the Cellar, but considering, Stephen just came off a tour playing that album straight thru I really am not surprised.
The band sounded fantastic especially considering this was the fi
rst night of their tour. Besides Stephen on Vocals and Warren on Guitar, you also had Carlos Cavazo who was once again filling in on guitar, Matt Thorne is Stephen’s go to guy on bass and the incredible Blas Elias on drums. With the familiarity that all of these players have with this music and the unbelievable energy that Stephen had, it is no wonder the night sounded as good as it did.
It was a fantastic show and their next one is May 4th at my favorite Hair Metal Festival….. M3 down n Maryland at the Merriweather Post Pavilion. Well worth the trip and the stay if your able to.
