The anniversary of Night Ranger’s origins may have technically already passed, but the celebration continues with the release of “40 Years And A Night,” an audio/visual concert retrospective featuring the Contemporary Youth Orchestra.

Although it was only the core band at the meticulously maintained Rialto Square Theatre,
singer/bassist Jack Blades, drummer/vocalist Kelly Keagy and guitarist Brad Gillis, all original members, alongside longtime keyboard player Eric Levy and fellow guitarist Keri Kelli, nonetheless made sure the foremost from those decades were represented across 90 head-banging, BIC-flicking minutes.

Instantly erasing any doubt, Night Ranger reminded the Rialto “(You Can Still) Rock In America,” then blazed its way through “Four In The Morning” and soon settled into the crisp harmonies of “Sing Me Away.”

Blades’ season co-fronting the supergroup Damn Yankees, which also featured Styx’s co-singer/guitarist Tommy Shaw, lead axe-slinger Ted Nugent and future Lynyrd Skynyrd beat keeper Michael Cartellone, scored an unexpected shout-out via “Coming Of Age.”

Next it was back to the primary band at hand to take a drive down both “Sentimental Street” and the “High Road,” followed by the earliest era’s “Night Ranger” track and an assertive drum solo.

The ghost of Damn Yankees re-emerged during the monster ballad “High Enough,” though it was actually Night Ranger’s own “Sister Christian” that wrote the book when it comes to towering melodic rock anthems.

In between, the guys teased a false but fulfilling “Goodbye,” tore their way around “When You Close Your Eyes” and had the generally full house adding to the gang vocals of “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me.”

Throughout them all, Night Ranger was endlessly enthusiastic and musically on fire, which after more than forty years of making “Midnight Madness” together, made it seem all the more entertaining and impressive.

For additional information on Night Ranger, visit NightRanger.com.

Upcoming concert highlights at the Rialto Square Theatre include Keb’ Mo’ and Shawn Colvin (Sept. 18); “Wheel Of Fortune” Live! (Oct. 10); Matt Fraser (Oct. 15); Illinois Rock & Roll Museum Hall Of Fame Induction Ceremony (Oct. 20); Vitamin String Quartet (Oct. 22); “Haunted Objects” Live! (Oct. 23); Marc Maron (Oct. 24); 1964 The Tribute (Nov. 8); Kansas (Nov. 9); Nurse Blake (Nov. 11); “Menopause The Musical 2” (Nov. 12); The State Ballet Theatre Of Ukraine’s “Sleeping Beauty” (Nov. 13); Dean Z (Dec. 14); Hairball (Dec. 27) and Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood (Jan. 4). For additional details, visit RialtoSquare.com.

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