| Print |

Written by Marc Farr Tuesday, 17 March 2015 10:34

Ford was in great voice and, as always, masterful on her acoustic guitar.

 

 

 

Wildey Theatre, Edwardsville, Ill.

Rock guitarist and icon Lita Ford blazed through Edwardsville’s Wildey Theatre Friday night. With only a 12-string acoustic guitar and some support from her stage mate Patrick Kennison (guitar/vocals), she brought her biggest hits and beloved songs to the stage.

Ford was in great voice and, as always, masterful on her acoustic guitar. A no-frills attitude defined this show, with only two name-bearing backdrops on stage with her. Vocally, Ford has aged well. She has more control of her pitch and more style to her delivery, while not losing her trademark sound.

The audience was treated to selections from her entire back catalog, including material with ’70s girl group the Runaways. She opened her set with a spirited version of “The Bitch Is Back,” title track to the new live album behind which she is touring.

A searing acoustic rendition of “Falling In and Out of Love,” co-penned by Nikki Sixx of Mötley Crüe, followed, and then led into “Hate” and “Relentless.” It was a real treat to hear these classic hard rock tunes in an acoustic setting. Many artists can’t pull it off these days without the use of auto-tune.

The crowd exploded when Ford announced her biggest hit to date, a duet originally co-written and performed with the father of heavy metal, Ozzy Osbourne: “Close My Eyes Forever.” Vocally, Ford was right on the money, with Kennison handling Osbourne’s lines with grace and aplomb. The crowd roared, and Ford smiled.

Closing out the night with her biggest solo hit, “Kiss Me Deadly,” Ford slayed the audience with her kickass guitar playing and strong vocals. She proved her iconic status once again, and left the small audience wanting more. Overall, a very enjoyable show from a legend of the six-string. | Marc Farr