Night Ranger at Hollywood Casino, Charles Town, West Virginia
“When the Sun Goes Down, the Real Ones Come Out”
Words and photos by Michael Sprouse/Odd Rocker Photography
Some shows you go to out of curiosity. Others for nostalgia. And then there’s that rare breed of night where the music grabs you by the collar, smirks like an old friend, and says: “C’mon, let’s go raise some hell.” That was Night Ranger at the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town on May 16 — a Friday night in 2025 that felt more like 1987.
Look, I wasn’t exactly expecting to be steamrolled by energy. I figured it’d be a solid night out— a few “Sister Christian” singalongs, maybe a few graying mullets headbanging politely. But what I got? Something way wilder. Something surprisingly loud, tight, and genuinely moving. It wasn’t just a band doing their greatest hits on autopilot; this was five guys swinging for the fences and, somehow, connecting hard — like they still had something to prove.
Watch the official music video for “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” by Night Ranger on YouTube:
The event center at Hollywood Casino isn’t what you’d call a massive venue. It’s intimate, kind of like if a roadie from 1983 designed a Vegas lounge. Red lights, gray walls, maybe even the smell of spilled Coors Lite and cologne lingering somewhere between “dad’s night out” and “uncle who still parties.” But the vibe? Electric. Every seat felt close to the stage, with no nosebleeds and no bad sightlines. Just pure, sweaty rock proximity.
And the crowd — well, it was a beautiful mess. You had diehards in vintage tour shirts, older couples slow dancing in the aisles, and even a handful of millenials, some of whom were dragged along by their parents and who, judging by the end of the show, left as true believers. There was something weirdly touching about seeing three generations shouting the lyrics to “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” like it was church.
The demographic was mostly 45 and up, sure, but don’t confuse that with low energy. This wasn’t a sit-down crowd. From the second the lights dropped, people were up on their feet, phones in the air, voices loud, smiles wider than the neck on a BC Rich Warlock.
Night Ranger didn’t ease in. They kicked the damn door down with “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” and if there were any doubts about whether they still had it — they were gone in the first 30 seconds. Brad Gillis came out swinging, guitar screaming like it was possessed. That man doesn’t play notes; he whips lightning bolts at the audience. Plus the way he moves around the stage — more like a guy who just turned 40 than someone with grandkids.
Then there’s Keri Kelli on second guitar. Look, replacing Jeff Watson’s legendary eight-finger tapping is no small ask, but Keri doesn’t try to be Jeff — he’s got his own fire, and he brings a kind of punk-meets-glam aggression that fits like a glove. Dude’s a showman, plain and simple. Let’s not forget Jack Blades. If frontmen were cars, he’d be a vintage Corvette — still fast, still loud, and still turning heads. He was everywhere — leaning into the crowd, shouting out names, joking with people in the front row. His vocals were spot-on. Gritty in the right places, sweet when it needed to be and the man never stopped smiling, like he was genuinely having the time of his life.
You know those moments where a solo hits so you hard you actually look around like, “Did anyone else just hear that?” That was half the show.
Brad Gillis might be the most underrated guitarist in the entire classic rock pantheon. Seriously. The way he manipulates his Floyd Rose, the sheer control he has — he can scream and cry through those strings. His solo during “Sentimental Street” was like someone tearing pages out of your high school yearbook, lighting them on fire, and tossing them into a wind tunnel of reverb.
Oh — and the Damn Yankees moment? Chef’s kiss. When Jack dropped “High Enough” into the mix, the crowd lost it. That intro riff started, and you could hear 900 people simultaneously go “Ohhhhhh shiiiit…” It was magical. Totally unexpected and totally earned.
The pacing was masterful. Right when things got nostalgic and emotional with “When You Close Your Eyes,” they slammed into “Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” with enough force to knock the crowd on their asses. You could feel the rhythm section driving like a muscle car — no frills, just thunder and sweat.
Eric Levy on keys — quietly the glue of the whole set. Not flashy, not over-the-top, but essential. His intro on “Goodbye” had this almost cinematic quality, like you were watching the credits roll on a movie you didn’t want to end.
Of course, Kelly Keagy is still pulling double duty behind the kit and on vocals. When he stepped out front for “Sister Christian,” time kind of froze. It was a moment that you could feel it in your bones. That song’s been covered, parodied, and memed to death. But when Kelly sang it — raw, unfiltered — it was different; it was like hearing it for the first time all over again.
Watch the official music video for “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger on YouTube:
Here’s something I’m sure the crowd didn’t plan for — getting a little choked up during “Sister Christian.” I know, I know — it’s rock and roll, not a therapy session. But man, when Kelly and the gang started that one, it felt like a tribute to every version of ourselves we’ve left behind. The teenage you. The heartbreak you. The summer roadtrip you. It was all there, crammed into four minutes and a chorus.
It wasn’t about being young again. It was about remembering that music connects us back to those parts of ourselves that never really left. Even if you’re older, grayer, maybe a little slower — it doesn’t matter when the lights go down and that first note hits. Suddenly you’re 22 again, beer in hand, yelling “MOTORIN’!” like your life depends on it.
When the crowd took over the chorus, you could feel it — that big, messy, beautiful wave of voices crashing together. Nobody cared how they sounded. Everyone on their feet, arms in the air, no one checking their phones, no one heading for the exits — just this communal, joyful chaos.
Here’s the thing: Some bands pack a setlist full of obscure deep cuts to prove something. Night Ranger? They know what we came for and they delivered.
And when it was finally over, the band stayed onstage a little longer. Waved and took their time. Brad, Jack, and Keri threw out a few picks. Kelly tossed several drumsticks into the crowd and Jack pointed to someone in the back and mouthed, “Thank you.” It felt sincere. It felt like goodbye and “see you next time” all wrapped into one.
So… Was It Worth It? Let me put it like this: I’ve been to slicker shows. Louder ones. Flashier ones with pyrotechnics and $14 Bud Lights. But I haven’t walked out of a venue smiling like that in a long time. There’s something special about a band that knows exactly who they are — and loves it. They weren’t chasing trends. They weren’t trying to prove they were still cool. Night Ranger just showed up, played their asses off, and reminded everyone that rock and roll isn’t just music. It’s memory, it’s muscle, it’s magic.
Night Ranger might not be the biggest name in rock anymore. But on May 16, in a dimly lit casino hall in West Virginia, they were rock ‘n roll superstars, at least for one night. And yeah, I’ll be there next time.
Night Ranger are:
Jack Blades – Lead vocals/bass
Brad Gillis – Lead guitar/backing vocals
Kelly Keagy – Drums/lead vocals
Eric Levy – Keyboard/backing vocals
Keri Kelli – Guitar/backing vocals
Setlist
1. (You Can Still) Rock in America
2. This Boy Needs to Rock
3. Four in the Morning
4. Sing Me Away
5. Coming of Age
6. Sentimental Street
7. Night Ranger
8. High Enough
9. Touch of Madness
10. Goodbye
11. When You Close Your Eyes
12. Don’t Tell Me You Love Me
13. Sister Christian
Here are some photos of Night Ranger performing live at Hollywood Casino on May 16, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of Michael Sprouse.
