So, this is the audio proof of NIGHT RANGER onstage in Japan, coinciding with the release of the controversial Hole In The Sun comeback album. Reb Beach (WINGER, DOKKEN, solo - not in the band anymore) replaced original guitarist Jeff Watson in this N.R. 'incarnation', with Japan always preserving a familiar shelter for American Rock bands to sweat and shake.
Is Rockin' Shibuya 2007 a needless release? Well, yes and no, no and yes. On one hand, the vast majority of once 'core' NIGHT RANGER fans are now in their 40ies (and more), with many of them not possibly listening to (their) music anymore; NIGHT RANGER - a band with adequate quality in its songwriting/attitude - was included in the 80s-sprung American Rock circuit, later on to be buried/forgotten by (approximately) the whole world of Media, in favor of new sounds/trends, usually reckoned in our days as something lame, 'retro' or kitsch, hence eliminating the possibilities for juvenile fans to dig deep for some old-school 'gem' bands that are not 'aggressive'.
On the other hand, music's value is timeless, surprisingly overwhelming responses may spew out of nowhere at times, NIGHT RANGER's Hole In The Sun might as well attract some feedback through it's old-meets-new Rock style and...what the hell, it's another live album (fifth or sixth?) for these California-based rockers, thus many collectors would like to add this one to in their N.R. anthology.
As regards the live disc(s), not much is to be said. With a good suspicion whether this release is 100% 'live' (let's assume it is), NIGHT RANGER plays great (always considered Brad Gills a helluva guitarist, anyway), sings great (all of them, front or back), behaves great...so is the 'vivid' crowd (why isn't it released as a DVD, too?). The setlist features mostly songs from the band's 80s studio discography (half their latest album, too), with nearly all their US Hot 100 singles included - anyone interested in digging 'into' N.R. should check their first three albums, Dawn Patrol (1982), Midnight Madness (1983) and Seven Wishes (1985) and (sorry!) cannot distinguish which lead parts are Beach's duty so as to calculate on his piece.
Overall, this double-disc live release should be top in the priority list only for the band's fan base. NIGHT RANGER is considered to be a top-notch piece of FM Rock in the 80s, so (at least) music-wise all's guaranteed. And I ask again: shouldn't this gig be released in DVD?