Live: Warrant and Firehouse in Wabash

Longevity is the secret to any band’s success and bands like Warrant- who have the majority of their original- or long term members- still intact, that’s what keeps the fans coming back. Having recently released their latest record- Louder Harder Faster, Warrant recently hit Wabash, Ind.’s Honeywell Center with fellow rockers Firehouse for a night of classic hard rock and a party that was perfectly played. After local Anderson guitar virtuoso Mikial Robertson opened the night with a stunning acoustic guitar clinic, Firehouse took over and took things up a notch. Vocalist CJ Snare’s voice is just as pristine as it was in 1990 and the rest of the band was operating on such a level you wouldn’t have believed it was 2018. They overcame some early sound issues and launched through a good-sized set that included every major hit and the crowd was loving every minute of it. This wasn’t the last the fans would see of the band, either- more on that later. After a quick set change, Warrant took the stage and ripped right through a 16-song set that saw them balancing the heavy and softer songs to a level that took the fans on a musical journey. Singer Robert Mason couldn’t be a better fit for the band on the live stage and he’s more than proved that during his 10 years with the band- utilizing every inch of the stage and making sure to get the crowd involved every change he gets. The band couldn’t have sounded better, too, bringing the guys from Firehouse back out at the end of the show for a dual attack for “Cherry Pie,” which was a full-fledged party. -Reggie Edwards