Lita Ford rocked Jergels on Wednesday night to an lively crowd. Taking the stage after 9:30 pm, the audience was first warmed up by local openers NASH.V.ILL and Stereo Scandal, who offered a welcomed but eclectic mix of strong female fronted rock. We were blown away by the energy of NASH.V.ILL who offered more of a funk sound while pulling out a killer cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven,” and Stereo Scandal brought it home with modern original cuts, including one titled “Situationship,” which us single folks are well educated on these days.
I have seen Lita Ford perform these intimate shows at Jergels before as well as larger festivals and headlining shows like the charity show for Autism last May in Youngstown, OH or the M3 Festival in Columbia, MD, and never tire of watching her and her band tear through classics from her solo career as well as favorites like “Cherry Bomb” from The Runaways and “Only Women Bleed” from Alice Cooper.
With such a baddass ensemble, there is nothing like a Lita Ford show. Guitarist Patrick Kennison brings the flash and shreds in unison with the always smiling Lita while Marten Andersson handles the low-end and Bobby Rock shakes the house behind the kit.
From the whisper and extended jam on “Back to the Cave” to the lit up room for the duet made famous by Ozzy Osbourne and Lita, the crowd couldn’t get enough last night. And having bought my first BC Rich Warlock as a teenager in fascination with this rock goddess, I definitely include myself in that statement. Mid-set Marten called us ladies down front trouble-makers as he excited the stage, and then Lita walked to the edge of the platform and looked each and every one of us in the eye as she sang “Only Women Bleed” making a connection that I’ve never felt before at a show. It was truly riveting, and will go down as one of my favorite Lita Ford shows.
We watched in awe as Bobby offered up an extended drum solo (with a mid performance water break) and the crowd scrambled to collect the guitar pics flying from the stage (maybe one day Lita will save one for me)… But, the best was saved for last when everyone yelled back the chorus of “Kiss Me Deadly,” and danced our way through her biggest hit!
Coverage by Editor and founder Kara Marie Uhrlen on 9/25/2025. All event photos © Kara Uhrlen and The Pure Rock Shop.
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