Beggars & Thieves

In the 80s up through the early 90s, there were a lot of "hair bands" coming onto the scene. Many names come to mind - Bon Jovi, Poison, Motley Crue, Ratt, Guns N Roses, the list goes on. Beggars and Thieves was born in this era, but sadly, they never got the credit they deserved - largely due to them being a victim of changing trends in the music industry, a common fate for many hair bands. The band started in the late 80s and has never really broken up or disbanded, with singer Louie Merlino and guitarist Ron Mancuso being the two constant members over the years. Merlino's name night not be recognizable right away, but if you listen to music at all, you've heard this guy's voice at some point. He has done backing vocals for countless classic artists, including KISS and Alice Cooper, as well as on many songs that were written by Desmond Child. His work has been heard in many commercials as well. While they have never really been in the spotlight, the band has never really "gone away" either, continuing to record and perform. In fact, a new album of studio material from the group, We Are The Brokenhearted, is due out very soon. When I saw the band on August 18, opening for Lynch Mob, I was damn impressed by what I saw. Louie is a singer with a type of energy no one can match. He's a guy you can tell really gets into performing, and pleasing his fans - his style of performing and singing bring Robert Plant and David Coverdale to mind, and I mean that as a huge compliment. The rest of the band is equally impressive, and it is clear that this is a band that has a good time doing what they do. The show I saw featured a diverse setlist, which featured everything from material on their 1990 debut right up to stuff from their forthcoming release. They even threw a Beatles cover in the mix for good measure! It may have been these guys opening for Lynch Mob, but if you ask me, they could just as easily have been the headliner. In 20+ years, their ability to make quality music has not diminished. The band generally sticks to the Vegas Valley, but does tour occasionally. If you have a chance to see them perform, don't pass it up. They've got a sound all their own and a passion for music like no other band.