Las Vegas Mixtape v14: Culinary Burlesque, Aisles of Treasures, and the Right To Rock

Track #5: Ron Keel Band, Count’s Vamp’d on W Sahara Ave

With his bands, Steeler and then Keel, Ron Keel helped popularize the up-from-the-streets hard rock sound of Los Angeles in the early to late ‘80s. He later moved to Las Vegas for many years, performing regularly at Count’s Vamp’d.

Now a Sioux Falls, SD resident, Ron fittingly chose Vamp’d for his Vegas farewell show with the Ron Keel Band (they played their final Los Angeles gig the next night in LA at the Whisky a Go-Go). “I had all my dreams come true in both towns, and I’m excited to return one last time with RKB,”  Ron posted on socials ahead of these gigs.

In his lengthy Veags set, Ron strongly underlined what has made him a substantial artist. He writes anthemic songs about pride and possesses a gutsy voice that (still) slips easily into the high register. As a frontman, his charisma is infectious.

Among the set’s highlights were “American Thunder,” “Wild Forever,” and his latest single, “Hard On The Outside (Heart On The Inside).” Of course, the night would not have been complete without fiery performances of Steeler’s “Backseat Driver” and Keel’s fist-in-the-air metal manifesto, “The Right To Rock.”