Though his band would be a prime candidate for the '80s-themed South Texas Rock Fest in October at Sunken Garden Theater, Kip Winger aficionados will have to settle for a concert in Austin.
Solo style. And that's not necessarily a bad thing.
Winger, the vocalist and bassist of the band that bears his name, announced Wednesday that his solo tour will play at The Parish on Austin's famed 6th Street district Wednesday, Aug. 24. Showtime is 8 p.m. Complete tour dates can be found here. (Note: The Parish, which has a capacity of 450, is located on the 2nd floor at 214 E. 6th St. Due to the age of the building, it does not have elevators for handicapped access. For more information, click here.) He's also playing Houston on Sept. 20 and Grapevine on Sept. 21.
Winger, known for 1988 and 1990 hits such as Seventeen, Miles Away, Easy Come Easy Go, and Headed For A Heartbreak, was a casualty of the grunge era just like many hair bands. Unlike its contemporaries, however, Winger took the biggest beating in the public eye, despite the group's popularity, thanks to MTV's "Beavis & Butt-head." Stewart, the show's nerdy and inferior character, always wore a "Winger" T-shirt.
Some might say, however, that Winger didn't deserve to take the brunt of those bad raps during the '90s. Those who know of their music only through the first two successful albums -- Winger and In the Heart Of The Young -- may be surprised to learn that 2009 effort Karma is easily the band's heaviest and arguably their best to date.
But Kip is much more than the architect of his band. The composer and musician released his most daring piece of work in 2010, a classical ballet EP called Ghosts. He's also put out four solo records, the latest being 2008's From The Moon To The Sun. Winger is on a solo run across the country in part because one of his guitarists, Reb Beach, is currently touring with Whitesnake.
Kip also has been heavily involved with VH1 Classic's "Rock N' Roll Fantasy Camp," a reality show that branched out into major cities with musicians such as Winger and fellow bassist Rudy Sarzo coaching strangers who came together to play in a band. The show had many rock-star guests, including ex-Van Halen/current Chickenfoot bassist Michael Anthony, former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley and Poison frontman Bret Michaels. One of the participants was former Dallas Cowboys lineman and Free Reign drummer Cory Procter, who Kip lauded on an episode of "That Metal Show."
Kip may be counting his blessings that his concert will take place before the October return of "Beavis & Butt-head," which is the brain child of Austin's own Mike Judge. Still, it's a quirky coincidence that after Winger went away as a band following 1993 album Pull -- the same year "Beavis & Butt-head" first aired -- the show hopes to celebrate a rebirth while Winger reshapes his career.
Or perhaps it's not a coincidence at all.
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