L.A. Guns Pack the Barnato in Omaha

May 24, 2025 Robert Chadwick Concert Reviews Comments Off

PAM WHISENHUNT | Go Venue Magazine

After 40 years of touring, L.A. Guns is still packing the clubs. L.A. Guns brought their Lucky MF’r Tour to the Barnato in Omaha, Nebraska on May 23, 2025. Over the last decade, Nebraska’s been one of LA Guns tour stops in conjunction with new album releases, 2017 The Missing Peace, 2019 The Devil You Know, and 2023 Black Diamonds. 2025 wasn’t any different, supporting their latest album, Leopard Skin.

Local rockers, Paisty Jenny (PJ) opened the show. As veterans of the rock and roll world, they understood the assignment and put on a solid, rockin’ set. I noticed PJ drew a considerable crowd to the show. Quite a few people were fist pumping and chanting along to several songs. PJ performed two new releases “Tell It Like It Is”, their anthem addressing the issue of child trafficking, and wrapped up their set with “Jesus and Guns”.

If the Barnato wasn’t sold out, it was very close. By the time L.A. Guns took the stage, there was no room to move. It was literally a packed house. Finally, Shawn Duncan (drums), Ace Von Johnson (rhythm guitar), Johnny Martin (bass), Tracii Guns (lead guitar) and Phil Lewis (lead vocals) took the stage. L.A. Guns performed two songs off their newest album Leopard Skin, “Hit and Run” and “Lucky Motherfucker” while mixing in fairly recent songs like “Speed” and “Like a Drug”. But they know their fans want nostalgia. Half the set was a mix of hits from their first two albums in L.A. Guns and Cocked and Loaded playing “Sex Action”, “One More Reason”, “Electric Gypsy”, “Never Enough”, “Ballad of Jayne” and closing the set with “Rip and Tear”.

Lewis still sounds great after all these years and maintains that frontman swagger. Guns still shreds, giving us several solos and bridging songs with slower impromptu jams. Duncan was solid as ever. Martin’s smooth, dark, sleek look matched his bass playing skills. Von Johnson, although giving off a chill, nonchalant vibe by blowing bubbles with his bubble gum and kicking back on the side stage wall, holds down the rhythm effortlessly, even entertaining us with a couple spotlight solos. I could see the bond between all the band members and how they’re having a blast. I especially loved watching the interactions and banter between Von Johnson and Martin. I wish I could have been on their side of the stage to watch more intimately. It’s great to see, after 40 years, Lewis and Guns have found the right bandmates and the right formula to keep doing what they do and have a blast doing it. Thank you for coming back to Nebraska. We hope to see you again soon.