Review and photos by Craig Newman

Formed at Oakland, California in 1972 playing covers and in 1974 recorded their first album and released to albums on London records as Yesterday and Today then shorten their name to Y&T https://yandtrocks.com/  

In 1981 with Earthshaker the band signed to A&M records, 1982 releasing Black Tiger, 1983 Mean Streak and 1984 In Rock We Trust with bands first big radio hit “Don’t Stop Runnin”. When the album Down ForThe Count was released the song “Summertime Girls” was released as the single and video with heavy rotation on MTV.   With so many fabulous songs that radio “song programmers” don’t play or seldom do still the fans know them that is what important.

Over the years with lineup changes with  Dave Menikett and current lineup with John Nymann (Guitar) Mike Vanderhule (drums) and Aaron Leigh (bass). The band returned to Southern California’s Canyon Club at Agoura Hills on July 21, 2023 and with Dave killing the Prostate disease he has been battling, he still singing and playing fabulous.

Playing two plus hours and songs from the album, opening the show with “Hang ‘em High” and other songs from the album: “Midnight in Tokyo”, the title track, “Down And Dirty”, and “Straight Thru The Heart”. Some of the other songs they performed were “Summertime Girls”, “Blind Patriot” and “I Am Coming Home” from the FaceMelter album. “I Believe In You,Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark” the 10  album, “Black Tiger” and “Forever” with two encores with friends Jeff Scott Soto and Howie Simon on backing vocals.  

The band and the songs never disappoint, always a fan favorite and the music will always have influence for rock n roll.

The band will be back on the Monsters Of Rock Cruise for 2024. http://www.monstersofrockcruise.com