Ladies of Rock at The Show

Story and Photos by Pat Krause

The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage had a busy Halloween night when three talented female rock acts took over the stage. The Ladies of Rock were exactly that — great singers and guitarists who proved they know how to rock.

Orianthi - photo by Pat Krause

Orianthi was first on stage at 6 p.m. I knew about her reputation as a guitarist and that she had performed with some of the biggest names in music, but I first thought of her mainly for her guitar playing. Then she started singing.

What a voice to go along with her fantastic ability on the guitar. Orianthi also got into the Halloween spirit, appearing with a bloody face, and members of her band joined in with the spooky look.

Vixen came on at 7:15 p.m., and these ladies also know how to rock. They dressed for Halloween and thanked everyone for coming out to spend the evening with them.

Lead singer Rosa Laricchiuta handled the vocals while the other members showed what they could do on their instruments. The voices blended together beautifully, giving the band a powerful sound. There were guitar solos and plenty of hard-rock energy. Vixen showed that after all these years, the band can still deliver the rock sound its fans came to hear.

The final lady of the night was Lita Ford, who arrived on stage at 8:45 p.m. By then, it had already been a night filled with some of the best female rock music.

Lita Ford -photo by Pat Krause

Lita came out with members of her band dressed in skeleton costumes. For the first few songs, two musicians even kept their faces covered with skeleton hoods before finally taking them off.

Ford showed why she has enjoyed such a long career in rock music. From her early days with The Runaways to building a successful solo career, she has spent decades proving that women can stand alongside the biggest names in rock — and sometimes out-rock the men.

Orianthi and fellow band member- photo by Pat Krause

The Halloween celebration wasn't limited to The Show. The casino floor was busy, too, with special activities and plenty of people arriving in costume. It was fun just watching all the different characters walking around.

It was a night of guitars, costumes and pure rock music, and a great way to spend Halloween.

The entertainment continues in November with Chris Tucker on Nov. 7, Hot August Night on Nov. 13, Adam Ray on Nov. 20, Kool & The Gang on Nov. 21 and Mannheim Steamroller on Nov. 27.

For entertainment in the desert, The Show continues to be one of my favorite places to see a great performance.