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Night Ranger Played A Free
Concert In Mentor

July 15, 2026

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Mentor Rocks has been bring local and national acts to their amphitheater for free concerts on Tuesdays in the summer for several years.

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Last night platinum selling artist, Night Ranger played to perhaps the largest crowd ever at that venue.  And the band put on an outstanding classic rock show for the fans.

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It's been 44 years since they released their debut album, Dawn Patrol and the band still looks and sounds fantastic!

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Kicking off the show with "(You Can Still) Rock In America," the band was off and running, bringing high energy to an already sultry night.

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Early on in the show, Jack Blades told the audience that they have been coming to Cleveland for years.  He harkened back to the time that they played the old Cleveland Agora and their were "only six people there, but one of them was Kid Leo."  Recalling that WMMS used to be the kings of the airways in Cleveland.  Then, soon after they played, Blades remembered that the Agora burned down.

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Guitarist, Brad Gillis also got in a story about joining Ozzy Osbourne's band after the death of Randy Rhoads and how he messed up the first song he every played in that band.  Feeling a little nostalgic, the band launched into a cover of Ozzy's "Crazy Train."

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At the end of the song "Night Ranger," the band members all circled around drummer Kelly Keagy's kit and all took turns banging on drums, cymbals, and other percussion.

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Then it was time to play some Damn Yankees tunes which Blades was a part of in the early '90s.  They started to play "High Enough" but then went into "Come Again" for about half of the song then went back into "High Enough."  The band was clearly having a blast on stage.  Blades even quipped, "After 44 years, we can do what we want!"

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They saved their biggest hits for last as they played "When You Close Your Eyes," the rocker "Don't Tell Me You Love Me" and their top 5 hit "Sister Christian" which saw opening act, Lily Heidinger come back out on stage to sing with the band.

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What a way to spend a hot, summer evening in Mentor.  And best of all, it was free!

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Up and coming country singer from Ohio, Lily Heidinger opened the show with some impressive original tunes as well as a few cover songs.  She has a great stage presence and already knows how to work the crowd.  

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She has an outstanding voice and she backed herself with a very talented band.

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We will be seeing more of this young artist in the future for sure.

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Photos and review by Greg Drugan

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