A plethora of band shirts, leather jackets and even bleached blonde teased wigs worn by fans of all ages could be seen making their way into the Great Canadian Casino Resort in Toronto for a fun night of ’80s rock. It was to be a fantastic evening with Loverboy and Quiet Riot.
Loverboy – Quiet Riot
Great Canadian Casino Resort, Toronto – 4 April 2025
Words And Photography: Taylor Cameron
Quiet Riot
Starting off the night were rock legends Quiet Riot. Hitting the stage with raw energy, Quiet Riot transport you back to the 1980s. Although Rudy Sarzo is the only original member currently in the band, Jizzy Pearl (vocals), Alex Grossi (guitar) and Johnny Kelly (drums) do a fantastic job in honouring what Randy Rhoads, Kelly Garni and Kevin Dubrow created back in 1973.
With a setlist consisting of classics such as Slick Black Cadillac, Mama Weer All Crazee Now, Party All Night, and The Wild And The Young, the crowd sang along word for word, horns held high in the air.
Sarzo’s stage presence is electrifying. It is hard to take your eyes off of him. Between his unique playing style and constant movement, Sarzo commands the stage with ease.
Jizzy Pearl’s unique vocals deliver the songs perfectly, bringing his own style to the songs while also honouring Dubrow and his music.
Taking the microphone, Sarzo took a moment to speak about their fallen brother, Randy Rhoads. A goosebump-worthy moment of the night, the band dedicated the track Thunderbird to him, a ballad Dubrow wrote after Rhoads had left Quiet Riot. The song, completed after Randy’s death in 1982, appeared on the Metal Health album as a tribute.
Alex Grossi takes centre stage as the rest of the band leave the stage. Playing a guitar solo that included Van Halen’s Eruption, honouring the late great Eddie Van Halen, led the crowd to erupt in cheers. 
Closing out their set with Cum On Feel The Noize and Metal Heath (Bang Your Head), the audience went wild. Pumping up the crowd perfectly, Quiet Riot made the theatre feel like an arena, giving their performance 110%. 
Loverboy
Headlining the show were Canadian rock legends Loverboy. Doug Johnson stepped onstage behind his keyboard, starting the set before the whole band kicked into their 1986 track Notorious.
Nearing their 50th anniversary as a band, Loverboy, formed in 1979, still deliver a very entertaining show.
Their arena rock sound translates to the live stage seamlessly, with Mike Reno’s vocals soaring across the venue. With songs like The Kid Is Hot Tonite, Hot Girls In Love and Turn Me Loose, Loverboy had everyone standing on their feet, singing along to the rock ‘n’ roll classics.
Between the band’s contagious stage presence and their energetic tracks, it was challenging to stand still. 
Slowing things down, the power ballad, This Could Be The Night, falls in the middle of the setlist. Fans light up the theatre with their phone flashlights. This track is an ’80s power ballad that has always been a crowd favourite.
“It is Friday night,” Reno states before the band jump into Working For The Weekend, the lead single from their sophomore album, Get Lucky, a fan favourite among rock fans since its release in 1981.
The energy in the room was at an all-time high. There was not a quiet soul in the room. Everyone sang along to the well-known lyrics: “Everybody’s working for the weekend, Everybody wants a new romance.”
The band exits the stage, and the lights dim, leaving the crowd cheering for more. No one was ready for the night to end.
The encore consisted of tracks Jump and Lovin’ Every Minute Of It, both of which are energetic and full of fun guitar riffs. The show ended on a high note.
Full of classics and nostalgia, Quiet Riot and Loverboy made everyone in the room feel like they were living in the 1980s. This was the perfect night of hard rock music. 
