In the 70s, Angel arrived on the scene with a unique sound and look combining heavy guitar riffs and wild keyboards. On Casablanca Records alongside KISS, they were marketed as that demonic band’s antithesis, with an angelic androgynous look, and the stage show to match. Sadly, the band never reached the commercial highs of that other band, and folded circa 1980, shortly after a guest appearance in the Jodie Foster film FOXES. Retrospective fan and critic reviews consider Angel to be ahead of their time, and people continue to rediscover their music.
The band members have had their share of other projects. Vocalist Frank DiMino calls Vegas home now, and has performed with many local groups over the years. Guitarist Punky Meadows largely disappeared from the limelight, but came back a decade ago with a killer solo album. Following solo release from DiMino and Meadows in 2015 and 2016, respectively, the group created a new version of Angel in which they are the sole original members. This incarnation of Angel, which also features second guitarist Danny Farrow, released two studio records, and recently embarked upon what they’re calling a farewell tour.
The Bootlegger is a staple of Las Vegas and has been for decades, owned by the Mancuso Family, with the Copa Room being a separate “venue space” behind the restaurant. It’s where former Count’s Vamp’d owners Danny “The Count” and Korie Koker have been booking shows since the closure of their venue. This venue is NOT to be confused with the similarly-named Copa Room venue at the Tuscany Hotel, which also books rock shows.
I do have somewhat mixed feelings regarding the Bootlegger’s Copa being used as a rock venue. The room has a definite unrivaled old school Vegas vibe, but the upward slant of the room (the opposite of most rock venues) can make it difficult to see the stage (thankfully Korie had reserved my photographer and I a space near the stage, which made the evening more enjoyable). Still, I do believe the area nearest the stage shouldn’t have tables and chairs, for those fans who want to rock out like they did in the Vamp’d days. Likewise, the venue desperately needs to fix, upgrade, or simply turn up the air conditioning; it was far too hot in there on this evening (and Vegas summers are often well over 100 degrees even into the night!) But one thing I will give this spot immense credit for is including a self-serve water dispenser near the bar, which is a great way to beat the heat. This is one thing the Bootlegger’s Copa does right I’ve not seen many other concert halls doing, and I wish they’d follow this example, especially in the summer months! It is good to see Danny and Korie still utilizing the services of several of the old Vamp’d folks, including sound man Brian and security head Jimmy, who are the absolute best at what they do.
Doors opened at 7:30 with Angel taking the stage around 9:00; they were the only band on the bill. Again, the current lineup of Angel only features DiMino and Meadows as original members, but the group they’ve assembled is fantastic with everyone showing terrific musicianship and chemistry. The set included tracks from their classic releases from 1975-1980, including “Wild and Hot,” “Bad Time,” “Can You Feel It,” “Don’t Leave Me Lonely,” and “Rock and Rollers.” While this was mostly a retro/legacy setlist, it did include one cut from the more recent RISEN album, “We Were the Wild.”
Vegas audiences got an unexpected surprise guest on the final cut of the evening, with their encore being “The Tower” from the band’s 1975 debut, featuring guest star Gregg Giuffria! Giuffria was the band’s keyboarding during their original tenure, later playing in the band’s Giuffria and House of Lords, and having largely backed away from the music world in favor of his business ventures (though he is working on a new album!) His presence on the final track of the evening was the highlight of the gig, with many fans mobbing the stage (despite the tables and chairs) to catch a glance at Angel’s original keyboardist going back to what he’s done best over the years.
I only have a few minor criticisms with the setlist. The biggest omission for me was the song “It’s Alright” from the band’s most recent album, which may be the hardest, heaviest, and maybe even the best song the band has ever recorded. Likewise, it’s disappointing to not see even a single song from Frank or Punky’s solo albums. If it wasn’t for those albums we likely never would’ve gotten the current version of Angel. What about “Lost and Lonely” or “The Price You Pay” from Punky’s FALLEN ANGEL? What about “Tears Will Fall” or “Sweet Sensation” from Frank’s OLD HABITS DIE HARD? These are great solo albums and I really believe a track or two from either belongs in a modern Angel set. Still, these are minor nitpicks from what was an all-around great night.
I’m glad to see DiMino and Meadows revived Angel, and the additional players they’ve got alongside them are fantastic, keeping these songs alive in a big way. These guys bring the thunder in a live setting, and Gregg Giuffria’s guest spot on the encore was an unexpected but totally welcomed surprise. If this is truly a farewell, rock fans owe it to themselves to get the venue and watch these guys descend from the heavens one last time.