Night Ranger - Vetter Stone Amphitheater - Mankato MN - August 1st 2025

The Vetter Stone Amphitheater presents Night Ranger with special guests Nelson and Hype on August 1st 2025

Review and photos by Kyle Hansen

The Hype opened the show but due to time restraints I got there in the middle of their set. They were playing “Nothing But A Good Time” from Poison. Next up the did a Motley Crue set, Girls Girls Girls, Kickstart My Heart and Home Sweet Home. All I kept thinking was this guy should sing for Motley Crue, From what I saw they did a fantastic job warming the crowd up.

With the sun dipping low behind the Minnesota River, the Vetter Stone Amphitheater was bathed in golden light. Families, longtime fans, and a few nostalgic glam-metal heads filled the grassy bowl with lawn chairs, flannel blankets, and a quiet buzz of anticipation.

A simple banner reading “NELSON” hung behind the stage — no frills, just intent. As the first chords rang out from Gunnar Nelson’s acoustic guitar, the crowd rose to their feet.

The show was a tight, emotionally layered 90-minute performance. The brothers played as a duo — no full backing band — and alternated between upbeat anthems and reflective ballads. Standouts included:

“(Can’t Live Without Your) Love and Affection” – Opened the set. Tight harmonies, note-perfect delivery.
“More Than Ever” – Stripped-down and gorgeous.
“1,000 Wild Horses” – A new original with a roots-rock feel; dedicated to “anyone learning to let go.”
“Hello Mary Lou” (Rick Nelson cover) – Crowd sang along instantly.
“After the Rain” – Mid-set climax; introduced with a story about resilience after loss.
“Fools Rush In” – A touching father-son tribute in acoustic duet form.
“Garden Party” – Delivered with humor and wisdom; Gunnar said, “Dad played this to remind people it’s okay to be yourself — we still believe that.”

The natural acoustics of the Vetter Stone Amphitheater worked beautifully with the duo’s tight harmonies. The sound crew kept it warm and even, with rich low-end and crisp vocals.

Lighting was understated — mostly amber and blue washes — but well-timed to the mood of each song. As night fell, the amphitheater transformed into a glowing cradle of nostalgia and melody.

Many fans brought vinyl sleeves, vintage tour shirts, and even a few original “After the Rain” cassette tapes. The crowd was multigenerational — parents who’d seen Nelson in the ’90s standing beside kids discovering them live for the first time.

There were misty eyes during “After the Rain” and full voices during “Love and Affection.” By the end, it felt like a family reunion — just with louder harmonies.

A heartfelt, harmony-rich evening at one of Minnesota’s most scenic venues. Nelson proved that music with sincerity and soul only gets stronger with time.

The natural limestone backdrop of Vetter Stone Amphitheater lit up just before sunset, perfectly framing the iconic silhouettes of Night Ranger as they took the stage at 8:15 PM sharp. A wave of cheers rolled through the crowd as the band launched straight into their mission: to prove that 40+ years later, they still rock — and rock hard.

From the opening riffs of “(You Can Still) Rock in America,” it was clear Night Ranger wasn’t coasting on nostalgia — they were charging through it full-speed.

🟨 Setlist Highlights:

“Don’t Tell Me You Love Me” – Early in the set, fierce guitar solos from Brad Gillis turned the amphitheater into a shred-fest.
“When You Close Your Eyes” – A singalong moment with the crowd holding lighters and phones high.
“Eddie’s Comin’ Out Tonight” – A deep cut for die-hard fans, met with fist pumps and headbanging.
“Four in the Morning” – Sung with raw energy, as if they’d just written it last week.
“Sister Christian” – The emotional centerpiece. Kelly Keagy stepped out from behind the kit to sing it front and center. The entire venue sang along, many with tears in their eyes.

🎸 Surprise Moment:

“High Enough” (Damn Yankees cover) – Lead singer Jack Blades teased it, then ripped into the opening chords. The crowd erupted. Easily one of the loudest cheers of the night.

Night Ranger’s charisma hasn’t faded one bit. Jack Blades was a ball of energy, running from one side of the stage to the other, cracking jokes about turning 60 “but still outlasting half the bands we opened for in the ’80s.”

Brad Gillis’s guitar work was jaw-dropping, especially during his extended solo mid-set. Kelly Keagy, as always, managed to be both the backbone and the soul of the show — delivering vocals and drums with precision and heart.

The lighting was well-timed — classic washes of blue and gold, with synchronized strobes during solos and deeper hues during ballads. No video walls, no pyros — just old-school rock presentation that fit the open-air setting perfectly.

Sound quality? Clean. Loud enough to shake the trees lining the venue, but never distorted. Every lyric, every snare hit, every harmony was right where it needed to be.

The audience was fully dialed in — clapping, dancing, and shouting lyrics like it was 1984 again. Ages ranged from teens to retirees. At least three fans near the front row wore patched-up Night Ranger tour shirts from the ‘80s — and they knew every word.

At the encore, the band didn’t even need to sing the chorus of “Sister Christian” — the crowd handled it for them.

Night Ranger at Vetter Stone wasn’t just a trip down memory lane — it was a livewire performance that felt entirely in the present. Tight, powerful, and refreshingly honest. This wasn’t a legacy act going through the motions — it was a band proving they’ve still got fuel in the tank and fire in the belly.