Concertverslag: Y & T
Y & T
1 October 2025, De Nieuwe Nor – Heerlen
Text & Photo’s: Martien Koolen
The American hard rock band Y & T was founded in Oakland in the early seventies under the moniker Yesterday And Today; but after two albums (‘Yesterday And Today’ (1976) and ‘Struck Down’ (1978)), they shortened their name in 1981 to Y&T. In that same year, the Californian hard rock quartet released their iconic album Earthshaker and started playing as a support act for, among others, AC/DC, and Ozzy Osbourne; furthermore Y&T played at the notorious Pinkpop Festival in 1982. Nowadays Dave Meniketti is the only original bandmember, but that does not mean that Y&T’s music has changed, on the contrary, the band is still one of the best, and they proved that a year ago with their spectacular gig in a sold out Nieuwe Nor in Heerlen.
Tonight Y&T (consisting of: Dave Meniketti (guitar, vocals), John Nymann (guitar), Aaron Leigh (bass guitar) and Mike Vanderhule (drums)) kicks off furiously with Open Fire, one of the best tracks of their fourth studio album ‘Black Tiger,’ released way back in 1982. Unfortunately, Y&T then plays two rather mediocre songs – Don’t Stop Runnin’ and Lipstick And Leather – which can be found on their rather indifferent pop/rock album ‘In Rock We Trust.’
But luckily Y&T then picks up the good start of this gig again with the amazing Don’t Be Afraid Of The Dark; the only track on tonight’s setlist from the ‘Ten’ album (1990) and Meniketti’s guitar solo here is the first true guitar orgasm of tonight. Two “kick in the teeth” hard rock songs (Don’t Wanna Lose and Mean Streak) are up next, followed by the wonderful semi-ballad Winds Of Change, highlighting Meniketti’s more than excellent vocal skills, packed with heartfelt emotion indeed!
Approximately in the middle of this breathtaking and rocking gig we are mistreated to the run of the mill song Summertime Girls, a dull pop/rock song that still cannot intrigue me – which is a euphemism by the way – and which is certainly a track that does not comply with the rest of this gig indeed.
Then, after the title track of Y&T’s ‘Contagious’ album (1987), Meniketti plays the highlight of this gig as, Believe In You from the ‘Earthshaker’ album sets the Nieuwe Nor on fire. The two guitar solos in this power blues ballad are 100% pure guitar orgasms, and they give me goosebumps all over; man, Meniketti can play a mean and lean guitar for sure!! From Y&T’s best, iconic album ‘Earthshaker,’ two further songs – Rescue Me and Dirty Girl – are being played and so this amazing hard rock evening comes to an end…
Although, without encores, Y&T is “not allowed” to go home, so the enthusiastic crowd are treated to two more songs from the ‘Black Tiger’ album; being: Forever and Hell Or High Water; a perfect ending to a wonderful hard rock night in my home town.
Cheers, and may Y&T return to De Nieuwe Nor for more glorious gigs indeed!!
Website: https://yandtrocks.com/