Things are back in full swing at the Crossroads, formerly the modern-rock clubhouse Voodoo, formerly Ron’s Crossroads, a onetime can’t-miss (330) tour stop for yesteryear’s hair-metal heroes. A triumphant set by hometown boy Tim “Ripper” Owens and his powerhouse Beyond Fear saw the place jammed wall to wall, formally announcing a new era at the musician-friendly Cuyahoga Falls club. The new era, however, will be a lot like the good old days for the rowdy return of American Dog, the biker-rock band once known as Salty Dog. As they say: The more things change . . .

This article appears in Nov 8-14, 2006.