NO MACHINES!:

Tesla's debut album - 1986's "Mechanical Resonance" - contained a powerful message to fans, the music industry and even other bands.

NO MACHINES!

"We put that in (the liner notes) because we wanted everyone to know there was no tape running in the background, which a lot of people do — not just these days, but even back then," lead singer Jeff Keith said. "We've never rolled tape or anything like that."

Almost four decades later, that powerful declaration still reflects the California-based band's unwavering dedication to authenticity, honesty and integrity.

"We are proud to say that Tesla is 100 percent live," Keith said.

The band is currently criss-crossing the country on the "Keepin' It Real" 2024 Tour, which got under way in January and runs through September — including a stop on Aug. 24 at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Mt. Vernon.

And in an era where fans have become more and more skeptical about just how "live" live performances by any band really are, they can be certain that every Tesla show, every night, will indeed, be real.

For better, or worse.

"If we are having a bad night, then we might sound a little bit off. If we are having a great night, we will sound great," Keith said. "But, it is definitely always us."

Touring has taken the band all over the world since they burst onto the music scene in the late 1980s.

In recent years, Tesla has been a part of packages tours featuring bands like Journey, Def Leppard, Deep Purple, Cheap Trick, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and others, while also serving as an opening act for iconic artists such as Lynyrd Skynyrd and Alice Cooper.

On the "Keepin It Real" tour, though, the focus was to get back to playing headline shows in much more intimate settings.

"The crowds are smaller, but we get to play more songs. That's the upside of it," Keith said. "As much as we like playing with all those other bands, we just get more time to play more songs when it's our own show."

Picking which tunes to play, though, can be challenging.

Tesla's catalogue includes eight full-length studio albums, which have sold a combined total of more than 14 million copies in the United States.

"We have fun with it," Keith said. "Guitarist Frank (Hannon) plays a big part in that. He will come in and say, 'Hey, let's play this one or this one.' The people really enjoy it."

While the setlist may change almost every night, the band's most recognizable tunes — "Love Song," "Modern Day Cowboy," Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)" and "Signs" — are almost never excluded from a live performance.

"We call those the staple songs. You gotta play those," Keith said with a laugh.

Another song which has become a staple at Tesla shows over the years is an unlikely cover which appeared on the debut album.

"Little Suzi's on the Up" was recorded by British new wave group Ph.D. in 1981. The video for the song was the fifth-ever played by MTV on the network's first day (Aug. 1, 1981).

Tesla's version, in which the title was shortened to just "Little Suzi," reached No. 22 on Billboard's US Mainstream Rock chart.

"A lot of people think it is our song — that we wrote it," Keith said. "That's what you do with a cover. You take someone else's song and make it your own."

Another song they've made its own over the years is "Signs."

Originally recorded by the Canada's "Five Man Electric Band" in 1970, Tesla performed the track at five acoustic shows 20 years later. After a live version of the song began airing on radio stations, Geffen released the complete recording of the band's performance at the Trocadero in Philadelphia - calling the album "Five Man Acoustical Jam."

"Signs" became Tesla's highest-charting single, reaching No. 8 on the Billboard Hot 100.

"The beautiful thing about it is that is live from top to bottom. We just pushed the record button," Keith said of the acoustic record. "And people really appreciate the honesty of that."

One of the most deeply personal and hauntingly honest songs in the Tesla catalogue is also still a regular in the setlist.

"Song and Emotion" was written during the sessions for the band's "Psychotic Supper" album and became a touching tribute to Def Leppard guitarist Steve Clark, who passed away in Jan. 8, 1991.

"Those guys were like our big brothers," Keith said of Def Leppard, who Tesla toured with extensively in the 1980s. "They took us under their wings and showed us how to treat an opening band."

Keith wrote the lyrics, along with producer Michael Barbiero.

"He was such a great guitar player but also a beautiful soul," Keith said of Clark. "We still love playing it. It's still one of my favorite songs."

And all these years later, Keith still enjoys playing with his long-time bandmates.

Hannon and bassist Brian Wheat formed a group called Earthshaker in 1981. The vocalist joined two years later as the name changed to City Kidd.

Along with Tommy Skeoch (guitarist) and Troy Luccketta (drums), the band became Tesla in 1986, taking on the moniker of a little-known, at least at that time, Serbian-American engineer — Nikola Tesla.

"He was such an incredible guy," Keith said of Tesla. "He passion was inventing. He wasn't in it for the money. He was all about his inventions and we like to be all about our music and our songs. So, the name fit great."

Almost 40 years later, those three of the original members still remain the driving force behind Tesla.

Wheat and Hannon have always been a big part of the band's songwriting, along with Keith, and both bring an immense musical resume to the band.

"He can play any instrument," Keith of Hannon. "He is such a talented musician and one of the greatest guitar players ever - in my personal opinion."

Guitarist Dave Rude joined the band in 2008, just prior to the band's "Forever More" album, and has former a wonderful partnership with Hannon.

"Frank could not have found a better fit than Dave Rude. He has been fantastic."

Steve Brown, the younger brother of Dokken drummer Mick Brown, recently replaced Luccketta, who stepped away from the band for personal reasons.

Tesla hasn't recorded a full-length studio album since 2019's "Shock," but has released a pair of singles, including "Time to Rock" in 2023.

"Right now, we don't have the time," Keith said. "It really takes almost a year to write, record, produce and put a record out. But, we plan on doing it again."

Until then, Tesla will be out on the road.

Playing 100 percent live, with no machines.