Velvet Revolver in Dublin.

[Night-train]

Just back from witnessing one of the most powerful rock performances I've ever seen! Velvet Revolver (formed from the ashes of Guns'n'Roses) literally exploded onto the stage in a blaze of strobe lighting and screaming guitars! It was just awesome! Someone recently wrote that they are the first true super-group of the 21st century and on this showing it would be hard to deny! Scott Weiland (ex-Stone Temple Pilots) is a tremendous frontman, continually playing up to the crowd and never once leaving the stage, even during the solos. He covered every inch from wing to wing and beyond and by the third song he was absolutely drenched in sweat! Guitarists Slash and Dave Kushner played some amazing solo and harmony work, each providing the perfect foil for the other to work off. Slash was full of energy and covered a lot of ground throughout the night too while Kushner seemed content for the most part to allow his more established cohort to take the limelight. That said, he should have allowed himself more of a share because his talent certainly merits it. The engine room of the band, bassist Duff McKagan and drummer Matt Sorum (both ex-G'n'R) were as solid as Mount Rushmore all the way through the set with Duff raising the tempo every so often by playing the bass intros to some G'n'R songs and then cleverly switching to VR's own material! Sorum also teased a little by starting a drum intro to a G'n'R song only to turn it into a Stone Temple Pilots number! 9000 happy sweaty punters left the Point Depot with me and DW glad to be among them and we'll be wanting to see VR again! They're over in the UK now so go see them if you like your music hard, loud and heavy, but be warned, these guys are NOT for the faint-hearted!! You know what you can do with your boy-bands . . . .

 

[KayleeUK]

John

Sounds like you had a fab time - I expect DH would like to have seen them

 

[AlanUK]

Sounds fantastic John

I would have liked to go and see VR but unfortunately the UK dates clash with Green Day and I'd already committed to going to Manchester at the end of this month for the Green Day gig before I found out about the VR tour.

I'm glad you had a good time, I have read lots of good reviews for their gigs, of course any band with Slash (Guitar God ) is going to be superb.

Hopefully they will tour again soon and I will get my chance

Did I mention that Slash is a guitar god??

Alan.

 

[chunkster20uk]

I can't wait till next Sunday when I see them in London.


I just missed them at Hard Rock Live in December, we were on our cruise.

I saw GnR at the MK Bowl on the Use your Illusion tour and they were awesome, and you are right Slash is a guitar god!!

 

[Miffy2003]

Whatever happened to Slash's Snakepit or whatever they were called then?

And whatever happened to Mr Rose??

I could never decide if I loved or hated GnR but I think this had a lot to do with my dislike of Axl.

 

[AlanUK]

I think Slash's snakepit was really just a project to keep Slash and Matt occupied with some old friends until Axl sorted himself out and got the GnR thing going again.

As it turn out Axl is a bit more screwed up than they all realised (although they all knew he was pretty mixed up ) and in the end the VR thing came together and has really taken off. From the interviews I have read with the band members they are all happy in the band and really enjoying it and there is no way that any of the former GnR members are going to go back.

As far as GnR goes Axl still owns the name and is always on the verge of realeasing that comeback album, it just never quite materialises. Maybe one day it will but with only 1 member of the original band remaining I can see it being GnR in name only.

Alan.

 

[Miffy2003]

Thank you Alan

 

[peteman]

I too was at the show on Wednesday. You could not have described it better. It was the best concert i was at in my life and a lifelong ambition to witness slash do his thang. I was lucky enough to get into the pit never mind have duff throw me his plectrum. . Bring VR back 2 dublin. A concert not to be missed by anyone.

 

[KayleeUK]

peteman Welcome to the DIS

 

[Night-train]

Hi Peteman! Superb night, wasn't it?? Are you going to see Thin Lizzy when they hit Dublin next month? I've got tickets for the Belfast gig at the Waterfront. Saw them Dec '04 and they were awesome too, even without Phil Lynott! What was that 'pit' for by the way???