Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators @ LG Arena, 1st December 2014
Earlier than scheduled, the house lights dim and some circus inspired music plays as the band enter the stage. The arena isn’t a complete sell out but the standing area is rammed from front to back, all cheering the acclaimed guitarist who is most famous for being a member of the classic Guns N’Roses line up. Slash’s band includes Myles Kennedy, the lead vocalist with Alter Bridge, who has been the touring vocalist for Slash’s solo work for the last five years or so, often co-writing some of the material.
The first track of the set is You’re A Lie taken from 2012’s Apocalyptic Love and is a blues-based rock number which incorporates Slash’s distinctive style, which has elevated him to the status of guitar legend, plus Kennedy’s appropriately superb vocals providing a positive opening to the events. However, the response to the cover of Nightrain wins the crowd over and sees Kennedy darting about the stage and at times leaning off podiums to high five members of the audience.
It is unfortunate that our seats are to the side of the stage because at times the sound loses its clarity which affects the definition of the lead guitar and vocals but I would doubt this would be a problem for those situated more directly in front of the speakers. Back To Cali sees the obligatory change of the lyrics to incorporate Birmingham and Slash present the first of his extended solos, posing in his leather hat and shades, whilst his fingers work effortlessly around the fret board of his Les Paul, watched on, from the sound desk, by rock legend Tony Iommi.
The recognisable drum start to You Could Be Mine sees another Guns song unleashed upon a hospitable audience and certainly Kennedy’s vocal range easily conquers the tracks laid down by Axl Rose. Admittedly, I don’t think Kennedy does such an effective job with Ghost as it misses the depth of lower register that Ian Astbury brings to the original. In true Slash style, local rock heroes Phil Campbell and Glen Hughes are welcomed to the stage and embark on a blues jam of Hey Hey Hey Hey! (Goin’ Back To Birmingham), it is Hughes’ harsh wails that emphasise how smooth Myles’ voice is. Hughes exits leaving Campbell to deliver the blistering Ace of Spades seeing Conspirators’ bassist, Todd Kerns, take the vocal reins.
The only pedal that Slash uses on stage is the wah wah which heralds another Guns cover, Mr Brownstone followed by Rocket Queen. It is at this point when Slash exposes his guitar wizardry to the maximum with a fifteen minute solo in which he demonstrates an array of different techniques that would leave any guitarist open-mouthed. However, not being a guitarist myself, my mind does drift slightly after a while. A duo of songs from Slash’s latest album, World On Fire, is made up of the title track and its gritty opening riff preceded by the slower paced Bent To Fly. The double-headed guitar makes an appearance for Anastasia, which incorporates a Bachian inspired guitar line before the classic Sweet Child O’Mine raises the roof of the LG Arena.
There is no doubt that Slash’s ability to write an iconic timeless rock riff is what elevates him to such prodigious heights, which is emphasised by the audience responses to the big hits. At this point, Slash introduces his band, all of which are accomplished musicians who genuinely relish the opportunity to perform, before beginning a slowed down version of Bad Company’s Feel Like Making Love that segues into a version Velvet Revolver’s Slither. The crowd’s enthusiastic applause as Slash leaves the stage reiterate the popularity of the guitarist whilst knowing that there has been a Guns N’Roses classic that has yet to be played and, true to form, the band return with the opening line to Paradise City.
There isn’t one person in the Arena who isn’t singing their hearts out whilst stamping their feet; it is genuine classic rock song that all generations appreciate. Meanwhile, Kennedy is pacing the length and breadth of the stage as ticker tape is exploding at the front covering the very patient security staff providing an epic ending to the show. Slash appears to be the most successful member from the original Guns N’Roses line up, possibly because he has a definitive sound and capacity for writing great riffs but also he is renowned for being a genuine guy who wholeheartedly supports live music and never fails to provide his fans with a high quality performance.
Slash and his band put together an incredibly tight and accomplished set, the only downside being that Slash tended to stick to one side of the stage which meant a section of the arena missed out on engaging with the master, but this is a minor gripe at the end of a blistering show.
Set List
You’re A Lie
Nightrain
Halo
Avalon
Back From Cali
Wicked Stone
You Could Be Mine
Ghost
Hey Hey Hey Hey!
Ace of Spades
Shadow Life
Beneath The Savage
Mr Brownstone
Rocket Queen
Bent To Fly
World On Fire
Anastasia
Sweet Child O’Mine
Slither
Paradise City
Review: Toni Woodward
Photographs: Dave Musson