Skid Row fans here in Australia have been pretty well serviced over the years, with the band having toured numerous times under their different guises over the years. But this current tour which is tearing through cities even including ADELAIDE and Brisbane, is the first time to these shores with new singer ZP Theart, formerly of Dragonforce fame.
It was a big 4 band bill for this Friday night and firstly, must make special mention to Bad Moon Born, the Sydney’ siders who super-impressed with their vocal and guitar chops that reminded me of early Alter Bridge. With their commanding stage presence, tight musicianship and importantly, strong songs, it’s clear that these guys are destined for bigger things. Definitely a band to keep your eyes and ears peeled for over the coming months!
One thing that Skid Row have always been renowned for is energy in everything they do, and with an opening stanza of Slave To The Grind, Sweet Little Sister and Piece Of Me – I defy anyone who could deny the intensity in the room tonight. Speaking of in the room tonight – the inevitable elephant of comparing ZP Theart vs Sebastian Bach, well I was completely sold in those first three songs. ZP bringing his slightly more metal styled vocals which put his own stamp on a few of these songs such as I Remember You, whilst at the same time never attempting to be anything that he wasn’t. He owned the stage till the bitter end, and his obvious excitement performing the songs of the band he grew up on, was infectious. The song he completely made his own was Quicksand Jesus, bringing a power and emotion tonight that far exceeded the recorded version. Special mention also goes to the scorching guitar solo from Snake Sabo on this one…amazing!
Messrs Rachel Bolan, Scotti Hill and Dave ‘Snake’ Sabo showed no indication they are in any hurry to wind things up anytime soon. And with the third chapter of the United World Rebellion album series on the way soon, new music awaits us in 2019. Being able to play these songs for over 30 years was a fact not lost on them, with both Bolan and Sabo tonight expressing their gratitude towards the fans for sticking by them through thick and thin over the years. Tonight’s setlist focussed almost entirely of those genre defining first two albums. With the unexpected bonus being a ball-tearing version of the unreleased track Forever, going right back to the beginning days of the band.
Regardless of who has been vocalist for Skid Row over the years, above all, you can’t deny that Skid Row have a song catalogue that holds so many memories for those of us who grew up on a diet of 80’s hard rock. 18 And Life, Youth Gone Wild, Monkey Business, I Remember You, Big Guns, Rattlesnake Shake….when it was all said and done, tonight was all about cutting loose from everyday life with a 70 minute set of kick ass rock ‘n’ roll songs, Skid Row style.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photos by SAS75 Photography
Skid Row Australian and NZ Tour Dates:
Thursday 18th October BRISBANE Eatons Hill Hotel
Friday 19th October MELBOURNE Prince Bandroom
Saturday 20th October SYDNEY Manning Bar
Tuesday 23rd October ADELAIDE The Gov
Wednesday 24th October AUCKLAND The Studio
Tickets: silverbacktouring.com.au
