After the original tour dates were postponed back in November, expectations were sky-high for these Skid Row Dates! With the new album a spectacular return to form, and footage of shows from the tour amping up the anticipation, fans were certainly pumped for these dates! But after the Brisbane show was cancelled at the very last minute due to Erik Grönwall being laid low with the flu, eagerness was replaced with a degree of trepidation in Sydney. But once it became clear that the Sydney show would go ahead, the punters eagerly packed the Manning bar to catch the new, improved version of Skid Row.
Melbourne’s Wicked Smile are the support, and they tear into the task of warming up a chilly Friday night with relish!
‘Killer At Large’, with its chiming intro & soaring chorus, hooks the crowd from the off, while the Maiden-esque ‘We Fall’ with a blistering solo from Stevie Janevski, gets them well & truly in the boat (to stay with the fishing metaphor).
Wicked Smile are clearly a seasoned band, and are not at all overawed by the occasion, singer Danny Cecati, he of the impressively wailing vibrato (and the exceedingly long hair) doing a great job at revving up the crowd.
‘Love’s Got A Hold On You’, ‘Wait for the Night’ & ‘Stronger’ are highlights.
Wicked Smile are a “must see”, next time they’re in town!
Guitarist Stevie, mentions before the last song that he discovered Skid Row in High School. As it was for me, I bought the debut album on cassette on a school excursion right when it came out, and saw the first Sydney show at the Hordern Pavilion in May 1990, and several times since so I’m really keen to see the new line-up & songs live.
Blitzkrieg Bop introduces the band, and then Skid Row tear into ‘Slave to the Grind’, while its obvious that the band has been itching to get off the leash, its pretty obvious that Erik is still suffering with his Flu, his voice is fairly thin even first song in. Next up, ‘The Threat’ kicks like a cantankerous mule, but the singers voice is hanging in on grit and not much else. ‘Big Guns’ sets the crowd alight though, and things are looking good. ’18 & Life is next’ and the Manning Bar choir lifts the song into the stratosphere. This isn’t the soaring Swedish Idol version tonight though, the singers voice is almost gone at this point. Erik explains the situation & asks the crowd if they can give him a hand for the night, and a very prescient ‘Not dead yet’ goes down a storm.
At this point, the band leave the stage, presumably to decide whether or not to carry on. The come back on, asking ‘Do you want to hear some more?’ an enthusiastic crowd convinces them to plough on. An ‘Erik, Erik, Erik’ chant precedes ‘Piece of Me’ carried along again on pure chutzpah & not much else. As I’m thinking of the performers that I’ve seen who have walked off which mush less excuse than this (too many), I hear someone shouting “Bring Back Sebastian!” and wonder if they were at the Coogee Bay hotel in 2006 when he walked off mid-set & didn’t come back after getting hit with a plastic cup…
Bass Player Rachel Bolan wishes Joey Ramone a Happy Birthday, leading a blast through ‘Psycho Therapy’, which brings a grin to my face.
Each new song feels like it may be the last one, which adds to the unique feel of this show. ‘In a darkened Room’ particularly, although Scotti Hill’s solo was worth it.
‘Rattlesnake Shake’ & new song ‘Time Bomb’ are next, Erik snarling (as much to himself as the crowd) ‘Lets do this’. ‘Monkey Business’ is all bad attitude & guts, with an extended jam section complete with dueling guitar solos. Hill & Snake Sabo have been playing together for so long, their interplay is almost telepathic.
The appearance of the acoustic guitar stand can only mean one thing, and the crowd revel in singing most of ‘I Remember you’.
Erik then proclaims ”We don’t stop playing because we grow old, we grow old because we stop Playing” and Youth Gone Wild brings a strange, but rewarding night to an end.
Most bands would have cancelled this show, (and apparently Skid Row have indeed pulled the plug on the rest of the tour… to be rescheduled), but it was a privilege to see them guts it out! It truly was a show to remember.
Photos by: sivzoidphotography.com
Wicked Smile GALLERY:
Skid Row GALLERY:
