Slash - Perth, 30th August 2012
Words: Todd Lockley
Last here, officially at least, for Soundwave 2011, Slash made a triumphant return to Australia last week, rounding out his national tour with a sold out show a Perth’s Metro City.
The line to get in snaked out of the venue and wound all the way around the corner, back to Rosie O'Grady's. It was an obvious crowd; black shirts, big hair. A few guys even spent their pre concert time dressing up as Slash lookalikes. Not strange at all. What was strange though, was the early start time. Band management kept a keen eye on the line, debating whether to push the start time back to ensure everyone made it inside for the start.
As the time ticked over to 9.30, everyone safely made it inside and the lights began to dim. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators flooded the stage to a heroes welcome, before introducing the man in the top hat with the hugest hair and the John Lennon specks, Slash.
As the two-hit combo of Halo and Nightrain sent the heaving front lines into battle, it became very clear that even though he was backed by an exceptional backing band and a singer who could have taught Axl Rose to sing like Axl Rose, the night was all about the legend that is Slash.
Gunners tunes pulled the biggest response on the night, as My Michelle and Rocket Queen raised the roof. But the other band on the night, The Conspirators, were fantastic to watch too. Like carnies at a fair ground going one on one with any eye contact they could grasp in the crowd, they drummed up a personal reaction with those on any of the multiple Metro City levels, bringing a more personal experience for a lot of frenzied fans.
The line to get in snaked out of the venue and wound all the way around the corner, back to Rosie O'Grady's. It was an obvious crowd; black shirts, big hair. A few guys even spent their pre concert time dressing up as Slash lookalikes. Not strange at all. What was strange though, was the early start time. Band management kept a keen eye on the line, debating whether to push the start time back to ensure everyone made it inside for the start.
As the time ticked over to 9.30, everyone safely made it inside and the lights began to dim. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators flooded the stage to a heroes welcome, before introducing the man in the top hat with the hugest hair and the John Lennon specks, Slash.
As the two-hit combo of Halo and Nightrain sent the heaving front lines into battle, it became very clear that even though he was backed by an exceptional backing band and a singer who could have taught Axl Rose to sing like Axl Rose, the night was all about the legend that is Slash.
Gunners tunes pulled the biggest response on the night, as My Michelle and Rocket Queen raised the roof. But the other band on the night, The Conspirators, were fantastic to watch too. Like carnies at a fair ground going one on one with any eye contact they could grasp in the crowd, they drummed up a personal reaction with those on any of the multiple Metro City levels, bringing a more personal experience for a lot of frenzied fans.
The guitar solos came thick and fast as Slash ran through an awesome cover of The Godfather Theme, showing off some of the fastest fingers ever seen run up and down a guitar neck. And on a side note, how fit is this man??? Predominantly shirtless, his arms are huge and at 47, he looks like there’s gonna be a few more generations to enjoy his guitar slaying yet.
New album, Apocalyptic Love, got a good airing, with Not For Me and Anastasia getting a run. They were well served as the entree to the biggest feast of the evening. Without any introduction or fanfare, the blistering intro solo of Sweet Child o’ Mine sent the crowd into rock 'n' roll heaven.
Rounding out the main set was the only Velvet Revolver song of the night, Slither, but no one seemed to mind as all in attendance were in for one hell of an encore. After replacing a “blown out” guitar lead, Slash stepped up to the mic and made an announcement… “We’re gonna do something that we haven’t done in, I dunno, about a year and a half. I think we’ve only played this once or twice. This’ll probably be the third time we’ve done it. You’ll recognize it when you hear it…” before launching into a spectacular version of Welcome To The Jungle.
Slash wasn’t joking. As a solo performer, he's only performed that song live four times, and that was the first time since 2010. Finishing in a celebration of sound and more confetti cannons than New Years Eve, there was only one way to go out: We all went down to Paradise City, and it was as brilliant as the very first time we pressed play on Appetite For Destruction.
As the fans flooded out of Metro City, everyone was thoroughly fulfilled with Slash satisfaction after witnessing one of the true gods of rock in the flesh. Can’t wait ‘til next time, which, according to the man himself, could be as early as next year
New album, Apocalyptic Love, got a good airing, with Not For Me and Anastasia getting a run. They were well served as the entree to the biggest feast of the evening. Without any introduction or fanfare, the blistering intro solo of Sweet Child o’ Mine sent the crowd into rock 'n' roll heaven.
Rounding out the main set was the only Velvet Revolver song of the night, Slither, but no one seemed to mind as all in attendance were in for one hell of an encore. After replacing a “blown out” guitar lead, Slash stepped up to the mic and made an announcement… “We’re gonna do something that we haven’t done in, I dunno, about a year and a half. I think we’ve only played this once or twice. This’ll probably be the third time we’ve done it. You’ll recognize it when you hear it…” before launching into a spectacular version of Welcome To The Jungle.
Slash wasn’t joking. As a solo performer, he's only performed that song live four times, and that was the first time since 2010. Finishing in a celebration of sound and more confetti cannons than New Years Eve, there was only one way to go out: We all went down to Paradise City, and it was as brilliant as the very first time we pressed play on Appetite For Destruction.
As the fans flooded out of Metro City, everyone was thoroughly fulfilled with Slash satisfaction after witnessing one of the true gods of rock in the flesh. Can’t wait ‘til next time, which, according to the man himself, could be as early as next year