VR a bit of G'NR and STP

[TimmyB]

Tonight I saw Velvet Revolver perform in Canada for the first time during their "mini promo tour" as referred to by Duff McKagan, before their release of their new album "Contraband" on RCA which hits stores on June 8th.

After the brutally embarrassing opener called Silver Tide from Philadelphia, PA, who were a bad crossover of The Black Crowes and Led Zeppelin, Velevet Revolver took the stage and rocked are asses for the whole show.

I often do not enjoy seeing a show where I am unfamiliar with the majority of the set because an album has yet to be released. But for some reason this gig did not seem to matter. During the fourteen song short set, which would be my only complaint of the night as the show only ran 1 hour and 23 minutes and getting out at 9:43pm! the band peformed eight songs from their yet to be released album. Of which I only knew two songs "Set Me Free" which appeared on "The Hulk" soundtrack and the first single "Slither". The title "Slither" makes me laugh because it makes me think about Slash's Snakepit.

The rest of the set included two Stone Temple Pilots tunes "Crackerman" and "Sex Type Thing" both of which appear on their debut album 1992's "Core". Three Guns 'N Roses tunes "It's So Easy", "Used To Love Her" and "Mr. Brownstone" with a drum tease of "You Could Be Mine" by Matt Sorum before "Brownstone". I thought the "Brownstone" selection was fitting and humourous due to Scott Weiland's on going difficulties with the law due to his addiction problems. Also I noticed that off the G'N R selections none of them were Axl Rose cuts. "It's So Easy" lyrics are by McKagan and Arleen, "Used To Love Her" is credited to the whole band, and "Mr Brownstone" lyrics are by Izzy Stradlin.

The final tune of the night was "Negative Creep" a Nirvana cover on their 1989 Sup Pop recording "Bleech".

I have been a fan of both bands since they both started out. Seeing STP three times. In 1994 opening for the Rolling Stones at the Exibition Stadium. In 2000 co-headlining with the Red Hot Chilli Peppers at the Molson Amphitheatre. Finally headlining the Family Values Tour in 2001 at the Skydome. And I witnessed Guns 'N Roses once in 1993 at Copps with Brian May opening. I also saw Slash perform with Boz Scaggs at the Concert For The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame in 1995 at Cleveland's Municipal Stadium. That day Slash and Boz did a great version of Jimi Hendrix's "Red House".

I was excited about the news that Weiland was joining up with Slash, Duff and Matt. Also in the band is Dave Kushner of Suicidal Tendencies on rhythm guitar. I was also happy to see this show as with Weiland being in and out of court and/or jail. I was wondering if he would ever be able to cross the border or if he would even be alive to see him again alive and well. Well last night I did and the hybrid of the two bands was a nice mix of both groups. Weiland might not be the songwriter that Slash and Duff are used to, though I think he's pretty good. Scott is currently a better frontman to Axl. Weiland is in amazing shape and taking off his shirt only a couple of songs in shows it. He also can belt it out live and has an amazing stage presence of a man possessed, moving about the stage in a very sexual way that does not come off as cheesy. And this is coming from a man that is straight, I can only imagine what women or someone who is gay thinks of him. While Axl is currently an overweight loser that loses his voice all the time during live performances.

Of the new material I feel they sound more like STP songs rather then G'N R songs, for me this is fine as I'm a fan of both. Though if you love G'N R and hate STP you might not like the album as much as you would like.

Here was the setlist (to the best of my ability):

Start time 8:20pm

1. It was a new song that I didn't know, though I'm guessing it was the opening track off the new album called "Sucker Train Blues"

2. Do It For The Kids (Velvet Revolver "Contraband" 2004)

3. Headspace (2004)

4. Crackerman (Stone Temple Pilot "Core" 1992)

5. Illegal i Song (2004)

6. It's So Easy (Guns 'N Roses "Appetite For Destruction" 1987)

7. Fall To Pieces (2004)

8. Big Machine (2004)

9. Set Me Free (2004 originally on the soundtrack for "The Hulk" 2003)

off 9:10pm (51 minutes) back on 9:12pm

Encore: 10. Used To Love Her (Guns 'N Roses "Lies")

11. Slither (2004)

12. Sex Type Thing (1992)

off 9:30pm (1 hour and 11 minutes) back on 9:32pm

Encore 2: 13. Mr. Brownstone (1987)(with "You Could Be Mine" drum tease from Guns 'N Roses "Use Your Illusion II" 1991)

14. Negative Creep (Nirvana "Bleech" 1989)

End show 9:43pm (total time 1 hour and 23 minutes)

[briguy]

Man I needed that. What a great show!!! Good to see them doing something productive. I'd have to disagree that Scott's in good shape though....looked more like a junkie to me and exhausted at times. Slash and Duff clearly enjoy playing with him though and he's a true rock star with all the moves. I think every band member is a recovering heroin addict...I hope they can keep their shit together long enough to bring us more music. It was a real treat seeing Weiland perform. Had been wondering if he would be alive long enough for me to see him do his thing. Good times.

[Guest Low Roller]

Negative Creep! Damn, now I really regret not going to the show, but it wasn't going to happen. I'm suitably impressed with their two singles, so I'm impatiently waiting for the new album to drop. I downloaded from STG a radio appearance they did where they performed three songs: Interstate Love Song, Used To Love Her, and Slither. It sounded pretty tight. I'm glad to see that Weiland isn't dead.