Live Gig Review: Adrian Hextall
Photography: Angus Thomas
Self proclaimed rock and metal fan Mike Weatherley, the Conservative MP for Hove and Portslade has pulled a rabbit out of the hat tonight. As the main organiser of ‘Rock the House’ series which has patrons such as Alice Cooper, Brian May, Young Guns, Ian Gillan, Rick Wakeman and more, he has been able to secure an exclusive launch event to promote the new Slash and Myles Kennedy release ‘World on Fire’ due for release in September.
To compliment the event, Slash and Myles play a short five-song set on the Terrace Bar at the House of Commons, home to the British Government. 200 people only were lucky enough to witness this unique event and Myglobalmind were there to cover it.
Weatherley, who is Intellectual Property Adviser to the Prime Minister, came on stage long enough to thank those in attendance for coming out and expressing sincere gratitude to Slash and Myles for agreeing to perform and support the ‘Rock the House’ series. At that point the two artists arrive on stage to a loud cheer from the small crowd made up of a mixture of competition winning fans and selective press and media representatives. On ‘Starlight’ you have to wonder if Myles even needed a microphone such was the power and range in his voice. An amazing performance and one to be treasured by those present. The two artists compliment each other perfectly. When Myles is singing his voice draws the attention of the entire crowd and as he then pauses for breath during songs, the solos and leads that Slash is able to produce from an acoustic guitar are truly mesmerising.
One thing is clear however and that is the fact that everyone here tonight is a fan. Although the set is short, the crowd is tremendously responsive and sing Sweet Child.. back to the pair word for word.
After the event, Weatherley commented to the press “It was a privilege to welcome such rock icons to Parliament and I am grateful for Slash and Myles’ support for my Rock the House competition. The gig was absolutely fantastic and it was an absolute pleasure to be a part of the launch of Slash’s new album, World on Fire. It was an honour to be in the first ever audience to hear their new record played live, along with the classics such as ‘Sweet Child O’ Mine’, which certainly got the audience in fine spirits.”
SETLIST:
Bent To Fly
Standing In The Sun
Starlight
Fall To Pieces
Sweet Child O’ Mine
Slash 2014 European Tour Dates:
11/10 – Dublin, Ireland @ O2 Arena
11/12 – Paris, France @ Le Zenith
11/15 – Basel, Switzerland @ St. Jakobshalle
11/16 – Turin, Italy @ Palaolimpico
11/17 – Florence, Italy @ Mandela Forum
11/19 – Vienna, Austria @ Stadthalle
11/20 – Krakow, Poland @ Krakow Arena
11/22 – Munich, Germany @ Zenith
11/23 – Cologne, Germany @ Palladium
11/24 – Amsterdam, The Netherlands @ Heineken Music Hall
11/26 – Brussels, Belgium @ Forest Club
11/28 – Manchester, U.K. @ Phones 4U Arena
11/29 – Leeds, U.K. @ Leeds Arena
12/01 – Birmingham, U.K. @ LG Arena
12/02 – London, U.K. @ Wembley Arena
12/04 – Glasgow, U.K. @ Hydro Arena
Slash Ft. Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators will release their new LP ‘World on Fire’ on September 15. The crowd were also treated to an exclusive playback of the album and it’s fair to say that it is the most immediately accessible album released by Slash. Opener and title track ‘Word on Fire’ grabs the listener and provides an anthemic chorus that instantly attains classic status. ‘Shadow Life’ with its’ slower intro follows and gradually builds into a driven hard rock track.
By the time we are 4 tracks in, it’s clear that this is the album that will help them pull in new fans and keep the old happy. Instantly listenable by music fans of all ages, it’s no surprise that Slash is able, with each release, to play bigger venues. In London, the shows on the back of the first two albums were to crowds of around 5,000. This album sees them playing to around 12,000 at the famous Wembley Arena.
There are nods in the music to Slash’s former band Guns ‘n’ Roses aided in no small part by the fact that Myles can actually out Axl, Axl’s voice when the occasion calls for it. There are also great guitar breaks from Slash that feel almost ‘Muse’-like and echo some of Matt Bellamy’s best work.
Overall, and it’s difficult to get a full feel for the music on a single play in a noisy venue, this is the album that will see Slash once again gracing the major world stages and deservedly so.
TRACKLIST
World on Fire
Shadow Life
Automatic Overdrive
Wicked Stone
30 Years to Life
‘Bent to Fly
Stone Blind
Too Far Gone
Beneath the Savage Sun
Withered Delilah
Battleground
Dirty Girl
Iris of the Storm
Avalon
The Dissident
Safari Inn
The Unholy
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