Words: Victoria Llewelyn (@victoria_burns_brighter) • Instagram photos and videos
Pictures: Adrian Hextall / MindHex Media
It’s no surprise at all that the OVO Arena in Wembley is packed out for this two hour performance for the powerhouse combination that is Slash and Myles Kennedy, accompanied by Frank Sidoris (rhythm guitar) Todd Kerns (bass) and Brent Fitz (drums). Slash doesn’t change much as the years go by, and his stage presence remains indomitable, focussed and somewhat iconic – statuesque behind his ever-present guitar/hair/hat/shades combo. He is here for the music, nothing more and nothing less, and he intends to deliver. What you see is absolutely what you’ll get.
Mammoth WVH
Opening this evening are Mammoth, featuring of course, Wolfgang Van Halen – an exceptional musician in his own right and by no means riding on his father’s legacy. Mammoth’s short but energetic set features Frank Sidoris on rhythm guitar so double duties for him this evening. Mammoth are a modern classic of a rock band, delivering power vocals, spine tingly guitar shredding and a compelling force of bass and drums driving everything along. With their own headline tour coming later this year, Mammoth give us a taste of everything today’s rock and roll ought to be, and the crowd adore them.
SETLIST:
Another Celebration at the End of the World
You’re to Blame
I’m Alright
Like a Pastime
Take a Bow
Don’t Back Down
Slash ft: Myles Kennedy & The Conspirators
The addition of Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators are the perfect complement to Slash’s robust guitar grandeur. As performers together, they are devoid of any rock star paraphernalia, nothing more than a simple backdrop is added to the stage, there are no animated video presentations, technical wizardry or special effects. What you get here is pure musicianship. Myles is in fine voice this evening; he pitches and wails with a raw energy and hold those notes for a seemingly impossible amount of time. They coast through a remarkable set, including songs by Guns N Roses, Lenny Kravitz and a cover of Elton John’s ‘Rocket Man’ as an encore which is one of the evening’s great highlights. Others include Todd Kerns stepping into lead vocals occasionally with snarling charisma – worlds apart from Kennedy’s impassioned cries – and Slash’s showboating ten minute guitar solo when you realise what you’ve come here for.
The whole set is very much a celebration of Slash’s 40 years of inimitable guitar playing, and it’s interesting to see him play without the aegis of one of the biggest rock bands in the world around him. When out of the bosom of Guns N Roses there seems to be a reluctance from him to be the centre of attention, he barely interacts with the audience and remains distant behind his aviators, leaving the chat to Kennedy. He plays hard and fast, with just a touch of swagger, and is almost hypnotic to watch when he’s in full flow, focused, keyed in and completely in his own world. The guitar virtuosos and nerds in the audience are in raptures, however those that came expecting an all-guns-blazing rock and roll extravaganza leave a little confused and flat.
There are periods where the atmosphere rises, such as the energy in ‘Wicked Stone’, the cheerful amusement of Myles’s ‘triangle solo’, dedicating songs to your pets, the audience sing-along to ‘Rocket Man’. The farewell song is ‘Anastasia’, one of my personal favourites from Slash’s solo material, so to my mind they take their final bow on a high point. Two hours in the presence of one of rock’s finest guitar players in existence has been an unforgettable experience whichever way you look at it, a legend is a legend and even without the ‘audience pleasers’ that I sensed everyone was desperate for, it was still a joy to be a part of it.
SETLIST:
The River Is Rising
Driving Rain
Halo
Too Far Gone
Back From Cali (Slash song)
Whatever Gets You By
C’est la vie
Actions Speak Louder Than Words
Always on the Run (Lenny Kravitz cover) (Todd Kerns on vocals)
Bent to Fly
Avalon
Spirit Love
Don’t Damn Me (Guns N’ Roses cover) (Todd Kerns on vocals)
Starlight (Slash song)
Wicked Stone
April Fool
Fill My World
Doctor Alibi (Slash song) (Todd Kerns on vocals)
You’re a Lie
World on Fire (With band introductions)
Encore:
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time) (Elton John cover)
Anastasia
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