Toronto Review May 21/04

[Doc Emmett Brown]

It was even more amazing to watch the newly formed Velvet Revolver tear down the preconceptions about their abilities to blend with an electrifying set.

Velvet Revolver's members did not rest on their laurels as legendary musicians.

Fierce and fearless, they tore through the good stuff off Contraband with vigour and enthusiasm.

While Weiland slithered around the stage in a Ramones T-shirt, Slash showed off his signature solo skills, a perfect pair of rock star frontmen.

But by ending with a raucous punk cover of Nirvana's Negative Creep, Velvet Revolver proved that marking terms like "hair metal" and "alternative" don't apply to music when it simply rocks.

* * * * 1/2 stars out of 5

I'm confused, Eeebs    Please explain with small words why it only got 1/2 star out of 5 when the review was actually quite positive?  

Unless the entire article is one big exercise in sarcasm I think it deserves a higher rating, no?  She's obviously an STP fan...

[Prodigal Son]

* * * * 1/2 stars out of 5

I'm confused, Eeebs    Please explain with small words why it only got 1/2 star out of 5 when the review was actually quite positive?  

Unless the entire article is one big exercise in sarcasm I think it deserves a higher rating, no?  She's obviously an STP fan...

If you look closer you might see it says 4 stars and 1/2 out of 5  

[Doc Emmett Brown]

If you look closer you might see it says 4 stars and 1/2 out of 5  

*snaps fingers!*  I see it now    dont i feel like a turd in a pocket!

[Pviljoen]

If you look closer you might see it says 4 stars and 1/2 out of 5  

*snaps fingers!*  I see it now    dont i feel like a turd in a pocket!

haha I thought so too for a few seconds then figured it out.


GOD I cannot stop listening to do it for the kids... that chorus is WICKED.

[Laura]

wow what an amazin show!! i travled from montreal to see it... didnt have tickets bought them off a scalper for 120! but wow was it worth it! the opening act was fuckin amazin i thought! guitarist was good i found too! and when VR came on i was squished a lot... i was in the about 4th row! and it was amazin! 12h of drivin, 120$ for the ticket and 80$ of gas was all worth it to see them! best concert ever!!!! i was so mad that it ended at like 10 tho! but who cares cause thay played oh so well! amazing i cant get over it! i loved it!

[jarmo]

LIVE: Velvet Revolver Mix Dirty Rock With Spinal Tap Hilarity
Tuesday May 25, 2004 @ 05:00 PM
By: ChartAttack.com Staff

Kool Haus
Toronto, Ontario
May 21, 2004
by Keith Carman


Velvet Revolver couldn?t have picked a better opening band. When an act sucks as much as Silvertide did this particular night, there?s nothing stopping the headliner from blowing the audience away.

Such was pretty much the case as this Butthole, America band unceremoniously regurgitated a plethora of early Black Crowes-inspired riffs. But they couldn?t stop there. They had to make it even cheesier with an onslaught of every rock clich? since the inevitable "there?s no place we?d rather be" crowd-pleaser (amusingly utilized during Velvet Revolver?s set). From Zeppelin-esque guitar/vocal riff-swapping to the singer?s jumping jacks between verses and the obvious drum and guitar solos, these guys are the perfect argument as to why cock rock died. Even Slash ? King of the Wankers ? was not so bold as to take a solo when Velvet Revolver were clearly struggling to fill their one hour and 20 minute commitment. "Sucks" is not descriptive enough for Silvertide.

Kicking off strong, Velvet Revolver bounded about the stage, easily claiming ownership for the evening. But when you have five individuals used to playing in front of crowds numbering over 10,000, winning over a couple of thousand people isn?t such a stretch.

From the get-go, the strange marriage between Scott Weiland and members of Guns ?N? Roses (Slash, Duff McKagan, Matt Sorum) was a smart fit. Weiland is nothing less than the perfect frontman, blending a glazed, Keith Richards-ish appearance, distinctive voice and enough dance moves to make a stripper jealous. Ignoring the occasional projectile that threatened his finely polished motorcycle hat, he was VR?s own go-go girl, gyrating and pelvic-thrusting the eve away. Laid out over the tight (read: ages old) rhythm section with a penchant for hooky riffs and you see how it works.

More importantly than a relatively strong set, though, the night was proof-positive the music industry?s hype machine is well-oiled, because while Velvet Revolver are a strong band, they?re not headlining material as of yet. Yes, every song was virtually flawless and the band stormed on through occasionally shitty sound.

Still, there was something of a farcical overtone to the evening. Playing approximately eight originals and easily as many covers (STP?s "Sex Type Thing," G?N?R?s "It?s So Easy" and others to boot), they were the penultimate Spinal Tap lampoon: original members playing in a GN?R/STP cover band. No, the real proof: one young-ish concert-goer, clearly ecstatic to be there turned to me during GN?R classic "Mr. Brownstone."

"What song is this?"

Out for a second encore and digging to the deepest pits of their song cache, the band finished with a rousing version of Nirvana?s "Negative Creep." Unfortunately, the majority of hair farmers in the audience either resented hearing their fave band cover a track from the band that brought their genre down or just didn?t know it. In fact, Slash had to mount the monitors and virtually force everyone into acknowledgement. Regardless, after the honeymoon wears off, this band probably will get down to some dirty, unforgettable rock ?n? roll.




/jarmo

[Doc Emmett Brown]

Such was pretty much the case as this Butthole, America band unceremoniously regurgitated a plethora of early Black Crowes-inspired riffs.

I have yet to hear this band, but if he compares them to the Black Crowes and Led Zep, then I should like them.  And neither band is "cock rock" so I fail to see his argument...

Anyway!

one young-ish concert-goer, clearly ecstatic to be there turned to me during GN?R classic "Mr. Brownstone."

"What song is this?"

Not too surprising.  My younger cousins could not name a GNR song if their lives depended on it, expect WTTJ maybe.

this band probably will get down to some dirty, unforgettable rock ?n? roll.

Well, alright then!  Thanks for the review, Jarmo.  

[tomass74]

Unfortunately, the majority of hair farmers in the audience either resented hearing their fave band cover a track from the band that brought their genre down or just didn?t know it.
/jarmo

That always pisses me off. Nirvana helped kill off alot of 80's butt rock and hair bands but so did GnR!!! And Nirvana didn't kill of GnR , Gn'R killed themselves off. They were still on top of the world when they combusted.

[Eeebs]

NOW Magazine, May 27 - June 3 2004
page 73

Toronto Music Notes

Velvet Revolver Press Conference, Park Hyatt Hotel, May 21

When Slash comes to town heads perk up.  When Duff comes to town the Bovine Sex Club knocks on wood that he'll drop in.  When Scott Weiland comes to town you know he'll have a scarf around his neck.  And so he did - as well as a carefully tipped hat and shades - when the supergroup arrived at the 18th floor of the swanked-out Park Hyatt Hotel to pose for pictures and answer questions.

Slash and Duff came off well, the Slashman getting mad yuks when he responded to a question about Toronto's pot by saying he knows Toronto better for its pussy.  Ever the charmer, he also gave props to ZZ Top's Billy Gibbobs, which is nice to hear.

Weiland was sketchier, taking copious notes while others spoke and at first not speaking in order to save his voice, although when asked to make funny faces for a photo he quipped, "We're not the Chili Peppers."

They also took the time during the conference to poke fun at Creed, Nickelback and Axl, whose costume changes Matt Sorum claimed were the sole reason he did drum solos in Gun's n' Roses.