London Brixton Academy 21st Review!

Just got back to University in London after seeing this gig and oh my god am i impressed. Velvet Revolver were in every way possible amazing. Appoligies if this rambles on i am exhausted and actually having trouble typing.

Got to the Academy about 15 min before the doors were opened, once inside we imediatly grabed a few beers and headed into the main hall. The first support band was already on when we walked in, i have no idea who they were but the Ian Brown wannabe lead singer was extremily cocky, even joking that they were the "new sound of rock and roll" and their last song was called...... "sweet child of mine" Funny Guys!!! (not). They eventually left, to the crowds delight then on came that Datsuns, now im not a big fan but one of my buddies who was with me is a huge one, he was the pratt in the green t shirt at the very front going insane and getting every one else into it . I was actually very impressed with them, extremily tight and played really well, did an excellent job of getting the crowd going and warming up for VR.

Then came the wait, now the Datsuns finished at about 8:15, there were flyers up on the wall that said that VR would hit the stage at 8:45. This was not the case, i dont know why they were up but they were obviously wrong. They didnt get on stage untill 9:30, i think there was some sort of technical issue as there were techs and roadies running around the venue, hooking up new cables to the mixing desk. Few people around me were making the obvious Axl Rose lateness connection.

Then it happened at 9:30 on the dot, which is kind of suspicious, i think they were making us wait to build up the tension. The usual roadie came out and shouted "from hollywood Velvet Revolver" The crowd goes nuts and they immediatly kick off into Sucker Train Blues. The audience was brilliant, we immediatly pushed up into the very front and were right in it. It was simply amazing. Here is the setlist as best i can remember, if anyone wants to correct it please do.

Setlist:

Sucker Train Blues
Do It for the Kids
Headspace
Superhuman
Illegal I
Crackerman
Dirty Little Thing
Fall to Pieces
Big Machine
It's So Easy
Sex Type Thing
Set Me Free
Used to Love Her
You Got No Right
Mr. Brownstone
Slither
Bodies

By far the highlights for me were Fall to pieces, which was just heroric. When Duff, Scott and Slash all get up on the front of the stage at the very end, its just beautiful. Big Machine was also very good, Scott was playing with the crowed just before hand, getting clapping going really loudly then calming the room down to almost complete silence. Then came the Guns songs, i have never had the opportunity to see Guns n Roses play live. I really wish i had done, seeing VR play just makes me want to see the original lineup so much. Its So Easy was spectacular, although i dont think they like playing it. Matt stood up on his drum stool and stuck two fingers up at the crowed when we are all applauding. Mr Brownstone was also impressive, although its just not the same with Scott singing it, dont get me wrong Scott is an amazing signer. When i listen or watch live performances of the old band Axl just takes it up to a whole unreachable level. This was also the case with Used To Love Her, it was good, just not the way it should be if any of you know what i mean.

Slash was really good, he was playing with the crowed quite a bit, saluting crowd surfers and playing solos behind his head. Brilliant! The highlights came at the end of the show when Brownstone was played, the crowd went nuts, we went straight back into the front and got right in the middle of it. Then came an extended version of Slither, that was also incredibly good. Then Scott announced that there were two Sex Pistols in the crowd watching the show Glen Matlock and Peter Cook. They kicked straight into Bodies which was amazing.

There were however some low points, Brixton is not so good on the sound front, it tends to be very echoy and at times it was difficult to hear scotts singing and even at some points Slashs playing but these were minor things. Im just being picky!!

Overall an excellent expeirience, one of the best gigs i have ever been to. There stage show was ridiculous. The lights, Screens and huge flashing VR logo. Good show VR, hope to see some more soon.

One last thing if anyone has any photos of this show could they post them. And if there is an audio recording or even video. They must exist because of the screens, please please please post it somewhere. PLEASE.

Jonx