Molson Amphitheatre - August 12 2007

Molson Amphitheatre, Toronto - August 12, 2007

By JASON MACNEIL -- Special To Sun Media

TORONTO - After coming into town three months ago for a club show, Velvet Revolver returned to Toronto. And like the first time, there wasn't exactly much to find fault with.

The band, in the early stages of another North American tour, churned out a fine 100-minute set before a near sold-out crowd at the Molson Amphitheatre Sunday evening.

With lead singer Scott Weiland looking like he just finished working with The Salvation Army, the "supergroup" opened with the blazing boogie-tinged Let It Roll from the new album Libertad. Not to be outdone, guitarist Slash held up his side of this rock and roll bargain during the ensuing She Mine as a tossed beer cup roughly half-full just missed him by a foot or two.

While the same projectile of choice was also aimed later on at bassist Duff McKagan and guitarist Dave Kushner (and missing both), it didn't stop the group from chugging along at a rapid clip with the rousing Sucker Train Blues leading into the crunchy Do It For The Kids. "We're Velvet Revolver and we still play motherf--king rock and roll," Weiland said to cheers.

And that they certainly do. Aside from the video screen behind them and a small display of the Libertad cover art on either side, there was very little in the way of gimmicks. Of course when you mix three parts of Guns N' Roses together with one part of Stone Temple Pilots little else is needed.

After tearing through Big Machine, Velvet Revolver unfurled Pills, Demons, Etc., sounding as if it was some strange yet effective homage to Sly And The Family Stone. But try as they might with their own rock solid material, the back catalogue of their former groups earned the loudest responses of the evening beginning with Vasoline as drummer Matt Sorum worked a bit harder on the number.

Things took a mellower, subdued tone when a brief set change had the group seated in a quasi-unplugged manner. The ensuing rendition of Interstate Love Song appeared a bit tamer than usual but still had the desired effect of the audience doing the bulk of the backing vocals. The first Guns N' Roses effort Patience was also given one of the bigger ovations as Slash, sporting his ever-present black top hat, nailed the song on his twin-necked guitar.

Probably the only drawback was how it took Velvet Revolver a couple of songs to get back up to snuff as was the case with another G N' R classic It's So Easy and the ballad-y Fall To Pieces which Weiland stated was "for the casual fan." But before closing the show, older material emerged once more with the one-two punch of Mr. Brownstone and Sex Type Thing.

Earning an equal amount of appreciation on this night was Alice In Chains. The resurrected band, with lead singer William Duvall replacing the late Layne Staley, proved to be a strong support act with songs such as Dirt, No Excuses and Down In A Hole during its 45-minute set.

Anyone know what the capacity is of the molson amphitheatre? I'm guessing it's around 10.000 if so that means that this was a big show!