Evening Standard's review - Brixton Academy

[cyllan]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/music/gig-23364025-details/Velvet+Revolver/gigReview.do?reviewId=23465086

Playing despite fights

By John Aizlewood, Evening Standard  26.03.08
   
Rock Hard: Slash is a guitar wizard

The last seven days have been disastrous for Velvet Revolver, the Hollywood supergroup featuring three erstwhile Guns N?Roses and Stone Temple Pilots singer Scott Weiland. Last Thursday, Weiland ? one of pop?s most dogged drugs fiends, in rehab as recently as last month ? announced the group were playing their last tour, tidings that came as something of a shock to his colleagues.

Since then Weiland has been trading internet insults with drummer Matt Sorum, described by the singer as ?too immature to have a real relationship, let alone children?. Unsurprisingly, there was no on-stage rapport last night, although the disconnected Weiland did (sort of) recant at one point, admitting, ?We are still Velvet Revolver and we still play rock?n?roll? in a rare attempt to engage.

For all their faults, they rocked hard. Slash remains a guitar wizard, especially on the ferocious American Man; Sorum a fabulous drummer, lukewarm father potential or not and bassist Duff McKagen a peerless anchor.

Strutting like Max Wall, Weiland fared less well, his voice drowned by the mighty din and so anaemic it needed bolstering by ? of all people ? Sorum. The hash he made of the Guns N?Roses tracks, particularly potential showcase Patience, reminded us what a mesmerising singer W.Axl Rose can be.

[coolman78SLASH]

Wow, they were harsh on Scott.....?

[FunkyMonkey]

Another review...

From The Times

March 27, 2008
Velvet Revolver at the Brixton Academy
Lisa Verrico

They sound like a band whose rock clock stopped ticking in the late 1970s, and dress like guys whose last shopping trip was in 1986. Yet in one respect Velvet Revolver are thoroughly modern musicians. An ongoing spat between the singer Scott Weiland and drummer Matt Sorum has been taking place not backstage, but in blogs. Catty comments about commitment, maturity and Weiland?s recent stint in rehab have pinged back and forth, with Slash, the guitarist, occasionally sticking an oar in. Last week Weiland announced that this would be Velvet Revolver?s final tour.

Weiland found fame fronting those grunge stars Stone Temple Pilots, while Slash, Sorum and the bassist Duff McKagan were members of the mighty Guns N? Roses. In London, the American supergroup showed few signs of either friction or friendship. They arrived in the dark, struck up a raucous Let It Roll to an explosive light show and didn?t let up on the aural attack for almost an hour.

On record, Velvet Revolver?s classic rock suffers from a lack of variety. Live, their powerful sound, precision playing and preening, peacock moves allow them some leeway. In particular, Weiland?s tortured, but melodic howl gave musically similar songs a distinct identity.

But it was the singer?s soul that proved Velvet Revolver?s most valuable asset. Slash could still cause a stir with his solos ? although for the past decade, they have sounded as tired as his trademark outfit of top hat and leathers has looked ? but all the former Guns guys played with more professionalism than passion. But the sparrow-legged Weiland, sporting disintegrating jeans, sang as if his life depended on it. Striking surfer poses on top of an amp and strutting hands-on-hips Jagger-style, he gave no sense of pretence in his performance.

When the tempo slowed for a fabulous The Last Fight, from their current album Libertad, a grinding Interstate and the classic Guns N? Roses ballad Patience, Weiland and Slash subtly struggled to steal each other?s limelight. But by the time they closed with Slither, their debut single and still their best song, they seemed happy to share it.

In May, Weiland is due to tour with a reformed Stone Temple Pilots. While he debates which band he wants to be in, he should splash some of that reunion cash on a new pair of trousers.

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/live_reviews/article3627308.ece

[Alan]

wow from the time's i'd expect a review not a heat magazine style column.

and also i don't think they were at the same show i was at.

scott still shouldn't sing patience.

[axleire]

You seem to have missed the last part of the Evening Standard's review:

Speaking of which, when Rose?s latest, lamentable, Guns N?Roses incarnation played Hammersmith in 1996, the gifted Sorum, Slash and McKagen were sorely missed. There?s one very obvious solution.


And the reply one reader had to that:

Mr Aizlewood, Guns N' Roses played the Hammersmith Odeon in 1987 and again in 2006; they did not play there in 1996. And, as someone who has supported the band for twenty years and seen them live on numerous occasions, I can assure you that the Guns N' Roses of today inject the old songs with a new vitality - reinvigorating them for a new audience - whilst their new material is both powerful, complex and challenging. In short, Guns N' Roses are doing better than ever and with talent like Axl Rose, Robin Finck and Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal (to mention just three) in the band, they clearly have no need of the former band members you mention.


Man you'd think the journalist would at least spell Duff's name right.........

[cyllan]

The last paragraph was left out of my original post deliberately because (a) as I'm sure we're all aware, it refers to a fictional performance and (b) I didn't want to be accused of reigniting a discussion that belongs in the Dead Horse section.

However, I couldn't let the journalist off the hook completely and so you'll find that the reader's comment you posted was, in fact, written by me and sent to the Evening Standard's website. 

[axleire]

The last paragraph was left out of my original post deliberately because (a) as I'm sure we're all aware, it refers to a fictional performance and (b) I didn't want to be accused of reigniting a discussion that belongs in the Dead Horse section.

However, I couldn't let the journalist off the hook completely and so you'll find that the reader's comment you posted was, in fact, written by me and sent to the Evening Standard's website. 

Well that shut me up! Impressive! 

[cyllan]

The last paragraph was left out of my original post deliberately because (a) as I'm sure we're all aware, it refers to a fictional performance and (b) I didn't want to be accused of reigniting a discussion that belongs in the Dead Horse section.

However, I couldn't let the journalist off the hook completely and so you'll find that the reader's comment you posted was, in fact, written by me and sent to the Evening Standard's website. 

Well that shut me up! Impressive! 

Sorry if I came across as off-hand; you weren't to know that it was my comment on the website.  I just couldn't let him get away with such sloppy journalism and you got caught up in the backwash of my indignation.  Please accept my apologies.