Reverb street press have published my recent review of the Slash concert at the Hordern Pavilion on August 16, 2010.
CLICK HERE to read the review in Reverb, or follow on below to read the longer, unedited version:
“A loud, rumbling bass note shakes the foundations of the iconic Hordern Pavilion, making the hair on the back of your neck stand up. The darkened stage is adorned with little more than a cloth backdrop, painted with the artwork from Slash’s new eponymous solo album.
Originally booked for the Enmore Theatre, ‘The Cat in the Hat’ moved the night’s proceedings to the larger venue; ultimately selling that out too. All the surrounding pubs and cafes were choked with black-clad rockers of all ages and persuasions trying to sink a few before the gig.
Taking to the stage in his trademark top hat and muscle tee, Slash and co. Ripped straight into the opening number, ‘Ghost’ from his new album. Originally sung by Ian Astbury from the Cult, Alter Bridge frontman Myles Kennedy handled the vocal duties admirably. Indeed, he handled the entire two hour set’s worth of tracks – that included Guns and Roses hits like ‘Nightrain’, ‘Civil War’, ‘Rocket Queen’ and ‘Sweet Child ‘O Mine’ – incredibly well.
From afar, Slash doesn’t seem to have aged much in the last 20 years as he bops, sways and stalks across the stage from left to right. It isn’t until the sixth song that he finally addresses the full house with a simple, “How you doin’?”
It’s a diverse set that runs the gamut of Slash’s career to date and keeps the huge audience entertained from start to finish as each solo rings out loud across thousands of fists and devil’s horns thrust high into the air. A number of tracks from his new album are covered including ‘Back from Cali’, ‘Nothing to Say’, ‘By the Sword’ and ‘Starlight’. Despite none of the other guest vocalists from the album versions being present on the night, Kennedy does an excellent job of the material without once trying to parody the other singers. In fact, Kennedy’s stage manner seemed suitably restrained; ensuring all eyes were on Slash on his big night – one that Slash himself later admitted was being recorded for later release.
