Review: Slash

When Guns N’ Roses disintegrated in the mid-’90s, few would have suspected that the popular act’s top-hatted guitarist would go on to enjoy a more successful career than any of his band mates.

Vocalist Axl Rose, the sole remaining original member of the band, has managed to release only one album during the past 19 years. A few former members of the band have crafted respectable but minor careers. Slash, meanwhile, has thrived.

A capacity audience of almost 3,000 heard the guitarist offer a survey of his remarkably productive career Thursday at the Midland Theater. His riveting two-hour appearance included material from his stints in Guns N’ Roses, supergroup Velvet Revolver and his increasingly impressive solo career. His new Apocalyptic Love is one of the strongest hard rock albums released since Guns ’N Roses’ classic 1987 debut album Appetite For Destruction.

Working with capable vocalist Myles Kennedy and the three additional men who comprise the Conspirators, Slash proved that his new material is no less bracing than his old favorites. The key component of Slash’s compositions are their remarkably catchy guitar elements. He’s conceived an inordinate amount of the most memorable rock and roll riffs of the past 25 years. Slash’s most famous work is the chiming introduction of “Sweet Child O’ Mine.” Most of the twenty other selections performed Thursday featured similarly engaging riffs.

When he plays with concise precision, Slash seems like the world’s best rock guitarist. The majority of his solos Thursday were taut 30-second statements. His bashing on the street punk anthem “Out Ta Get Me,” for instance, was feral but eloquent. Like soot-stained snowflakes, no two Slash solos were alike. Unlike most of his contemporaries in hard rock and heavy metal, he’s conversant with the history of blues and rock and roll. Even at its most metallic, Slash’s playing contains traces of Chuck Berry and Jimi Hendrix. Slash only faltered during extended solos. The seductively squalid “Rocket Queen” was spoiled by a meandering solo. And while technically impressive, Slash’s lengthy solo on “Anastasia” was an exercise in self-indulgence.

Most of the delighted audience sang along with a triumphant set-closing rendition of the Guns N’ Roses hit “Paradise City” as they watched bits of flittering confetti stick to Slash’s shirtless torso. The guitarist’s vital performance eradicated any potential outbreaks of nostalgia. For Slash and his fans, these are the good old days.

Setlist: Halo; Nightrain; Ghost; Standing in the Sun; Back From Cali; Been There Lately; Civil War; Rocket Queen; No More Heroes; Carolina; We’re All Gonna Die; Out Ta Get Me; Not for Me; Starlight; Anastasia; You’re a Lie; Sweet Child O’ Mine; Slither; Fall to Pieces; Paradise City.

Foxy Shazam: Foxy Shazam, a sexually-ambiguous glam-rock band from Cincinnati, was greeted with stony silence by much of the audience. Other Slash fans laughed uncomfortably. Eccentric front man Eric Nally acknowledged the icy reception. “Twenty bucks says none of you can kill me,” he shouted. “I’ll get to you before you get to me.”

By the conclusion of its 40-minute set, however, Foxy Shazam was no longer in danger. The sextet’s over-the-top antics and nonstop energy had won over the crowd.

The Follow: The Follow, a coed trio from Columbia, Missouri, played a 20-minute set that evoked the exploratory grandeur of U2’s early work.

| Bill Brownlee, Special to The Star

Comments

[Clint]

Foxy Shazam was very strange...I wasn't sure if they were being serious or not. That is what happens when you do cartwheels and act like you are making love to your trumpet. But you can't say they weren't entertaining...

[Slim]

""few would have suspected that the popular act’s top-hatted guitarist would go on to enjoy a more successful career than any of his band mates.""

few? what the heck?
Everyone I know (who rocks) knew long ago that Slash was the bad ass of GnR...

I have seen Slash most of the times he has played in KC post-GnR, from his couple of gigs at the old Lone Star, to opening for AC/DC, to when he played here with VR, to last night... and every fkn time he stomps ass. As he says RKNFKNROLL!!! FKN-A!

Slash is the real deal and he aint greedy... he shares (both the stage and the wealth) and that has come back to him 100 fold.

[Slim]

""For Slash and his fans, these are the good old days.""

Yup, yup, yup... You are correct Sir!

Some we will (might) slow down to admire what we have done, but as for now? Time to rock.

PS
May I also note, and predict, that there will ZERO complaints about how people talking ruining the Slash show. That is because at rock shows people pay attention (like a movie) it holds your attention, and the loud sound track helps shut them up.

[KRK]

"Like soot-stained snowflakes ..."
Oh. my. Take that out; it sounds stupid. Just go with: "No two Slash solos were alike." Geesh.

[RKNFKNROLL!!! ARRRGH!]

"That is because at rock shows people pay attention (like a movie) it holds your attention, and the loud sound track helps shut them up."

I've been going to Rock shows all my life and people talk just as much at those, but due to the volume, you can't hear most of it. I went to see Ozzy with Slash opening last year at the Sprint Center (I just find Slash boring...sorry) and I've never seen so many people texting, as well as drinking and mingling out in the hall, away from the actual show, as I have at any show I've been to in the past decade. There are people who go to almost every show who show up to be seen and are at times not even aware a show is happening around them. Any artist that you like and pay to see live should hold your attention. To claim it only happens at Rock shows just isn't true.

[durr]

the mellow fester has spoken

[Arrrrgh!]

Dude, I'll bet I've been to more Rock shows than you've had hot meals.....and Steven Adler was the "bad ass" In GnR. He got thrown out of a band of JUNKIES for doing too many drugs! Sheesh, everyone who, ahem, ROCKS, knows that.

[durrr]

d-d-d-d-derp the herp... sure you have boy...
now waddle on back to watching dinner at Hall and Oats house on TV.

[Steve J]

I always thought Myles Kennedy was a good sport, singing other peoples hits every night. Rare for a singer to have the ego to do it.

[Ralph]

Yup Myles is good dude and it is great to see he is getting star billing too, while he gets to sing songs Slash and he wrote.

If anything maybe some of Slash's like of greed of the spot light is rubbing off on Myles. Who knows how long they will stick together, but in the end Myles will be better for it.

I always admired the way Slash walked away from GnR, no lawsuits, no worries.... he just gave whats-his-dumbass the band name and moved on, never blinking, never saying a foul word...

Slash just rounded a new group of players and kept on going. Slash is stand up dude and he is a helluva guitar player.

[Ralph]

Slash's lack of greed

[pellboy]

Doesn't Myles still perform on occasion with his band, Alter Bridge?

[Joe]

"Like soot-stained snowflakes, no two Slash solos were alike."

I like it.

[Seth Regan]

The Follow are an incredible band! Their music is inspirational and much more deserving of praise than simply a comparison to "of U2’s early work." as this article says. Not to degrade U2 in any way, but the comparison is not 100% accurate. Just sayin'!

[Mort]

Well tell us more Seth.. links... your reviews... comparisons ...etc etc etc

[Mike Settle]

Right on Seth. TheFollow is much better than that!!

[Walter]

The Follow was great!

[judy allen]

Been a fan for years attended this gig with my son we both had ball so did all the people around us.The old music stands up and the new music is awesome.These guys know how to entertain !

[wadkc]

"Like soot-stained snowflakes, no two Slash solos were alike"

Loved the line.

I've seen Foxy Shazam in Austin a couple of times and find them very entertaining. I could see how the Slash crowd might not be ready for that. They should have opened for Steel Panther. That's a better fit.

[Jason]

Slash was good, but I expected that. I didn't expect to be blown away by one of the opening acts. Foxy Shazam put on a great show!

[Mat de la Follow]

Hello Kansas City! Drummer for The Follow here. Thank you so much for the warm reception. It was truly an honor for The Follow to play with Slash and Myles Kennedy. WOW! They put on one incredible show. The band is excited to get back to KC soon. Bill, thanks for giving us some love in the review. We've been fans of U2 since The Unforgettable Fire. All your readers can download 4 free songs at http://www.noisetrade.com/thefollow if they'd like. Thanks again KC! Much respect.

[Ernie]

You make it easier on us man, post your best song to Youtube, and before anyone blah blahs about giving it away for free, plenty of bands do this, e.g. every Slash, Stones, U2 song ever made in on Youtube... and they still sell plenty of product.

When the product is good, its always a good idea to make the first one, becasue you know they will be back for more.

[Freddie Mac]

""(I just find Slash boring...sorry)""

LOL!!! What an idiot, I bet you are a blast at parties doucheboy, now go back to sleep, we'll wake you when the hiphop starts.

Check out Slash and Carole King
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpYlrXqJmPE

[Arrrrgh!]

.....said Freddie Mac, who still thinks it's cool to use "LOL" in 2012. Hint: It wasn't cool in 2002, either. Come and join us in the NOW, OK? Anyway, if you love Slash, cool. I still think he's boring (his opening slot for Ozzy last year was lame), as I do anyone who uses terms like "doucheboy." You're about 14, right?? If not, that's just sad. THERE, now you can reply in any of your 600 aliases, you Crossroads and Mellowfest hating sociopath.

[Arrrrgh!]

LOL... you are doucheboy... porr lil fella.

[Mitch]

So who is the troll here? The troll bashing on Slash and, for some reason bringing old concerts he didnt like, or the person replying to the bashing troll? It is hard to keep track of.

[Kavisha]

Just a comment from New Zealand. The Follow has international fans and should be treated as the International Act that they are. Early U2...please, they are their own sound and are only going to get bigger.

[Mat de la Follow]

Ernie, not sure if you were asking for a YouTube video from The Follow, but glad to accommodate.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isPLH9vUHSk

You can also stream our entire new album on Spotify
http://open.spotify.com/album/7CETyfZm36jCpuF0vhmNN4

Kavisha, thanks for the Kiwi love :)

[Ernie]

I sure was looking for a youtube, because youtube is easy and works every time without asking me to download extra things, which I wont do.

And you provided it... thank you very much :) Sounds great.

I wish the best for you.

[MM]

Slash did not play "Out Ta Get Me". He played "You're Crazy". If you look on setlist.fm you can see the setlist from his Indianapolis, IN. show 2 nights prior, in which these 2 songs were the only difference. Otherwise your setlist is correct.

[Mat de la Follow]

No worries Ernie! Here is a YouTube vid of The Follow for a song off the new album. It's the first song we played opening for Slash. A fan was kind enough to make this video for us. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m5lWLgrtHZA