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Events and Reports - Skid Row - Live at Pumpehuset, Copenhagen March 30th 2004
Just returned from a holiday in the states the day before. Even though I was jetlagged and satiated from concerts with Lillian Axe, Broken Teeth, Tesla, Firehouse plus meeting Chip Z'Nuff and Gino Martino of Enuff Z'Nuff I couldn't resist the opportunity to take a trip to Copenhagen to finally experience one of my favorite bands Skid Row. Skid Row was one of the most important bands while I grew up and in my book their first album is a classic. Skid Row's latest album "Thick Skin" proves that they still got it.
Skid Row had not been to Denmark since 1991 on their "Slave to the Grind" Tour, so this was first time to introduce Sebastian Bach's replacement Johnny Solinger and I think everyone was excited to see how Johnny Solinger was holding up. Solinger probably had to win a new audience every night and to be honest I wasn't impressed with his vocals for the first two songs Slave to the Grind and Makin a Mess. When I after rationalize it was probably because I had to adjust to Johnny's voice and style. I love his work on "Thick Skin" but I had to get used to him singing the vintage Skid Row in another key than Baz. Johnny's voice is a bit more encapsulated that his predecessor, but to make up for that Solinger put his own personal mark on the songs and the show indeed.
Hell - it took Johnny Solinger 2 songs to win my trust but by third song Piece of Me I had to surrender to his voice and the great Rock N' Roll show. The band was so grateful for the great turnout on a Tuesday night that they really gave it 110 percent. The audience was pretty excited and enthusiastic as well and everybody surrendered to the likeable band. Johnny announced that we would get every old Skid Row song we wanted to hear and he seemed trustworthy since 18 and Life already was played as forth song. Snake extended the intro, while Scotti Hill played a great emotional solo on the classic intro. I was so good to hear that song performed live in concert.
Johnny Solinger made quite a few comments about the music biz in the US and said that Rock N' Roll was alive and kicking in Copenhagen because of the crowd. Maybe easy points, but I am pretty sure he meant every word. Johnny said that the world needed new music from bands like Skid Row and it was the cue to play the first track off "Thick Skin" symbolizing a New Generation of Skid Row.
Monkey Business got the crowd going in a raunchy version. I think everyone forgot about Sebastian Bach at that time as well as Rob Affuso, since Phil Varone was banging the drums as if his life was on stake. Overall Skid Row's set was very tight and main emphasis was on their ass kicking material. This was perfectly exemplified by I Remember You played in the punk version as featured on "Thick Skin". In the words of Johhny Solinger "We changed it and put a stick of dynamite up its ass".
The common denominator of this night must be the joy of meeting and hearing Skid Row again. No matter what song Skid Row played you could spot someone in the audience either going crazy or overwhelmed by the memories coming back when hearing the older songs - myself included. It was a great self-perpetuating process, since it worked both ways. Snake made a great speech about the lack of loyalty in the music biz. From his heart he thanked the audience for their loyalty of being there tonight and I think I speak for everyone attending the show, when I respond "Anytime, bro - It was our pleasure".
After Snake's speech the band played the only doubtful song of the night, not surprisingly Beat Yourself Blind from "Subhuman Race". Snake did a pretty cool guitar solo during the song's middle play. It was a different guitar solo compared to the usual shredding, since this repeated a melodic pattern - which I loved about this solo. Overall I expected Snake and Scotti to share solos, but Scotti played almost all solos.
Scotti Hill was a showman with his manic facial expression and always moving around while having eye contact with the audience. His eyes were marked by make-up giving him a scary Alice Cooper look. I didn't expect Rachel Bolan to be as calm in his stage presence, but he stepped into the spotlight when he sang Ramones' Psycho Therapy.
I thought the new songs fit perfectly in the set, but while Skid Row played their excellent new single Ghost the feedback was naturally modified compared to the classic material. The kick ass attitude of Thick is the Skin made it an instant live favorite of the night and Get The Fuck Out from "Slave to Grind" was one of the last songs before the final song I remember You - this time performed in the original version. Johnny sang the lyrics beautiful and was only accompanied by Snake on acoustic guitar plus the sing-along from the audience. The band came back in and finished the song properly starting with the guitar solo part. The solo on I Remember You is fantastic since it has so much emotion. Scotti Hill didn't miss a note and I got goose pimples from the fantastic performance.
The crowd yelled for Skid Row to return for encore and the guys gave in for the crowd's ecstatic enthusiasm. Johnny said that no Skid Row show would be complete without a certain song, which they would play no matter how old they got. Of course Youth Gone Wild ended the show.
All in all a bunch of very likable guys led by Johnny Solinger, who sounded great. Skid Row was driven by the joy of playing and they gave a lot to the audience in the shape of a fantastic Rock concert. The crowd thanked them with gratitude and it was well deserved since the gentlemen Phil, Rachel, Snake, Scotti and Johnny sounded tight.
I believe everyone who attended this concert left in the belief that this was a very special night celebrating the return of a fantastic well playing rock band with some amazing songs.
The best line to describe this show to people is YOU SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE.
Skid Row rules.
| You can click on most pictures for a bigger version
All pictures taken by Martin Borg | Written by Michael
Sunday, April 4, 2004 |
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RevelationZ Comments
| Comment by LIAM (Anonymous) - Monday, April 5, 2004 | You hit it right on the nose!!! The show was magical! Scotti was my favorite during the show and of course I placed myself right in front of him on the right side of the stage! The guy is nuts and gives 120% he is a true rock hero! Thanx for the great review! I hope to recive additional pics in my mejl box though haha =)
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| Comment by salty dog (Anonymous) - Thursday, April 8, 2004 | skid row without sebastian sucks!!! get back toghether, i saw them at donington 92 they kicked ass...
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| Comment by Nadine (Anonymous) - Sunday, April 11, 2004 | Toutes mes félicitations. Article très bien écrit et super photos.
Skid Row en intro de Def Lepard le 7 novembre 2003 à Berlin puis le 7 avril 2004 à Paris : génial aussi. Comme vous le dite,il fallait être là !!!...
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| Comment by jenny (Anonymous) - Sunday, September 12, 2004 | I agree bring sebastian bach back. Skid row isnt skid row without him!
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| Comment by JOHN (Anonymous) - Saturday, November 20, 2004 | Sebastian Bach is for "SKID ROW".
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| Comment by luis (Anonymous) - Friday, December 17, 2004 | SB is skid row,
skid row no have SB
skid row don´t skid row
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| Comment by Me (Anonymous) - Tuesday, February 15, 2005 | I was raised on Skid Row and it aint the same w/o sebastian bach...
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| Comment by raz aiman (Anonymous) - Thursday, April 14, 2005 | skid row rocked the fuck out of me wich s bach
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| Comment by nina and daphne (Anonymous) - Wednesday, June 15, 2005 | SKIDROW KICKS ASS, NO SKIDROW WITHOUT SEBASTIAN RACHEL BOLAN AND SCOTTI HILL ARE THE BEST 4 EVER ! ! !
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| Comment by blaw (Anonymous) - Tuesday, August 16, 2005 | sebastian who?
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| Comment by Jack (Anonymous) - Sunday, August 21, 2005 | Solinger's a good replacement. He's very entertaining.
I saw them this past weekend, but the show was a bit disappointing because Snake Sabo wasn't there (broke his hand).
I'm amazed it was that noticable that the guitarist wasn't there.
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| Comment by lea lekitta (Anonymous) - Sunday, September 17, 2006 | i love the skids...i love the old band...and the new band...to me everything is cool as long as SNAKE,SCOTTI and the gorgeous,sexy and beautiful RACHEL BOLAN,are in the band...love them all and they still got it...
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| Comment by Katherine (Anonymous) - Thursday, September 6, 2007 | Hi Skid Row I really like all of your music. How I got to know you guys was because my boyfriend Raymond has your one cd Skid Row. My boyfriend Raymond showed me that one video 18 And Life I thoght It was pretty cool. All of you guys look really hot. I think its also cool that you guys came out with another cd. I listen to your music quite frequantly. I love you guys well thats all I have to say goodbye. Thursday, September 6th 2007.
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