Skid Row / Ugly Kid Joe – Live at Sub89 Reading

Us rockers take Reading by storm

This eagerly anticipated double header has been careering through the UK for a couple of weeks now and finally rolled into Reading this last weekend. It’s now firmly mid-week and I still can’t hear properly. I’m pretty sure my liver is fucked too. Ah well, me and a couple of hundred others too I reckon.

I managed to miss most of tour openers Dead City Ruins, due in no small part to the wallet-raping prices at everybody’s favourite Reading venue. Well that and a ridiculously early start. Anyhow, I digress. Classic rock, beards, denim, etc. Kinda cool if you like that sort of thing, which I do. Will definitely try and catch ’em next time round.

Once again promoting their “Stairway to Hell” EP, Ugly Kid Joe emerged to a rousing welcome, none more so than upon the appearance of Whitfield Crane. With a look in his eyes that suggested one too many coffees (?), the crowd were in the palm of his hand from the get go.

Crane knows how to work an audience and, with their arms swaying in unison, they lapped it up like thirsty puppies. Pillaging from their classic releases (very cool to hear Goddamn Devil!!), with a couple of new tracks thrown in, it was really good to see a band on the comeback trail actually look like they were enjoying themselves and not just looking for an easy pay check.

Klaus Eichstadt was on fire, and from a completely selfish point of view, that is all I care about. Great guitar player, even if his socks were ridiculous……

Yes they played “Everything About You”, but the cover of Motorhead’s “Ace of Spades” was just insane. In a good way. It was also the point where Scambot became a dancing fool for the first time this evening………..if only it had been the last……..

People need to get over the whole “it’s not really Skid Row without Sebastian” thing. It’s irrelevant and what’s more it’s boring as fuck. I’m not saying that half the audience were dumb, but c’mon guys it’s been years now, stop whining and enjoy the show…….

…..and what a show it was.

Kicking off with “Let’s Go” from United World Wide Rebellion, it was clear that the Skid Row boys weren’t going to let UKJ steal their thunder. Big Guns, 18 & Life, Piece of Me….all genre defining classics given an airing tonight. The fact is, love him or hate him, Johnny Solinger gives it his all throughout the set and I give him a shitload of credit for that. Singing over a couple of hundred backing vocalists can’t be easy.

Rachel Bolan was the reason I got into the Ramones. That alone makes him one of, if not the coolest bass players ever. Fact. “Psychotherapy” was a raucous blast which I’ve been waiting on seeing for way too long….

My hearing was well and truly fucked by the time “Monkey Business” came round, Snake and Scotti trading off centre-stage before that massive riff kicked in. Why it isn’t seen as one of those classic metal riffs like Back in Black, I’ll never know.

Watching Scotti Hill rip it up on his Bootleg guitar, it was clear that he’s having a blast on this tour. Not sure about the boiler suit / eyeliner combo but each to their own and all that! Encoring with perennial crowd favourite “Youth Gone Wild”, and the bombastic “Slave to the Grind”, there were handshakes for the front row, and then they were gone.

Days later, my hearing is still shot, I’m pretty sure I’m in the midst of a week long hangover, and Skid Row are still one of all-time favourite bands. Kinda says it all.

‘Til next time guys, I’ll see you down the front.

http://www.skidrow.com

http://www.uglykidjoe.net/

https://www.bootlegguitars.com/

Winery Dogs – Islington Academy, London

supergroup

noun: an exceptionally successful rock group or one formed by musicians already famous from playing in other groups.

Yeah, that pretty much sums up the Winery Dogs. They are way more than that though. Portnoy, Sheehan & Kotzen. Names that resonate with musicians the world over, and if their debut album is anything to go by, the rest of the world will surely follow suit sooner rather than later. A one-off UK date was only going to please so many people, and the sold out Islington Academy were certainly in for a night to brag about.

Atlanta’s THE SIXXIS were a strong choice of support, wearing their Dream Theater influences not so much on their sleeves but on large neon signs above their heads. Technical prog-metal at it’s finest, with a set including “Nowhere Close” and closer “Snake in the Grass”, the Sixxis boys are certainly ones to watch. I do have a small confession though chaps. I accidentally snuck outside for a cigarette towards the end of your set. However, had I not done this I wouldn’t have bumped into Herman Li from Dragonforce, so alas my apology comes with little or no regret!

For those of you foolish enough to be unaware of the Winery Dogs’ collective background, I’ll give you a helping hand. Poison, Mr Big, David Lee Roth Band, Dream Theater, Avenged Sevenfold, Adrenaline Mob…..the list is long and esteemed, and as a rock fan you’d have to have been living under a rock for 30 years to not know these guys.

The trio emerged to a rapturous welcome from the sold out Academy and they weren’t ever going to disappoint. As with their well-received debut album, the show was opened with the soon to be classic “Elevate”, with all three of the guys on top of their game. Unison guitar/bass lines from Sheehan and Kotzen made the most of the great venue sound, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mike Portnoy look so content, showcasing technique whilst holding the songs down.

Being their debut tour, you could be fooled into expecting a short set but not here. Delving into some of their individual back catalogues, the WD boys treated us to not only great set of hard rock, but to some great solos too. Now I know what you’re all thinking….Drum solo? Bass Solo? I get it, everyone goes to the bar during these but not tonight. Billy Sheehan’s mastery of his instrument was insane as always, and I don’t think there was a single person present who didn’t wish that Portnoy’s drum solo was a bit longer.

Highlight of the night, for me anyway, was Richie Kotzen. I’ve waited since “Fever Dream” to see this guy live (my own fault) and it was worth the wait. I’ll never get my head around his ability to give a soulful vocal performance whilst  ripping out some ridiculous riffs and fills on his telecaster. This guy should be revered alongside Satriani and Vai, maybe even moreso. His performance of solo classic “You Can’t Save Me” was nothing short of mesmerising.

The piano-led “Regret” closed the set, before the boys returned for a two song encore that left the crowd begging for more. Not this time though, for that you’ll have to wait for the next tour. If you missed them this time round, shame on you. Don’t make the same mistake next time round.

The Winery Dogs are currently touring Europe, and their debut album is available now on iTunes, and other music outlets with impeccable taste.