SKID ROW // O2 ACADEMY, GLASGOW
SKID ROW RETURN TO GLASGOW FOR A SHOW AT GLASGOW’S O2 ACADEMY
SKID ROW AT GLASGOW’S O2 ACADEMY - 31.10.2022
PHOTOCREDIT: BAZZA MILLS
As a huge fan of 80’s Rock music, and in particular 80’s style Rock guitar players, I was pretty excited to be going to see Phil X; replacement for Richie Sambora in Bon Jovi, play for the 1st time with his band The Drills and was really looking forward to watching Reb Beach tearing it up with Winger once more, having recently fulfilled his 6 string duties on Whitesnakes’ final tour.
Alas, this was not to be the case.
Neither band played on the night.
Skid Rows’ openers were instead Kent based rockers Collateral who were touring in support of their Re-Wired album which features some big name cameos including the aforementioned Phil X. Although an unknown quantity to me, I was mightily impressed by their energy. Frontman Angelo Tristan did a stellar job at whipping up the crowd and the band performed like they were headlining. Both guitar players were excellent, particularly stage left shredding on his Les Paul
Next up were American psychedelic rockers Enuff Z’Nuff. These guys have toured in one form or another since the mid 80’s and now have founding bass player Chip Z’Nuff handling lead vocals. The set was largely drawn from their latest album Hardrock Nite; which is comprised of hard rock covers of Beatles songs including a rousing rendition of Eleanor Rigby. They finished their set with with New Thing and Fly High Michelle, both of which featured strongly on MTV back in the day.
Skid Row, whom I had 1st seen opening for Mötley Crüe in 1989 began their set with Slave to the Grind; title track of their 1991 sophomore album.
I was disappointed to see that founding guitarist Dave ‘Snake’ Sabo was not on stage. He had succumbed to covid a few days previously and was replaced by his guitar tech for the show. Remaining original guitarist Scotti Hill commanded stage left and played with impressive energy. Original bass player Rachel Bolan still looks every inch the rockstar and took lead vocals on ‘Psycho Therapy’. New lead singer Erik Grönwall was a new-born when the band recorded their eponymous 1st album. He has a good stage presence and can hit all the notes, but I confess a longing to see the band re-unite with original singer Sebastian Bach. Unfortunately, the impression given in interviews and articles with the current original members is that this seems pretty unlikely to happen.
The band ran through all of crowd favourites from the 1st two albums including ‘Big Guns’ , ‘18 and Life’ , ‘Piece of Me’ and an encore including that staple of 80’s rock ;the power ballad ‘I Remember You’.
Set closer was the anthemic ‘Youth Gone Wild’
On my way home in the car I posed this question to my mate who had taken me to the gig…
‘Would you rather hear Sebastian Bach with his band play the songs or Rachel and Scotti (and Snake) with theirs ?
It’s a tough one.
Ultimately they are each weaker without the other.
I think that a tonne of fans would love to see the original band; including drummer Rob Affuso, reunited and playing the shit out of the 1st three albums with the potential for a 4th with the classic line up.
I know I would.
Get well soon Snake!
Sort shit out with Bas and Rob too and get back here next year in Glasgow for the Crüe gig in July 5th . I think that you guys along with a reunited Poison would be excellent additions to that show
