LIVE AT THE HARD ROCK CAFE in NYC - HALLOWEEN
When it comes to reviews of shows, I try to bang them out shortly after the show ends because the recollection of the event is much clearer. However, after the abuse I put myself through for this particular show, I needed to catch up on a few Z's and regain some motor function before even attempting to type up a show review. now that I've recuperated somewhat, I can regurgitate the events that unfolded when SKID ROW hit the stage at the Hard Rock Cafe last night, Halloween night, in New York City.
The event was actually part of a live broadcast put together by syndicated rock DJ,
Eddie Trunk, who considering the fact that his show is only on for three hours every week in New York City, can attract a large amount of people to a show. 500 listeners, all dressed up in elaborate (and sometimes very skimpy) halloween costumes, were lined up outside of the Hard Rock long before the show even began. Thankfully, Eddie had put me, as well as
Opie on the guest list, so when we got to the Hard Rock, we were able to get in without any waiting at all. Lines suck. Waiting on lines sucks. Being on line for anything for any period of time longer than sixty seconds sends me into a tizzy (Yeah, I know...really fucking mature... it's true though; I'm impatient and a lunatic when it comes to waiting for anything...especially restaurants...but I digress). Thanks to a guest list, and Hard Rock Johnny, the manager with the coolest collection of fire-and-skull T-shirts, fire shoes, and fire accessories you will EVER see, we got in immediately.
Skid Row wasn't at the event yet, so we walked around trying to find Eduardo Trunkadero to say howdy. Upstairs we met up with
Anthony, and the one and only
Brother Joe, and had a little reunion of sorts, and discussed how much trouble Op and Ant might/might not get into if they jumped on the air with Eddie during his show. Eventually, we met up with Eddie, who was hanging out with New York Mets catcher and fellow metalhead/co-host of Ed's radio show, Mike Piazza (and that's about all I know about the guy. I know dick about baseball). The beer was plentiful, and so were the bullshit stories. The room was starting to really fill up, too....quickly. Hundreds upon hundreds of people showed up in full costume to this thing. Again, one disc jockey with one hard rock specialty show. One night per week. Anyone who tells you hard rock and metal is dead obviously never experienced an event like this.
The opening band, FAR CRY, which features
Karl Cochran (he's been around for a while; You might have seen him playing guitar with ACE FREHLEY during his '95 and '96 Bad Boys tour) hit the stage and ripped through a ton of cover tunes. For a three piece band, they sounded huge. They nailed songs by KISS, LED ZEPPELIN and a ton of others. Karl's hand was all fucked up too; it really seemed as if one of his fingers was clearly broken, but he played lead guitar with a swollen, sausage-lookin' finger regardless.
Skid Row showed up around 11-ish (it might have been earlier, but i sure as shit wasn't paying attention). I finally got to introduce myself to Rachel (check out his
ROAD REPORTS from the POISON/VINCE NEIL/SKID ROW tour this past Summer ...as well as the
13 Questions we did with him back in March), Scotti, Snake, Phil, and Johnny. Take my word for it, if you ever want to see a group of tattooed, long-haired knuckleheads who love being in a rock band, love being out on the road, playing in front of people, without any of the inflated ego horseshit getting in the way, then hang with these guys for a little while. They're very down to earth, very hard working, and extremely grateful to be making a living doing what they love. By the way, aspiring rock musicians should take a cue from the Skids: The band released their new disc,
ThickSkin themselves, and they're doing a lot of their own legwork for their current tour. Sure, these guys aren't dealing with the audience they were ten years ago, but by doing all of the work themselves and not through a major label, they're making SEVERAL TIMES the amount of money they would have by trying to sell the disc through a major label. the almighty record deal ain't what it used to be, kids. Anyway, we shot the shit for a little while. I busted Johnny's balls about not getting his interview questions back six months after sending them to him. He claims he has them all written out, but needs to get them to me. Yeah, sure. Go find a fax machine, ya hillbilly. On a positive note, I think we can hit up Scotti Hill, Phil Varone, and maybe Snake Sabo for some answers to
13 Questions. I'm dying to ask Phil about SAIGON KICK and about nailing Kylie Bax... oofah.
Just before Skid Row started their set, Eddie got up on stage with Piazza the pussy magnet (I shit you not, this fucking guy stands in the corner and immediately gets surrounded by chicks asking to get their cans autographed) and addressed the costumed fans. He let
Opie and Anthony have the stage for a few minutes and the place went batshit. Opie told the folks to be patient and to wait until June 2004 so they can ride out their contract, and Anthony did a little of his Dr. Smith impression. When these guys get a chance to do a radio show again, radio will indeed get very interesting. You don't yank a show off the air at the height of its popularity and expect the listeners to just vanish. People are waiting...as patiently as they can...for the return of O&A. Comedian
Craig Gass took the stage for a few minutes before the Skids went up, and made the goons giggle.
Skid Row finally got up there around 12:30-ish (again, who knows for sure... I wasn't looking at my watch. I was looking for the bar), and within ten seconds, everyone in that room was saying "Sebastian WHO?" I shit you not, I'm not saying that for the sake of kissing the asses of a band I've become friendly with. I'm saying that because it's true. Johnny Solinger and Phil Varone have been in that band for years now, so they're not exactly "the new guys" anymore. Phil's kick is just as hard as Rob Affuso's, and he's got a shitload more tattoos, that's for damn sure. Johnny Solinger's voice is fucking amazing. He tears through the old Skid Row material flawlessly, and nails every single
ThickSkin track perfectly. I can't think of one great tune they didn't play. They did the obligatory hits, "Piece of Me", "Youth Gone Wild", "Slave To The Grind", "Monkey Business", some newer stuff like "Thick Is the Skin" "New Generation" and "Lamb" (one of the better songs on the new disc) as well as the new re-vamped punked-up version of "I remember you" (They even did the original version later on in the set). They even plaed "Beat Yourself Blind" from
Subhuman Race, a FANTASTIC Skid Row disc that Atlantic released in 1995, prior to splitting with original singer Sebastian Bach. Watching Eddie Trunk play air guitar to that song is fucking hysterical...actually, Piazza was right next to him wailing away as well. Anyone within eyeshot of those two was pissing themselves. Whether it was a new track or one of the classics, the band nailed every note and had a blast doing it. Scotti Hill ran up into the balcony to play his lead at one point (for which song, I have NO idea... my recollection of the night's events are spotty...it's the sleep deprivation). Skid Row knows how to work a crowd, boy. By the time they finished up around 2:30-ish, they had Eddie Trunk and Piazza on stage with them singing along like a bunch of meatheads. It's not 1990 and the band isn't playing Madison Square Garden (not at the moment, that is), and a lot of the fans are grown up with families now, but there is NO question that THIS band IS Skid Row. It's not three original members and two new guys...this is the real deal. These guys are having a fucking ball up there and it's instantly obvious.
The band had to get on a plane bound for Germany in the morning to kick off their tour with DEF LEPPARD, so I don't imagine they were at the Hard Rock for much longer... but you never know. I was fucking exhausted. I'd love to say that I was shit drunk and incoherent, but I was just physically drained and stone deaf. I'd been up for 24 hours straight by the time I got home and hobbled into bed, but it was worth it. I'd do it again in a hearbeat now that I've seen the kind of show Skid Row can deliver in the 21st century.
