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It’s a Friday night in Cardiff and somewhat anachronistically, a slew of classic rock bands is preparing to descend on the university’s student union venue, Y Plas. For SKID ROW, it’s a tour marking yet enough reinvention of the band. Much has been made of their revolving door of singers in the last few years, but there’s definitely been a palpable buzz about latest recruit, H.E.A.T.’s Erik Grönwall. Bringing along Kent’s COLLATERAL and fellow hair-metal-heyday contemporaries ENUFF Z’NUFF for the occasion, it’s hard to tell if tonight will be a throwback or a comeback for SKID ROW.
COLLATERAL start the evening off on fine form with their late 80s rock inspired stylings. While the venue is still filling out, the band aren’t fazed as they rattle through a short and sweet set of enjoyable if slightly predictable rock bangers. All credit to COLLATERAL, their performance is immaculate and they own the stage. Warming the crowd up with their most well-known material like Mr. Big Shot and latest single Sin In The City, the set is nearly over as soon as it started. Closing the show with Merry Go Round, frontman Angelo Tristan remains a consummate professional as his acoustic guitar cuts out for the song. There are no histrionics though, just good-humoured soldiering on by a band clearly happy to be here.
Rating: 7/10
Starting their set with a cover of THE BEATLES’ Magical Mystery Tour is a pretty bold choice by ENUFF Z’NUFF. For the last few years, sole original member Chipp Z’Nuff has been handling lead vocal duties and he seems at ease leading a band of new and old recruits through the material. Before leaping into early ENUFF Z’NUFF cut Kiss The Clown, Z’Nuff leerily quips about there being a lot of “college students” about tonight – seemingly unaware that, despite the venue being an annexe of the student union, the average audience age here absolutely does not reflect that.
That’s probably for the best, as ENUFF Z’NUFF next pull out a chuggy version of Eleanor Rigby. While the band have always had a bit of BEATLES influence to them, this set certainly seems a bit on the nose. Not in the least as the next cover we’re treated to is Jet by PAUL MCCARTNEY & WINGS. They’re certainly tasteful renditions, with some fantastic twin lead guitar harmonies in Jet in particular, but perhaps not what one would want from Z’Nuff and co. It’s a particularly odd choice considering their imminent new album doesn’t get a look in. Thankfully, the rest of the set is rounded out by ENUFF Z’NUFF classics such as Baby Loves You, Fly High Michelle and New Thing. Fly High Michelle in particular proves the set’s peak, it’s swooning psychedelia-meets-hair-metal chorus ensuring the crowd are swaying to its lulling melodies.
Rating: 7/10
Kicking off their show with the searing chug of Slave To The Grind, SKID ROW are firing on all cylinders as they hit the stage. Grönwall himself is full of piss and vinegar, thrashing around the stage and nailing every aggressive high note as the band power through the menacing The Threat. As SKID ROW slam through belters Piece Of Me and Big Guns, Grönwall’s energy is infectious. Better yet, his note-perfect delivery is matched by the rest of the band. SKID ROW’s heart of guitarists ‘Snake’ Sabo and Scotti Hill and bassist Rachel Bolan is still intact, ably accompanied by the excellent drums of Rob Hammersmith. Even considering Grönwall’s relative freshness to the group, SKID ROW feel like a cohesive gang throughout the set – a fact literally emblazoned on them thanks to matching denim vests adorned with their names. For what it’s worth, Grönwall himself is obviously made up to be here. As SKID ROW deliver a rousing performance of their anthemic 18 And Life, the song that Grönwall performed for his Swedish Idol audition at the start of his career, there’s a strong sense of things serendipitously coming full circle for the enthusiastic singer.
It’s glam metal classic after classic for the SKID ROW lads, with Livin’ On A Chain Gang up next – another incredible vocal showcase as Grönwall’s head looks fit to explode while he screams in to the mic. However, the song would fall apart without the call-and-response backing vocals of its chorus and Sabo and Bolan give it everything they’ve got, before Sabo and Hill trade flashy leads.
If it wasn’t abundantly clear already, SKID ROW are for the most part leaning on their first two, and most popular, albums. However, in a nod to B-Side Ourselves, the band crank out a high-octane cover of RAMONES’ Psycho Therapy, with Rachel Bolan adeptly taking vocal lead for some punchy punk grit. Slowing things down for a moment, SKID ROW deliver a mesmerising rendition of In A Darkened Room before playing something post-1992 – the title track from their new album, The Gang’s All Here. To its credit, the song perfectly fits the set with its hooky chorus and no holds barred rhythms. Punctuated by a cathartically aggy belting of Riot Act, the band also showcase Tear It Down off their latest. While less immediately enjoyable than The Gang’s All Here, the band are clearly having a lot of fun as they launch into a great call-and-response chorus. Before leaving the stage for the first time, SKID ROW return to the old school with the swaggering Monkey Business.
The totally unexpected encore sees the band delivering two of their biggest hits, separated by serviceable latest single Time Bomb. However, it’s I Remember You and Youth Gone Wild that see the crowd erupt before SKID ROW triumphantly wrap up the evening. With a set that conveniently ignores the last two decades of the band, there is a definite sense of SKID ROW wiping the slate clean tonight. And why shouldn’t they? Here they are, armed with a singer who can bring the full throttle energy and bite needed for their most visceral songs in Erik Grönwall. And while the set itself is certainly a throwback, the whole band is clearly revitalised. Make no mistake about it, as a live act SKID ROW are not to be missed.
Rating: 9/10
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