Skid Row - Nottingham Rock City

Thirty two years on and Skid Row are going as strong as ever , certainly gauged in the performance tonight. This leg of the 'World Rebellion Tour' should have taken place in March but was cancelled when flu struck the band. The new date was coincidentally my Birthday so all's well that ends well.

We got there about an hour before opening and found a dozen or so already in the queue. We managed to get down on the barriers without any problem.

Two support bands and first up was former Heavens Basement vocalist Aaron Buchanan's new band. They were OK but not really  my cup of tea. The next band  'Bad Touch' were much more my thing though. They must be the coolest thing to come out of Dereham in Norfolk for a long time. They did what any good support band are supposed to do , whip up the crowd.

Bad Touch

Formed in 2010 when still at College the band have gone from strength to strength. Playing many of the big festivals as well as some big support slots.

They put together a great set and look destined for a very bright future indeed.

The venue had swelled considerably and it was getting a bit hot and sweaty down at the business end of proceedings I have to say.

 It's been a long time since I've been to Rock City but there is no doubt that it is an important venue on the circuit. I remember seeing 'Dio'  here back in 2000. Its a no frills type of place but the sound is good and so is the atmosphere. The only issue is the lighting which makes getting a decent photo nigh on impossible.

Skid Row take to the stage at 9;30 to the strains of 'The Ramones' 'Blitzkreig Bop'. Original members 'Rachel Bolan' and Dave ‘The Snake’ Sabo    are alongside 'Scotti Hill', 'Rob Hammersmith' and the former Dragonforce vocalist 'ZP Theart'.

Dave 'The Snake' Sabo

Rachel Bolan

The tempo is set immediately with 'Slave to the Grind' . Sabo along with fellow Lead Guitarist 'Scotti Hill' make a formidable pairing , and certainly up there with the best of em.  At one point they take it in turns to try and 'outshred' each other.

Frontman 'Theart' is the 5th singer to take the mic in the bands history. He is a natural to the role and never happier than when spraying the crowd with water. Talking of water, I was grateful to gulp down some handed out by the stewards. Things certainly got even more livelier when the band launched into a version of 'The Ramones' 'Psycho Therapy' with Rachel Bolan taking over the vocals.  The majority of the songs are taken from the first two albums.

ZP Theart

There are also the odd touches of subtlety in the form of ballads 'Quicksand Jesus' and 'I Remember You' . I even excelled myself by plucking a plectrum out of the air one handed no less ! I got an impressed  thumbs up from guitarist and flicker of said plectrum 'Scotti Hill'

Scotti Hill


                                                                                                                          

The majority of the set is made up of songs from the first two albums

Please link to the article at; https://invernessgigs.co.uk/2018/03/07/live-review-skid-row-inverness/

The majority of the set is made up of songs from the first two albums

Please link to the article at; https://invernessgigs.co.uk/2018/03/07/live-review-skid-row-inverness/

The majority of the set is made up of songs from the first two albums

Please link to the article at; https://invernessgigs.co.uk/2018/03/07/live-review-skid-row-inverness/

The majority of the set is made up of songs from the first two albums

Please link to the article at; https://invernessgigs.co.uk/2018/03/07/live-review-skid-row-inverness/

Last song of the night is the  
slightly ironic 'Youth Gone Wild'.
That is considering the average age of all those attending and not least the band themselves.. But it's Rock 'n' Roll and anything goes.

It's been a long overdue catch up with Skid Row but a very enjoyable one just the same !

Full Set List

• Slave to the Grind
• Sweet Little Sister
• Piece of Me
• Livin' on a Chain Gang
• Big Guns
• 18 and Life
• Makin' a Mess
• Rattlesnake Shake
• Psycho Therapy (Ramones cover)
• Quicksand Jesus
• Monkey Business (Jam)

Encore

•  I Remember  You
• We are the Damned
• Youth Gone Wild