Winger - Saturday 21 June 2014 - O2 Academy Islington, London

Confession time. I was never really a big fan of Winger in their heyday. I saw them support Bon Jovi at the Astoria in the early 90's but at the time was only interested in the headliner. Oh how times have changed as now I'm really keen on seeing Winger especially having missed them at Download Festival the previous weekend.With a new album out 'Better days commin' getting good reviews, I revisited their back catalogue to reacquaint myself with their songs. It was good to see the Academy packed for their last date on their brief UK tour. Starting off with 'Midnight Driver of a Love Machine' from their new album, this was quickly followed by an old favourite 'Easy Come,Easy Go'. Their setlist consisted of a mixture of both old and new songs. Although the main focus was naturally on Kip himself, the band consisting of Reb Beach (guitar), Rod Morgenstein (drums) and now John Roth (guitar), all showed their music music prowess by each performing solo's. Unfortunately this stifled the show somewhat as a couple of extra songs could have been played. We even got a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' for Kip (53 if you're interested). Halfway through the set, Kip swapped bass for keyboard for 'Miles Away' and 'Headed for a Hartbreak'. Finally they finished their set with 'Madalaine', 'Seventeen' and finally with a cover of Van Halen's 'Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love'. Fabulous stuff. Kip will be back in September for a solo date at the Boarderline. Another chance to experience a fabulous night out.

Rating: 7/10

Setlist: 'Midnight Driver of a Love Machine', 'Easy Come,Easy Go', 'Hungry', 'Pull Me Under', 'Down Incognito', 'Deal With the Devil', 'Stone Cold Killer', 'Rat Race', 'Miles Away', 'Headed for a Heartbreak', 'Can't Get Enuff', 'Blind Revolution', 'Madalaine', 'Seventeen' and 'Ain't Talkin' 'bout Love'.

Kip Winger

Red Dragon Cartel, Friday 6 June 2014 - O2 Academy Islington

For those who don't know this is Jake E. Lee new band. Having been the guitarist for Ozzy Osbourne (circa 83-88) and also Badlands (circa 89 -91) with the late Ray Gillen, Jake finally returns with a great new band. It seems that he has been out of the music scene for ages, however he returned last year with his new band and a self titled album. I saw Badlands play London Astoria over 20+ years ago (yes really!) and so I was looking forward to seeing this new band of Jake's. I've listened to the album and there are some good songs on it. However I've heard some mixed reviews of some of their gigs so I was keen to see for myself. For a Friday night the Academy was not packed. Despite that it was still a good show. Although he might have aged somewhat, Jake can still certainly play. Opening with 'The Ultimate Sin', the gig was a mixture of Badlands, Red Dragon Cartel and Ozzy songs. Jake certainly proved that he is still a fantastic guitar player and on all songs he proved why with some great guitar work. His band were also a bunch of great musicians; DJ Smith on vocals, Ronnie Mancuso on bass, and Jonas Fairley on drums. After 75 minutes they finished their set with another Ozzy track, 'Bark at the Moon'. Pity they only played 2 Ozzy songs. Jake was the last to leave the stage after applauding the crowd. He seemed genuinely happy to be back playing. Welcome back I say we missed you. Roll on Download Festival.

Setlist: The Ultimate Sin (Ozzy cover), Deceived, War Machine, High Wire (Badlands cover), Shine On (Badlands cover), Shout it Out, In a Dream (Badlands cover), Rumblin Train (Badlands cover), Sun Red Sun (Badlands cover), Feeder, Bark at the Moon (Ozzy cover).

Rating: 7/10

Jake E. Lee

D.J. Smith

Enuff Z Nuff - Tuesday 3 December 2013, Camden Underworld, London

Despite having played here less than 6 months ago (see my previous review), Enuff Z Nuff are back for another UK tour.(Un)fortunately Donnie Vie has left the band (again). Johnny Monaco is again back on lead vocals & guitar. I've seen him play before some years ago and fits perfectly. However tonight doesn't seem to be a perfect night for the band. They play to a much smaller crowd this time and what with technical difficulties with Johnny's guitar pedals, the show wasn't as good as the previous London show. What with a virtually similar setlist to last time, all the favourites songs are played; 'Heaven or Hell', 'We're All Alright' and 'Baby Loves You'.The later is transformed into a medley including Milley Cyrus - 'Wrecking Ball', Lita Ford - 'Kiss me Deadly' and Bryan Adams - 'Summer of 69'.This certainly added to the show. A newish song recently added to the setlist  is 'Love Train' which is well received and we get a welcome return of 'Kiss The Clown'. An odd choice for me was the inclusion of 'Jet' (a cover of Wings song).As usual they finish off with 'Fly High Michelle' and 'New Thing'. Chip's final words was "see you at Donington". I hope to see you again there too.

Setlist: 'Heaven or Hell', 'Hollywood Ya', 'One Step Closer to You', 'There goes My Heart', 'We're All Alright', 'Fingertips', 'Love Train', 'Baby Loves You', 'Jet', 'Kiss The Clown', 'Fly High Michelle' and 'New Thing'.

Rating: 7/10

Johnny Monaco - Enuff Z Nuff

Chip - Enuff Z Nuff

Skid Row & Ugly Kid Joe - Tuesday 5 November 2013, Electric Ballroom, London

An unlikely pairing on paper but for the punters a value for money bill. Down as joint headline, Skid Row's name was at the top of the poster so naturally they come on last which certainly suited Ugly Kid Joe. This was the third time I'd seen them since reforming for 2012 Download Festival. Promoting their new(ish) album "Stairway to Hell", they played 3 songs from it during the middle of their 14 song set. This was a similar set to the previous times I'd seen them but now including the brilliant 'Milkman's Son'. No acoustic version of 'Cats in the Cradle' this time but either way still a favourite sing a long with the crowd. Thinking that they finish off with 'Everything About You', we get a cover of 'Ace of Spades' squeezed in at the end. Curious choice but the energy of the song does it justice. A perfect setlist.

Setlist: 'Intro', 'V.I.P', 'Neighbour', 'C.U.S.T', 'Panhandlin' Prince', 'So Damn Cool', 'No One Survives', 'Devil's Paradise', 'Cat's in the Cradle', 'I'm Alright', 'Milkman's Son', 'Goddamn Devil', 'Everything About You' and 'Ace of Spades'.

Skid Row return for their second show in London in 6 months.Continuing their United World Rebellion Chapter 1 world tour. Sebastian Bach is just a distant memory now that Johnny Solinger has been fronting Skid Row for well over a decade now. The setlist is still reliant on the first 2 Skid Row albums. Kicking off with 'Let's Go' from their new album, it's mainly all the classics from 'Skid Row' & 'Slave to the Grind' albums. Rachel Bolan still takes over lead vocals on 'Psycho Therepy'. Twenty plus years on and he still sounds like a snotty nose punk kid. By encore time we're down to 'Slave to the Grind' and the evergreen 'Youth Gone Wild'. It's like the early nineties never happened. Sebastian who?

Setlist: 'Let's Go', 'Big Guns', 'Makin' a Mess', 'Piece of Me', '18 and Life', 'Thick is the Skin', 'Get the Fuck Out', 'In a Darkened Room', 'Kings of Demolition', 'Psycho Therepy', 'Riot Act', 'I Remember You', 'Monkey Business', 'Quicksand Jesus', 'Slave to the Grind' and 'Youth Gone Wild'.

Rating: 9/10

Queensryche - Saturday 12 October 2013 - O2 Academy Islington, London

Before we start this version of Queensryche has Todd La Torre on vocals. This gig was rescheduled from April.London is the first night of their European Tour and is advertised that they would play all their greatest hits. They certainly don't disappoint with their selection. Starting off with an old song - 'Queen of the Reich', this is soon followed by 'Walk in the Shadows'. The middle part of the show is a mixture of old and new songs. Todd does a great job on vocals sounding just like Geoff Tate.He is certainly appreciative to the crowd for being here. The rest of the band are nothing more than professional in their playing. The final 3 songs of the night are 'Jet City Woman', 'Silent Lucidity' and finishing off with 'Empire', all taken from their best selling album Empire. Everyone leaves knowing this was a good concert. Can't think of a better way to spend a Saturday evening.

Queensryche 

Setlist: 'Queen of the Reich', 'Speak', 'Walk in the Shadows', 'The Whisper', 'En Force', 'Child of Fire', 'Warning', 'X2', 'Where Dreams Go to Die', 'The Needle Lies', 'Prophecy', 'My Empty Room', 'Eyes of a Stranger', 'Fallout', 'Take Hold of the Flame', 'Jet City Woman', 'Silent Lucidity' and 'Empire.

Rating: 8/10

Tuff & Shameless - Wednesday 2 October 2013, Camden Underworld, London

If you are familiar with the Metal Sludge website then you're aware of the 2 lesser known 'hair metal' bands of the 80's. Neither have toured the UK for 6 years but have now returned for a series of UK dates under the moniker - 'Hairband Extravaganza'. For this tour, Shameless consist of Steve 'Sex' Summers (ex Pretty Boy Floyd) on vocals and Ace Finchum on drums. As a result we get 4 PBF songs - 'Leather Boyz', 'Rock N Roll Outlaws', 'Your Mama' and 'Set the Night on Fire' and a few Shameless songs. As usual Summers is having a blast on stage. A perfect warm up set.

Steve 'Sex' Summers - Shameless

Steve Rochelle is not the only original member of Tuff anymore. Todd Chase is back playing bass. Clearly pleased to be back playing live, even if he wouldn't look out of place playing with The Exploited! Playing all their classics including 'I Hate Kissing you Goodbye', 'Summertime Goodbye', 'The All New Generation' and finishing off with 'American Hair Band'. Shame that the turnout was low. However those who were there certainly had nothing but a good time, especially when both Steve's are prepared to hangout at the merchandise stall both before & after the show. Cheers guys!

Rating: 8/10

Steve Rochelle - Tuff