Review and Photography by Manuela Langotsch for MPM
Going to a sold out show is always something to look forward to. Last Saturday was no different.
The evening kicked off with special guests James and the Cold Gun, by their own admission South Wales’ loudest band. And they were true to their word. I had seen them for the first time in the summer at the Steelhouse Festival in Wales and was quite impressed with their self-assured demeanour.
When you introduce your female bass player by asking the audience ‘who is the coolest person in the house – no, it’s not Duff McKagan, it’s our bassist’, then you know where this is going.
Not sure the audience appreciated that comment. But they definitely warmed up the crowd with an energetic Rock set, but with the venue not being the best when it comes to lighting, most of the time, they were all either in the dark or engulfed in really bright light. Quite a challenge for us photographers.
By the time Duff came on stage, the crowd was ready for the main reason they flocked to this North London venue. Dressed in a black suit and sporting black shades, he was most definitely the coolest dude in the house.
Being maybe overshadowed by Axl & Slash in Guns n’ Roses, he sure knows how to play the main role when it is required. I had never seen his solo show nor have I ever heard him sing before.
I really liked his voice, which has a Bowie/Kurt Cobain like sound and his solo material is right up my street. A bit of Blues, a bit of Country and a bit of Rock, a perfect combination in my book. The set had everything from slower acoustic tracks which showed off his bluesy voice to the more rockier tunes, most from his latest album ‘Lighthouse’.
My personal favourite – ‘Just another shakedown’ – a superb Rock song which had everyone jumping and headbanging. Loved it. Those who were hoping to hear some GNR hits were sadly disappointed. Only one song made it to the set list, ‘You’re crazy’. Nevertheless everyone loved it and enjoyed every second of it.
Duff’s band also needs mentioning, because he doesn’t just surround himself with any musicians that walk through the door, he handpicked them all. Tim DiJulio on lead guitar, a fellow Seattleite, was just mesmerising to watch and listen to, especially his solo during GNR’s ‘You’re crazy’. What a fantastic guitarist, he got the biggest cheer when Duff introduced his musicians. Rightly so!
Half way through the set, Duff announced that there will be a special guest invited on stage. Who could it possibly be? We all speculated! It was in fact Steve Jones, guitarist of The Sex Pistols, a personal friend who inspired him a lot over the years as a guitar player. The venue went absolutely crazy when he came on for part of the encore and joined Duff and his band for Johnny Thunders’ ‘You can’t put your arms around a memory’ and ‘Heroes’ by the one and only David Bowie. Wow! How lucky were we! It doesn’t get better than this.
Duff definitely knows how to connect with his fans on a personal level, he wears his heart on his sleeve. Especially when talking about his wife, who was watching from the wings – ‘I am very fortunate to have her in my life!’ Ever so often he would turn around and lock eyes with her. Just beautiful to witness the strong bond they have. He is not ashamed of saying it and showing it. At the end of the show he jumped into the photo pit and shook hands with everyone whose hands he could grab.
He has come a long way from being a founding member of one of the biggest Rock bands on the planet, living the Rock ‘n’ Roll lifestyle most of the 80s and early 90s and even having a brush with death in 1994 because of his excessive alcohol intake. The Duff I saw last week was a completely different person. Family man, healthy looking and one of the nicest guys in the Rock world. He is clearly enjoying life!
Set List – Duff McKagan
- Forgiveness
- Chip Away
- This is the Song
- I saw God on 10th St.
- Tenderness
- Feel
- Holy Water
- I wanna be your dog (The Stooges cover)
- I just don’t know
- Fallen ones
- Fallen
- Wasted Heart (Duff McKagan’s Loaded song)
- Longfeather
- Just another Shakedown
- I fought the Law (The Crickets cover)
- You’re crazy (Guns N’ Roses song)
Encore
- Lighthouse
- You can’t put your arms around a memory (Johnny Thunders cover) (with Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols)
- Heroes (David Bowie cover) (with Steve Jones of The Sex Pistols)
- Don’t Look behind you
