SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS @ Pabst Theater – Milwaukee, WI
July 25, 2019
Review by David Urmanski
Photos by David Urmanski
Website: www.SlashOnline.com/LivingTheDreamTour
BAND MEMBERS: SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS
Slash – Lead Guitar
Myles Kennedy – Vocals
Frank Sidoris – Rhythm Guitar
Todd Kerns – Bass
Brent Fitz – Drums
When iconic musicians come to town, Wisconsinites show up in droves. This is exactly what happened for the highly-anticipated sold-out show at the Pabst Theater in Milwaukee Thursday evening. Legendary guitarist, Saul Hudson (best known as lead guitarist of Guns N’ Roses by stage name Slash), and one of the most prolific rock vocalists performing today, Myles Richard Bass (known professionally as Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge fame), colluded with The Conspirators to execute a momentous, high-energy performance featuring unforgettable riffs, a thunderous rhythm section and haunting vocals leaving nearly 1,300 adoring fans wanting more long after the stage lights went down.
With four years behind us since rock n’ roll fanatics last heard new music from the band, there has been absolutely no down-time for Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators since the release of their second album, World On Fire, in 2014 resulting in an 18-month, 20-country world tour which included sold-out shows throughout the U.S., U.K., Europe, Austria, South America, Southeast Asia and everywhere in-between concluding the tour in Las Vegas on New Year’s Eve 2015.
Immediately following the tour with The Conspirators, Slash rejoined Guns N’ Roses bandmates Axl Rose and Duff McKagan for a historic reunion tour, after a nearly two decade hiatus, performing across the globe to millions of fans. But even after a record-breaking tour with GN’R, Slash had always intended on rejoining The Conspirators and returned to L.A. in December 2017, while on break from Guns N’ Roses, and resumed writing for The Conspirators.
In January of this year, the 5-piece hit the ground running and commenced in the studio to record their third album with Kennedy on vocals, Todd Kerns on bass, Brent Fitz on drums and Frank Sidoris on rhythm guitar resulting in the latest full-length album, Living The Dream, which is scheduled to be released on September 20, 2019 and can be pre-ordered here.
According to the band and those in the know, Living The Dream, is possibly the band’s strongest album to date featuring 12 tracks with Slash’s unique, high-octane, dynamic riffing and lyrical solos from show opener “Call of the Wild” to the wah-drenched funk rock of “Read Between the Lines,” the haunting majesty of “Lost Inside the Girl” to the swaggering deep-in-the-pocket Seventies grooves of “Serve You Right,” and stately, quasi-classical melodic themes of “The Great Pretender” not to mention the massive hooks and anthemic, singalong choruses of first single “Driving Rain” which the band included as part of their live set.
From the response of the Milwaukee crowd, despite the short break from new tunes and touring, the band picked up right where they left off and left nothing in their tank Thursday night. Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators continues to be on top of their game and if their live performance is any indication on how well received their new album will be upon its September release, I have my money on the band reaching unprecedented album sales and continuing to pack houses for a long time to come.
SETLIST:
The Call of the Wild
Halo
Standing in the Sun
Apocalyptic Love
Back From Cali (Slash song)
My Antidote
Serve You Right
Boulevard of Broken Hearts
Shadow Life
We’re All Gonna Die (Slash song) (Todd Kerns on vocals)
Doctor Alibi (Slash song) (Todd Kerns on vocals)
The One You Loved Is Gone (with extended Slash’s guitar solo)
Wicked Stone (with extended Slash’s guitar solo)
Mind Your Manners
Driving Rain
By the Sword (Slash song)
Nightrain (Guns N’ Roses cover)
Starlight (Slash song)
You’re a Lie
World on Fire (with band introductions and extended solos)
ENCORE:
Avalon
Anastasia
CONCERT REVIEW RATING SCALE:
1 = Poor
2 = Average
3 = Good
4 = Excellent
5 = Extraordinary
SLASH FEATURING MYLES KENNEDY AND THE CONSPIRATORS CONCERT RATING: 5
THE VENUE: PABST THEATER - Milwaukee, WI Address: 144 E Wells St, Milwaukee, WI 53202 Phone: (414) 286-3205 Website: www.PabstTheater.orgwww.Facebook.com/PabstTheater Events & Tickets: www.PabstTheater.org/Events
