Skid Row / Rock City / Nottingham

Oct 30

Oct 30 Skid Row / Rock City / Nottingham

Skid Row were formed in New Jersey back in 1986 and hit the UK in the wave of denim & leather clad, big hair US rock bands of the late 80’s along with the likes of LA Guns, Poison, Guns ‘n Roses, Mötley Crüe & Hanoi Rocks. It was a genre I didn’t particularly embrace back in the day. There were the obvious big hits we all knew, but for me the 80’s was all about punk (Dead Kennedys & Black Flag) and British metal (Iron Maiden, Motorhead & Saxon).

I was looking forward to the show tonight to see what I thought now, after all these years.

The familiar smiles welcomed me to Rock City from security and I picked up my pass before heading up to the main hall ready for the first band. There was already a big crowd in, and that’s not surprising as Collateral have built a solid following of their own. With a clear love of 80’s rock Angelo Tristan (lead vocals, guitar), Todd Winger (guitar), Jack Bentley-Smith (bass), and Ben Atkinson (drums) hit the stage full of energy and out to have some fun.

Ben’s drumming is at the heart of their sound, and he bashes the kit really putting some power into it tonight. Angelo smiles from start to finish as he moves around the stage and his vocals are spot on.

The crowd are lapping it up and lovin’ every second of it, and it’s a cracking start to the night.

A quick turn round n stage, and next up are US rockers Enuff Z’Nuff, formed back in 1984 in Illinois by Donnie Vie (vocals and guitar) and bass player Chip Z'Nuff (Gregory Rybarski, who now provides lead vocals). Chp shouts out how brilliant it is to be back in the UK and at Nottingham’s Rock City and cuts an imposing figure in black demin jacket, but hat and purple round sunglasses. We’re in for something a bit different tonight, a short support set, but mainly music by others, and in particular…. The Beatles, because as Chip said “who doesn’t like the Beatles”.

And we blast off with a great version of Magical Mystery Tour which really gets the growing crowd into the vibe. The bass rumbles as he plucks the multi colour strings and somehow it stays on Chips shoulder, held together by huge wodges of black gaffer tape lol. Tony Fennell certainly has some sort of Wham / George Michael vibe going on too in smart black trousers, red shirt and very GM big sunglasses. He’s pulling the shapes too as he rocks along.

I couldn’t get sight of the setlist and I think the next track was one of their own in Kiss the Clown before we get another excellent Beatles cover in Eleanor Rigby. It’s not the set I was expecting, but I have to say it went down really well with the crowd, who were singling along to every line with enthusiasm, and there’s a great great solo from Tory Stoffregan. And Chip was right, who doesn’t love a bit of the Beatles !

The last two tracks are Fly High Michelle and New Thing. Both are exceptional, especially Fly High written by founding member Donny Vie about the loss of a friend. Overall, the performance was great fun, hard rocking with plenty of bite to it and the fans were really rocking now.

The stage was set ready for tonights headliners, Skid Row. Formed in New Jersey back in 1986, they have had a number of frontmen, most notably Sebastien Back from ’87 to ’96 and Johnny Solinger who joined in ’99 and stayed with the band until ’15. After Johnny’s departure they had spells with Tony Harnell and ZP Threat, before Erik Grönwall joined the band this year. Eric will be well known to many as the frontman of H.E.A.T. and as the winner of Swedish Rock Idol reality show.

Most well known for their early albums “Skid Row” (5 times platinum seller) and “Slave to the Grind” 2 time platinum seller). Both of these classic albums feature heavily in the set list, along with a number of tracks form their new album “The Gang’s All Here” released earlier this year. Alongside Erik on stage are Dave ‘The Snake’ Sabo (Lead and Rhythm Guitar), Rachel Bolan (Bass Guitar), Scotti Hill (Lead and Rhythm Guitar) and Rob Hammersmith (Drums).

The lights dimmed and the crowd are warmed up with some old school rock in the form of Twisted Sister’s I Wanna Rock and the crowd is singing along, and then finally before the band come out we get the classic Blitzkrieg Bop from the legendary Ramones. Everyone is rocking now !

The ubiquitous torch flashed back to the sound desk alerts the crowd to the imminant arrival of their heroes and the noise levels go through the roof. The drums kick into action and they burst onto the stage as they dive straight into Slave to the Grind. The set is pretty minimal with Dave Sabo stage left and Rachel Bolan and Scotti Hill to the right, leaving a vast space in the middle. The reason soon became apparent as Erik burst onto the stage. Resplendent in leather jacket adorned with the album logo on the back, Erik swirls, and races round the stage. He’s like a Tasmanian Devil and doesn’t seem to stand still….. all night, pausing now and then to raise a foot onto a monitor and pose looking out into the crowd.

What strikes me is that Erik brings a whole new 21st century feel to an old school ‘80s band. His blonde hair, shaved in part, more A-Ha than Poison, but with the leather jacket a nod to their past, he brings a freshness to the band… A new edge. Climbing down onto the barrier Erik interacts with the excited fans shaking hands and fist bumping as many as he can.

We continue with “Slave to the Grind” as The Threat hits us hard next, the energy levels still right up there and then we dive into their debut album “Skid Row” for the first time with Big Guns. The crowd have their arms in the air now and screaming along. Next up is fan favourite 18 and Life which the crowd as one sing for the band as Erik holds the mic out towards the crowd.

You get the feeling Erik is genuinely emotional about his chance to front Skid Row. During a break he talks to the crowd and tells us he was last at Rock City three years ago with H.E.A.T. and he LOVED the place, and how he couldn’t believe that today he woke up and headed back to Rock City fronting Skid Row ! The child like amazement was infectious and the crowd were cheering right back at him. The choice of career move certainly seems to be a popular one !

Mid set we get a brilliant rendition of Living on a Chain Gang before Erik introduces the whole band to the crowd. We then got a brilliant cover of another Ramones track Psycho Therapy performed by Rachel Bolan. The intensity drops for a moment, with a reduced tempo performance of In a Darkened Room before we get the first track from their new album, the title track The Gang’s All Here which gets the energy and volume back to 110%. It’s great to hear the new material, and I have to say, it fits in so well with their older, classic tracks.

As the main set draws to an end Riot Act and Tear It Down (again from the new album) set us up nicely for Monkey Business.

The eager crowd don’t have to wait too long for the encore, which starts with a lightning storm from the speakers and flashing lights as Sabo starts, on an accustic guitar to play I Remember You and the crowd erupt in loud cheers and proceed to sing along to every line.

Another new track from “The Gang’s All Here” in Time Bomb next, which again works so well live before we come to the final song of the night Youth Gone Wild and once again, the crowd join in, and sing along as the confetti pours down from the roof.

For the long term, old school fans from the early days, tonight’s gig was just what they wanted, lots of classic hits and a smattering of new stuff. I think for me, I fell a little in love with late 80’s rock tonight. In adding Erik Grönwall to the line up, they have added youthful energy as well as impressive vocals, and it doesn’t just do the old material justice….. it brings it alive for a whole new, younger generation.

With a new album in “The Gang’s All Here” that captures the original essence of Skid Row, but adds something new as well, it’s clear from seeing the band members on stage tonight, this isn’t a band at the end of their career just serving up the old hits to an eager audience. It’s a band filled with enthusiasm and energy and ideas….. and a passion for their craft reinvigorated. I expect to see new albums in the future and I can’t wait.

A great gig and well worth seeing, with a few more dates in early November.

Set List

Slave To The Grind (Slave To The Grind 1991)

The Threat (Slave To The Grind 1991)

Big Guns (Skid Row 1989)

18 And Life (Skid Row 1989)

Piece Of Me (Skid Row 1989)

Livin’ On A Chain Gang (Slave To The Grind 1991)

Psycho Therapy – Ramones Cover

In A Darkened Room (Slave To The Grind 1991)

Makin’ A Mess (Skid Row 1989)

The Gang’s All Here (The Gangs All Here 2022)