Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators
Manchester
28/11/14
I haven't really written about any gigs since the Frank Turner one though I have been busy November was a jam packed month for me. From seeing Black Stone Cherry on Halloween, I then saw Motorhead, My Favourite Runner Up (local band) and Rise Against in the space of a week, then I travelled to Holland to see Slash, Myles and co. I have chosen to write about the Manchester date instead. So here goes...
I started this gig as I usually start my gigs in a queue of course! Where else?! Only a 3 hour wait till doors this time so not too bad. Doors were at 6. The more and more I go to the Phones 4 U Arena the more and more I get annoyed with them. You have to queue to then queue inside and then queue again as you slowly walk down the stairs behind the slow walking staff. I can understand the reasoning behind walking down the stairs slowly, to save everyone rushing, but snails were going faster than us and I was desperate to get to that barrier!
When we got down to the floor I sprinted to the front and got a decent spot, now all we had to do was wait until the support acts came on. Twenty Two Hundred were the first support act, I hadn't heard anything from or about these but they were ok. I don't think I'd listen to them everyday but they weren't the worst band I'd ever heard, my friend and I spent most of their set trying to get a decent picture of their nice looking guitarist/bassist, because why not, right?
Twenty Two Hundred made way for the second and main support California Breed, I'd only heard of these because they'd supported Alter Bridge on their recent tour in America. I also knew their singer Glen Hughes from somewhere I just couldn't figure out where until after the gig we looked him up, turns out he was in Deep Purple among other bands. Again they were alright as a support.
Crowds started getting closer and closer together, you could tell it was the main band of the night on next. Oh boy was I excited.
The legend that is Slash came on stage with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators and burst into You're A Lie which was quite a good opener I think! They went straight into Guns 'N' Roses classic Night Train. The went bonkers, I joined in of course. I'm glad they mixed the setlist up a bit and played two different songs to what was played at the gig I was at Amsterdam a few days before. They'd replaced Standing In The Sun with Halo and Double Talkin' Jive (Which was awesome and a debut performance of this song) with You Could Be Mine. You Could Be Mine just happens to be one of my favourite Guns songs. Good times!
Todd took over the vocals for 2 songs next with Dr. Alibi and You're Crazy. Todd has a really awesome voice as well, so it's nice to hear him singing a couple!
Myles came back on stage and the band went into the song that had been stuck in my head all week, Shadow Life. When I first heard this song I honestly couldn't really get into it however after hearing it live on the Monday night in Holland it had been on repeat all week and is now one of my favourites.
Beneath The Savage Sun next, this song is just insane, I can't even explain it, it's just something else live. It is clearly a crowd favourite, everyone was getting stuck into it. Pretty awesome to witness.
Two Guns N Roses songs followed, Mr. Brownstone and Rocket Queen. The latter especially stuck out for me as Slash play like a 15 minute guitar solo. I just remember watching him and shaking my head like ''Woah he really is amazing'' I've been able to appreciate him more ever since starting to learn guitar myself. I got speaking to a guy standing next to me about 'how amazing' Slash was.
After that incredible solo and the ending of Rocket Queen they played Bent To Fly. It was one of the first songs I heard off the latest album World On Fire and I've loved it from the get go. I think Myles' vocals are outstanding on the record and no word of a lie they are nothing less than that live too. That wasn't just a one off every time I've seen them/him his vocals have been on point.
Title track of the recent album release up next. This makes me smile in particular as when they got to the bridge (I think) of the song, Myles walked over to by us, looked at me and was just singing to me he did so for about 2 lines before moving on. I don't know how I didn't just fan girl there and then to be honest! (hehe!)
Anastasia up next, I can actually play some of this song on guitar so its awesome to see how the master plays it live.
It wouldn't be a slash concert without that one iconic riff that EVERYONE knows now would it? Yep you know which one I'm on about Sweet Child O Mine of course! Slash actually hit the wrong string to begin with, me and the guy I was speaking to about how amazing Slash was looked at each other and laughed. I think it's the high note of this song that buggared my throat up the most at this gig to be fair. Worth it though!
I don't know why but in the last quarter or so of the song I decided to get out the birthday card I'd got together with the Myles Kennedy fan page I run (Myles 'Miraculous' Kennedy). People had sent in messages to Myles, so I was determined to get this project to him. Turns out it was the perfect time to do so as after Sweet Child had finished they started introducing the band. Slash introduced Myles and said it was his birthday so I held up the card which had 'Happy Birthday Myles Messages from your fans enclosed' on the front. He saw it, smiled and nodded. I think he thought it was just a sign to begin with, when I caught his eye again I pointed to the envelope and then pointed at him and said it's for you kind of thing. He immediately ran over to me to take the envelope. He held it against his chest like he was hugging it and said 'Thank you so much'. On of my idols said thank you to me, seriously he does not need to say thank you to me, him and his music helps me on a daily basis it's me that needs to be saying thank you. He put the card at the back of the stage and the band went on to play Slither. I thought the crowd couldn't get even more crazy they proved me wrong. That was the last song of the set. As they were going off stage Myles went to pick up the card, smiled at me again, put his thumbs up and left the stage with the rest of the band.
Of course the band came back on to finish the night with absolute classic Paradise City. 3rd time hearing that song for me, it never gets old. Even before the confetti bursts out, it's just so full of energy. It's something you can never forget.
When they'd finished they threw their guitar pics and drumsticks into the crowd. Frank who I was standing in front the whole gig picked up his setlist looked at me then told the security guard to pass it to the girl a couple of people down from me on barrier then laughed at me. He then disappeared to the other side of the stage and came back with another setlist, this time he told the security guard to pass it to me. I actually couldn't believe it, I never manage to get setlists from big gigs and here I was stood there with Slash's setlist.
The band are just full of energy. They have no problem coming right to the edge of the stage and doing some crowd interaction. Second night in a week of seeing to of my idols, one being my guitar idol the other being one of my main idols. I couldn't quite believe it, surreal gig to say the least!
Until next time folks! Thanks for reading! Recap of Manic Street Preachers Holy Bible gig coming soon!
-Kat
Sounds like it was an awesome night! Great account of the gig! 🎸🎸🎸🎸
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