SLASH – Live, Made In Stoke [2CD] (2011)

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SLASH, one of the more instantly recognizable contemporary hard rock guitarists, is releasing his first ever live solo album ‘Made In Stoke 24/7/11’.
In fact, this is his 2nd ‘real solo’ album, as he has played and recorded continuously but always under different band monikers.

On Slash’s 2010 self-titled release, the guitarist worked with some of rock’s greatest singers – Ozzy, Lemmy, Chris Cornell and Iggy Pop, among others.
When it came time to tour, those vocalists obviously had other commitments, so the guitarist recruited Alter Bridge singer Myles Kennedy, as well as bassist Todd Kerns and drummer Brent Fitz, to travel around the world with him. He wasn’t looking for this to be a long-term band, but the chemistry was undeniable.
That cohesion is on display on “Made In Stoke 24/7/11”, a live chronicle of the guitarist’s return to UK Stoke-On-Trent, the town where he was raised until the age of five.

The set list featured at this Stoke-on-Trent performance is a 21-song-long marathon spanning basically every band, side project and solo album Slash has put out so far.
For instance, the opening track “Been There Lately” is from Ain’t Life Grand, a Slash’s Snakepit album (one of his side projects during the time before Guns n’ Roses disbanded).
The concert then rolls into “Night Train” a classic Guns n’ Roses song in which the Stoke-on-Trent audience takes great pleasure in singing aloud.
“Ghost” then comes, the first song in the set list that is off of Slash’s new record. His style of songwriting fits with his classics, but still has a very fresh sound to it. Along with Myles Kennedy’s agile vocals, many of the songs featured in this performance are highlights of the night, especially “Back From Cali”, a single from Slash’s solo record.
A last minute edition to the solo LP, the song actually ended up being one of the singles and is the first song on the album to feature Myles Kennedy as a collaboration. “Back From Cali” is one of the best songs Slash has written, but its bluesy intro and explosive chorus make it something set apart from the classic Guns ‘N Roses and Velvet Revolver hits. There is a maturity to “Back From Cali”, and Kennedy’s singing is superb.

The concert continues with many Guns hits such as “Rocket Queen”, “Civil War”, “Patience”, “Sweet Child O’ Mine”, “Mr. Brownstone”, where the band and specially Myles Kennedy does a great job revitalizing these classics.
Slash’s guitar playing is inspired throughout the performance, especially on “Grandfather Solo” where Slash performs a medley of riffs and leads before launching into the signature opening of the classic “Sweet Child O’ Mine”.
“Sliver” then follows, a favorite amongst Velvet Revolver fans. Kennedy valiantly tries to mirror Scott Weiland’s lengthier tone but ends up sounding like Myles Kennedy singing a Revolver tune. Nevertheless, the song is a landmark in Slash’s career.
Talking about classics, “Paradise City” then closes out the night in a killer version, a fitting end to a performance that had a lot of different allusions to the past, the present and the future.

Slash has done so much in his career and the performance in “Made In Stoke” shows it. It’s a very, very professional played and performed show. The musicianship is phenomenal, the set list is well-thought out and there is no doubt that fans of Slash’s playing will enjoy this live album immensely.
Particularly G ‘N R fans, as this is the closest to how the legendary band should sound today, hot and rockin’, but extremely ‘pro’ (Axl take note).
General rock listeners have a lot to enjoy in this album as well, as it is a means to discover a lot of Slash’s lesser known material and at the same time experience his signature brand of trademark axe shredding.
Released as double-disc CD and a special-edition 2CD+DVD package, “Made In Stoke” really Rocks.
Recommended.

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