Concert Review: Skid Row & Black Star Riders LIVE @ The Canyon Club 5/15/2014

80's hair metal meets classic hard rock as Skid Row and Black Star Riders (formerly the Thin Lizzy touring band) rocked The Canyon Club in Agoura Hills, CA.

If this was a band for band competition then the crown would definitely go to the Black Star Riders.  Led by rock icon and former Thin Lizzy guitarist Scott Gorham the band powered through a 15 song set that included 8 Thin Lizzy classics and 7 songs from the BSS debut album "All Hell Breaks Loose." The rest of the band includes Damon Johnson on guitar, Marco Mendoza on bass, Jimmy DeGrasso on drums and the amazing Ricky Warwick on lead vocals and rhythm guitar.  

Black Star Riders were incredible live and played to the enthusiastic club crowd as if they were a packed arena. Warwick's vocal style is perfectly suited to the Thin Lizzy tunes and at times he sounded exactly like the late Phil Lynott. For me the night began and ended with Black Star Riders because the headliners just couldn't match the sheer power and musicianship of this great band.

Time has not been kind to the band Skid Row.  After parting ways in 1996 with original lead vocalist Sebastian Bach the band has never even come close to achieving what they had with Bach.  While other bands of the day like Motley Crue and Bon Jovi have successfully soldier on Skid Row has gone through countless personnel changes.  

The current incarnation includes original members Dave "The Snake" Sabo, Scotti Hill and Rachel Bolan plus new recruits drummer Rob Hammersmith and lead vocalist Johnny Solinger.  Solinger is new match for the charismatic Bach.  His singing is well below par and his charisma as a frontman is also sorely lacking.  The band plowed through a 15 song set list and not surprisingly 90% of those songs were from the bands 1st 2 albums with Bach.  f you're were looking for a resurgence from Skid Row it was not to be found that night.

As always The Canyon Club is a great place to see bands reliving their glory years as well as new up and coming acts.  The sight lines are perfect and there is not a bad seat in the house. 

Drumroll please...

Black Star Riders... 10 out of 10 drumsticks!!!

Skid Row...  3 out of 10 drumsticks!!!


- Black Star Riders Set List -

1. All Hell Breaks Loose 


2. Are You Ready (Thin Lizzy cover) 


3. Bloodshot 


4. Bad Reputation (Thin Lizzy cover) 


5. Hoodoo Voodoo 
6. Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy cover) 


7. Kingdom of the Lost 


8. Whiskey in the Jar (Thin Lizzy cover) 


9. Hey Judas 


10. Massacre (Thin Lizzy cover) 


11. Valley of the Stones 


12. Emerald (Thin Lizzy cover) 


13. Bound for Glory 

14. Cowboy Song (Thin Lizzy cover) 

15. The Boys Are Back in Town (Thin Lizzy cover)

- Skid Row Set List -

1. Let's Go 


2. Big Guns 


3. Makin' a Mess 


4. Piece of Me 


5. 18 and Life 


6. Thick Is the Skin 


7. In a Darkened Room 


8. Kings of Demolition 


9. Psycho Therapy 
(Ramones cover)

10. I Remember You 


11. Riot Act 


12. Monkey Business 


13. Get the Fuck Out 


14. Slave to the Grind 


15. Youth Gone Wild