Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts - A Rock legend impresses in London!!!

September 3rd 2015

London, Garage, UK

****

Delayed show is well worth the wait!!!

Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts **** is the new project from Scott Weiland (Stone temple Pilots / Velvet Revolver), and I think it's the best one he has done in a long time. I have been looking forward to this show for quite a long time, since it was postponed because of the tragic death of the bands guitarist Jeremy Brown who died at the young age of thirty four. Their is quite some anticipation for tonight's show, and this is even more brought on by the fact the band have only rescheduled the London show and not any of the others on the tour.

The great thing about this new project, it's almost like a solo show. The band play songs from Scott Weiland's other bands Stone temple Pilots and Velvet Revolver as well as their own. Giving the fans exactly what they want, which makes a hell of a lot of happy faces all round the audience. Opening up with one of the Stone temple Pilots key songs off one of their definitive albums 'Core', you know that this evening is going to be a really good one that was well worth the wait.

I have no problem with Stone temple Pilots new singer Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), but it's so much better to hear these songs coming out of the mouth of the person that originally sung them. Making this even more special for me, I loved listening to Stone temple Pilots when I was a kid and the 'Core' album was often blasting out of my speakers. So I find it really amusing that Scott Weiland's new album with the Wildabouts is called 'Blaster'. It makes sense to me, and with tracks like 'Modzilla' I can see why so many people love it.

When they play 'Modzilla' at this London show, the crowd goes crazy showing this love for the new album, and the way that they play it is electrifying in this hot and sweaty venue. 'Amethyst' off the same album continues on with strength, with Scott wielding his megaphone around like it's his best friend. Singing in his distinctive way into it, before the place erupts for 'Meatplow' a very well known Stone temple Pilots song. This song has a dark edge to it and shows off that Stone temple Pilots, were one of the most important Rock / Grunge bands of the 90's.

'Youth Quake' starts off with a drum roll and guitar chords that echo out in style. 'Blaster' is such a strong album and all the tracks off it, really stand out on their own. This is a great lively track, that get's people bobbing their heads and stamping their feet. 'Way she Moves' has a real groove to it, and shows why when they give the fans at the Garage something a little special later on. That they know how to groove and move around the stage, the something special is a really long cover version of 'The Jean Genie' by David Bowie. Scott moves round the stage like Bowie did in his Ziggy Stardust period. Ok this goes on a little too long but it is still really good.

'Big bang Baby' is one of the best and most popular Stone temple Pilots songs in the bands set, you are almost taken into 1996 again. The Rock 'n' Roll vibe is killer, and Scott's onstage antics are so good that you just can't take your eyes off him. 'Hotel Rio, Parachute' and 'White Lightning' from the new album all raise the bar high, but the Stone temple Pilots songs are so good that your just so happy to see them. 'Vasoline' is one of these songs off the brilliant album 'Purple', this was the first time I started to really love Scott Weiland and the guys and was an album that for a long period of time was not off my hi-fi. I can understand why the crowd go so crazy for these songs, they set a period of time perfect.

Ending the main set by going back to the 'Core' album for the brilliant 'Dead and Bloated', you know that Scott is a Rockstar that will let nothing stop him. They come back to the stage in a boyband sitting on stoles moments for a fantastic version of the song 'Circles', this is just so good and sets a great atmosphere for the last few numbers. One of these and one best moments in the encore is when they add a Velvet Revolver song, no it's not 'Slither' it's 'Do it for the Kids' and it sounds better than it ever has done before. More Rock 'n' Roll / Blues orientated and better than ever.

They of course end the set on another Stone temple Pilots song from the album 'Purple', the song that no Rock fan will ever forget 'Unglued' and you realise you don't want this evening to end, and the fact that Scott Weiland is a true Rockstar who really showed it tonight. Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts put on a great show, and I think next time they play it will be hard to get a ticket because this will be the hottest ticket in town.