25 April 2014 (gig)
26 April 2014
Skid Row and Ugly Kid Joe brought their co-headline act to Australia, performing at the iconic Palace Theatre in Melbourne on ANZAC Day to a packed house.
Ugly Kid Joe opened with ‘Neighbour’ and were on fire to the very end. It’s hard to believe it’s been 20 years since they toured Australia, considering their solid fan base here. Ugly Kid Joe formed in 1990 and disbanded seven years later, with record sales exceeding 5 million worldwide in that time. The band reformed in 2012 and have continued to gain momentum and for those of us who weren’t ready to let them go, it was a welcomed surprise to have them back on the scene.
Whifield Crane is magnetic and as intoxicating as he was two decades ago. Incredibly his vocals continued to hold up regardless of his antics on stage. Crane made it a point to include the audience and asked the crowd to join him with the long-awaited ‘Cats in the Cradle’. The Melbourne crowd willingly obliged, making for a memorable a moment.
Paying homage to Malcolm Young and AC/DC alike, Crane performed ‘If You Want Blood (You Got It).’ Ugly Kid Joe continued to whip the crowd into frenzy with their closing number, ‘Everything About You’, which continues to receive airplay around the world. Here’s hoping Ugly Kid Joe are back in business for the long haul as they have been missed.
Skid Row took to the stage in the second half, and were lead by founding members Rachel Bolan, Snake Sabo, Scotti Hill, new drummer Rob Hammersmith along with vocalist and fourteen year veteran, Johnny Solinger. As a die hard Sebastian Bach fan, I wasn’t sure what to expect but Solinger soon laid my fears to rest and demonstrated why he has sustained longevity.
Playing on ANZAC Day, Solinger thoughtfully let the audience know he knew what the acronym meant. It was a respectful gesture and well appreciated by the audience. Skid Row delivered an array of iconic hits including “Youth Gone Wild', 'Monkey Business', and 'Slave To The Grind'. Highlights for me were '18 & Life' and 'I Remember You'. These two songs in particular hold a special place for me as they take me back to my teenage years and a time when heavy metal reigned.
The show closed with Solinger inviting Ugly Kid Joe and support act Dead City Ruins on stage to perform AC/DC’s ‘Highway to Hell’. The stage resembled a party scene, which was fitting for the last gig at the Palace Theatre.
Overall an exhilarating night with electrifying energy and one I wont forget anytime soon.
