SKID ROW - WOLVERHAMPTON KK'S STEEL MILL, 19 OCTOBER 2022

BY SHARI BLACK VELVET

2022 has been a good one for Skid Row. They’ve released their long-awaited sixth studio album, ‘The Gang’s All Here’, received great support and approval from rock fans upon the announcement of new vocalist Erik Grönwall, played a Las Vegas residency supporting The Scorpions, and now get to tour the UK in all its glory, kicking things off in KK Downing of Judas Priest’s music venue, KK’s Steel Mill.

After UK rockers Collateral and Chicago’s Enuff Z’Nuff warm the crowd up, it’s time for the New Jersey-based five-piece. Opening with the powerful ‘Slave To The Grind’ (and a blast of fireballs into the air), you’re instantly impressed with vocalist Erik Grönwall’s pipes. His voice is quite simply amazing, he makes every Skid Row song his own, every key is on point and he can hit any note, no matter how high. He is almost superhuman, and all while covering every inch of the stage. He really has injected a new lease of life into Skid Row. Their set features mostly songs from their two classic albums, the self-titled ‘Skid Row’, and sophomore release ‘Slave To The Grind’, but they do not sound dated at all. “I can tell this is not your first rock show," Erik comments to the audience before ‘Big Guns’. He’s right about that. While ‘Big Guns’ and ’18 and Life’ are old favourites, they sound as good today as they did 30+ years ago. The crowd sings along to ’18 and Life’ full of fondness, while the band’s passion for punk rock is displayed in tracks such as the vigorous ‘Riot Act’ and a cover of The Ramones' ‘Psycho Therapy’, which bassist Rachel Bolan sings, giving Erik a few minutes to rest his voice. Single and album title track ‘The Gang’s All Here' is fun and fantastic, while ‘In A Darkened Room’ slows the pace down, with Erik’s vocals really soaring over the melodic music.

“You have no idea how great it feels to be here right now,” says Dave ‘Snake’ Sabo. He tells the crowd, humbly, “Without you, there is no Skid Row,” before ‘Monkey Business’ (bolstered by huge crowd claps) dances and prances its way to the end of the set.

The band’s show features quality more than quantity and the 70-minute show wraps up with the classic ballad ‘I Remember You’ (which the audience delights in singing loudly along to), spicy new single ‘Time Bomb’ and the much-loved ‘Youth Gone Wild’. We say ‘Youth Gone Wild’ was much loved, but honestly, the whole set was. The band definitely picked a prize-worthy setlist of songs. Tonight was a huge celebration of the band Skid Row, as well as a toast to the present and future. It’s looking very bright.

This review will appear with different photos in issue 107 of Black Velvet