Show Review: Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts
So, first thing first. I am a fan. I even talked about how big of a deal this show even coming to my town was. When I wrote that, I wasn’t even sure if I would get photo clearance. And although I did cartwheels when the email came through that I could photograph the show – it was also the most terrified I’ve been in a photo pit for a long time. I have witnesses that I was shaking from nerves – I don’t even remember doing that the first time my feet landed behind the stage barricade. (See all the photos here.)
I’ve seen Weiland twice during his Stone Temple Pilots days, and I even snooped at the set list he’d be using for this tour, so I could keep my head on straight in the photo pit.
The night kicked off the blues-y stomp rockers Stocklyn – who owned the stage from the moment they touched it. Next up was The Last Internationale – which I can only describe as if a badass gal fronted MC5.
Then the silence. The drums were revealed to be one’s that Joey Castillo uses with Queens of the Stone Age. That clear drum set with the ‘Q’ on it beside Weiland’s signature megaphone was hard to process.
He kicked off the Wildabouts set with ‘Crackerman’ and he owned it. Weiland’s vocals were solid, clear, and strong. He didn’t talk too much between songs – he remarked how he and his wife were each other’s parachutes as he introduced the song of the same name that was new to our ears, and that Bowie’s ‘Jean Geanie’ shouldn’t require an intro.
It was during new Wildabout songs like ‘White Lightning’ that Weiland seemed to be most connected with the music. However, it was classic songs like STP’s ‘Vasoline’ that garnered the biggest crowd response. ‘Dead & Bloated’ got a speedy remake, that made it sound less like a classic STP song and more like it was a natural part of the Wildabouts song catalog.
This show is about more than Weiland though – the Wildabouts as a unit sound strong. Jeremy Brown’s guitar style has a sense of openness and grit – giving the start/stop rhythms in the new songs something to grab onto. Tommy Black is a stellar bass player – and is really given the opportunity to showcase it as so many of the Wildabout tunes feel bass driven.
Joey Castillo is actually filling in for Dan Thompson for this tour – and he is a beast of drummer. Any band would be lucky to have them in their ranks for any amount of time.
Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts first album together titled ‘Blaster’ will hit stores March 31st.
http://www.scottweiland.com
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