The Rocklogue Review: Velvet Revolver

The Rocklogue is a series of concert reviews written in the style of a travelogue. This will be an overall experience as well as a review of the concert in question.

Destination: Boston; Avalon Night club

Travel Date: May 16

Concert: Velvet Revolver

When the rock gods play, you listen. Nothing could be truer for the band Velvet Revolver. A supergroup formed from the ashes of Stone Temple Pilots and the long defunct Guns and Roses during an impromptu jam session in 2002, Velvet Revolver soon gained momentum that shot all the stars back into the limelight of the rock scene.

In 2004 they released their first album, Contraband, to rave reviews and strong sales. The band is out of the studio and on the streets with the release of their latest album, Libertad.

The day was dark and blustery for May. Strong winds and heavy rains plagued the area. From Boston to Providence weather reports warned of tornados that might hit the streets. Those undeterred by the weather made their way to Boston. Velvet Revolver was playing and no one would be denied their glimpse of the guitar master Slash and the always entertaining and volatile Scott Weiland.

Conditions for driving were harsh, the rain beat against the windshield of my car so much that the highway traffic slowed to a crawl. Like the rest of the fans that showed, I saw no reason to stop. Though the way was filled with potential danger I would soon hit my destination just south of Boston: Quincy. From there it is a quick ride on the MBTA trains into the heart of the city. I knew that no bodily harm would come to me from the train ride - the only thing that could happen would be a long delay for my train.

I had to take my chances. I harbored a long regret for never seeing Stone Temple Pilots live while they were still together and I knew this was my best chance.

I won't bore you with the details of my ride, it went just as planned after all. I can only say that I am always pleased with the Boston trains as they are some of the easiest in the world to figure out.

After an hour of travel I reached my destination: Avalon. In the shadow of the great Fenway Park Lansdowne Street holds some of the finest entertainment clubs the city has to offer. It is even right next door to the Axis, where just a few years earlier I had the pleasure of seeing the raucous Distillers play. I hold no hope for any of the contemporary so-called punk bands, but The Distillers always ring true. Filled with posers and true believers alike the show was a loud fantastic tribute to not caring and doing what you want. Take that .

Avalon itself is a concert-goers dream. The floor is flat and wide open right in front of the stage and flanked on each side by steps that rise up to the venue's bars. From the top of the steps I took my place. Even though I was late I was granted (by the grace of the Rock Gods) a spot close to the front and had an excellent view of the stage. The opening band was finishing and while they may not have done much to separate themselves from the rest of the rock pack they rocked the club to a rousing cover of The Dream Police.

If the crowd knew of the wait ahead of them they would have kept the last band fresh in their minds to pass the time.

We waited nearly a full hour for Velvet Revolver to come on. While the band setup the stage the venue played music over the speakers. Fan favorites from the grunge era of the 90's kept people entertained, but only for so long. As one song died they took up the chant for the band only to be disappointed by the start of another recorded song.

The irritation was palpable in the crowd. People wanted what they paid for and they wanted it more than half an hour ago. When the crowd's frustration hit its peak we were all rewarded for waiting. The band came out and blasted the roof of the joint.

Velvet Revolver hit "Loving the Alien" hard and fast making it sound totally unlike the album version and finishing it in about half the time.

After that we had a full hour to love everything the band played. With favorites like "Set Me Free" and "Fall to Pieces" the crowd pumped their fists in the air, cheered for the players on the rock altar and worshiped the band for every note they played.

The venue's sound was spectacular: while being loud there was no distortion, the middle notes of songs were even and the high notes of "Fall to Pieces" rose clearly to the ceiling without a crackle or a hiss.

The band let out some new songs, "She Builds Quick Machines", the first single off the album, and "Out the Door" which is about Hollywood transvestites. The crowd loved them all. They were high energy and easy to get into. Even when they slowed the pace down for another new song called "The Last Fight."

Scott, in a long speech about the birth of the song, attributed it to the loss of his brother and the ongoing struggle in Iraq and in the country. Regardless of the band's views the fans loved the song.

Of course, at the end, the band pulled a double encore. They came out and blasted out the Guns and Roses song "Used to Love Her" and let Slash perform a two-minute guitar solo that bled perfectly into the opening notes of Pink Floyd's "Wish you Were Here."

The show ended with the last notes of the Velvet Revolver set ringing in the walls of Avalon. Back to the streets I went, passing by eager local rock radio interns shoving stickers into the hands of everyone leaving the club. I had another hour long train and car ride back home and that was more than enough time to soak in the experience of seeing one of my favorite vocalists only 20 feet away from me and having my ears partially deaf from one of the single best guitarists alive.