Black Star Riders live at O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire
Words by Pav Salgado, Photos by Jeff Moh
The stage is set and here it comes … the Black Star Riders are in town. The crowd has been building up an appetite for classic growly rock n’ roll all night and here we have Mr. Ricky Warwick and Co. delivering just that, and now with the help on Sam Wood on lead guitar the band sounds immense. The pairing of two Les Pauls and loads of Marshall amps cannot go wrong, add the quality licks and solos of Wood and we are onto a very healthy and refreshed band.
Opening with Pay Dirt from their latest album we get a sense of evolution and also a very familiar scent, setting up the rest of the night with loud and rewarding RnR. They deliver consistently as a foursome but we also know that the fifth member is somewhere backstage waiting to pounce. And that’s what Scott Gorham brings to the party, joining the band for All Hell Breaks Loose, indeed it does.
The audience swallows every bit of the performance and with the extra guitar the levels rise as they should. Gorham leads are spot on and they blend perfectly with Wood’s parts, dual harmonies and so on… we love it.
We even have time for impromptu jams with Phil Campbell and Michael Monroe, but as the gig comes to an end is their rendition of Jailbreak that send us into RnR heaven. A great night have by all, audience and band. What a show, what a band. Check out their latest release Wrong Side of Paradise and judge for yourself, rock n roll lives!
Set list
Pay Dirt
Another State of Grace
Better Than Saturday Night
When the Night Comes In
Riding Out the Storm
Wrong Side of Paradise
Crazy Horses (The Osmonds cover)
All Hell Breaks Loose
Bloodshot
Soldierstown
Don't Believe a Word (Thin Lizzy cover with Phil Campbell)
Blindsided
The Killer Instinct
Before the War
Testify or Say Goodbye
Tonight the Moonlight Let Me Down (with Michael Monroe)
Kingdom of the Lost
Bound for Glory
Jailbreak (Thin Lizzy cover)
Finest Hour