Black Star Riders
(w/ Gunpowder Gray & Grayson Manor)
June 8, 2014
Atlanta, GA
The Masquerade (Heaven)
I’ve been a huge Thin Lizzy fan since I was a teenager. Discovering them long after they were gone, Thin Lizzy was a band that even in my mid-teens 25 years ago had already achieved the status of legend. After the passing of their leader and songwriter Phil Lynott, Thin Lizzy folded leaving behind a legacy of music only to resurface in 2009 with classic Lizzy members Scott Gorham (guitar), Brian Downey (drums), and keyboardist Darren Wharton. Gorham recruited ex Almighty vocalist/guitarist Ricky Warwick and had a successful run of festivals and headlining shows. The band had a new found chemistry and started to grow into way more than just a Thin Lizzy tribute. When Downey and Wharton exited the band, Gorham and Co. wisely decided that they needed their own identity and the Black Star Riders was born. Black Star Riders FINALLY made their way to Atlanta and I was literally ticking off the days on my calendar like a kid waiting for Christmas.
Black Star Riders didn’t have any support acts in tow so two local acts were recruited for the warm up slot. This was something that made me roll my eyes because in all honesty, I’m not a fan of A LOT of the bands from this town but as always, I’m always willing to give bands a honest listen. The first band Gunpowder Gray was a band that I had heard before but I was kind of on the fence about them. The minute they took the stage and kicked into their first song I was sold. These guys were fucking blowing me the fuck away with their old school southern brand of sleaze rock that seemed to be a great match as a support act. Gunpowder Gray pulls from some of my favorite bands such as Tora Tora, Faster Pussycat, and Rhino Bucket with a singer who totally reminds me of Brad Sinsell from TKO/War Babies. The band’s 30 minute set was enough to seal the deal for me and pique my interest. They played with a lot of fire, conviction and they did it all the while without looking like they were trying too hard or being fake and contrived. It’s obvious that Gunpowder Gray is the real deal and that they’re a band that truly loves the music that they play. They play that good ol’ hard rock that I loved growing up (and still love) and they play it honestly. It’s nice to finally find another local band that I can be excited about. I will definitely be keeping my eye out for these guys.
So if Gunpowder Gray pulled from some of my favorite old school bands to mold their sound, the polar opposite can be said about the 2nd band on the bill Grayson Manor. These guys pull from the absolute worst of the worst of the genre such as Warrant, Firehouse, and maybe even Tuff. Yeah, they’re THAT fucking bad. If you read this blog, you’ve probably already read my review of this band’s hilarious EP and let me tell you this. Seeing them live didn’t do anything but solidify what a joke this band is as they took to the stage looking like three prep school rich kids with someone’s uncle on the drums. The songs were so corny and at one point they even launched into a ballad that had me wishing I had a lighter… or maybe a Molotov cocktail. The singer with his bandanna on his arm and his Vision Street Wear (yes, I said Vision Street Wear) shirt had me laughing as he “tried” to work the crowd. Grayson Manor actually had me wondering if they were for real. It was like watching a Steal Panther only unintentionally hysterical. Grayson Manor obviously has spent a lot of time studying old Headbangers Ball videos to cop their stage moves. You know, moves such as “Make Some Noise”, the “Arm behind the back while headbanging” move and the ever so legendary “arm around the guitarists neck while singing into the mic together” move. It’s too bad they don’t spend as much time writing good songs. I have no idea who they screwed to get this gig but they had no place on a bill like this.
Black Star Riders have been out on the road relentlessly since the release of 2013’s debut album All Hell Breaks Loose. They made their way to Atlanta FINALLY and I just couldn’t wait to take this show in. The anticipation, the excitement, and the thrill of finally getting to see not just this amazing band that would be playing Thin Lizzy classics but a new band that has boasted one of my favorite albums of the decade. It was all I could do to contain my excitement as the band took the stage and slammed right into “All Hell Breaks Loose” from the album of the same title. Right away the excitement, the energy, all started to come to a boil and then the lid was blown clear the fuck off as the band launched into the Lizzy classic “Are You Ready?” At this point the crowd was losing their minds, pumping their fists and singing every word as lead singer/guitarist Ricky Warwick commanded the stage like he’s been doing it for 40 years.
Warwick really knows how to run a show and even though Scott Gorham is pretty much the legend of the band, he seemed more than content to deliver his signature harmony solos alongside former Brother Cane leader Damon Johnson. The energy of the band was absolutely off the charts and I could tell just by watching them that they truly love the songs that they play. So much so that I don’t think you could kick the smile off of drummer Jimmy DeGrasso’s face. With every passing song the band just seemed to constantly be playing at 110% with Warwick having the crowd clapping, singing, and giving a little back to the band that was giving us so much.
The set list was sprinkled with Thin Lizzy classics such as “Bad Reputation”, “Jailbreak”, and Don’t Believe a Word” but in all honest it was the Black Star Riders material that I found to truly set the foundation of the night and really blow me away. The fact that they played 9 of the 11 songs from the album showed that this was a band that was standing strong beside their new material and refusing to merely coast along as a “tribute” or “cover” band. The Black Star Riders’ material stood solid on its own legs besides these monstrous Lizzy classics. “Kissin’ the Ground” was absolutely stellar but the highlight for me was “Kingdom of the Lost” and “Hey Judas.” These two songs are every bit as good as any of the Thin Lizzy classics that sandwiched them in the set list and judging from the response of the crowd, I’d say it’s safe to say that they all would agree. Those two particular songs embody that original Thin Lizzy spirit while showing just how influential of a writer Lynott has been spanning generations. Hearing them live was a true gift.
The band closed out the night with a rousing version of the classic “The Boys are Back in Town” which had everyone singing at the tops of their lungs and as I surveyed the crowd there were nothing but smiles in this crowd. Even though the place was a little less than half full, the band played as if they were playing to 30,000 people delivering a performance that made me feel lucky to be witnessing. This is how a band should always perform. Black Star Riders played like it was their last day on planet earth and when they returned to the stage with “Cowboy Song” and “Rosalie” I was smiling so fucking huge that guitarist Damon Johnson came over to me and point me out and giving me back and even bigger smile. Hell, I was smiling so much my fucking face hurt.
If Black Star Riders had anything to prove at all they proved it last night. They proved that they are so much more than just a Thin Lizzy cover/tribute. They are not comfortable just riding the wave of nostalgia and in turn have proved that they are more than capable of putting out some high quality rock n’ roll that is full of integrity, heart, and lots of love. The spirit of Thin Lizzy is very much alive and well but Black Star Riders are very much alive and well themselves. I went to this show a huge Thin Lizzy fan and I walked out of that show an even bigger Black Star Riders fan. My wife asked me this morning, “How was the show last night” and a huge smile just took over my face. She just smiled and said, “That good huh?” Yeah, it was that good.
Thin Lizzy Setlist
All Hell Breaks Loose, Are You Ready, Bloodshot, Bad Reputation, Before the War, Jailbreak, Hoodoo Voodoo, Don’t Believe a Word, Kingdom of the Lost, Hey Judas, Southbound, Kissin’ the Ground, Valley of the Stones, Emerald, Bound for Glory, Cowboy Song, The Boys are Back in Town
Encore: Whiskey in the Jar, Rosalie
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