Aug 65 min read

SLASH AT THE LEADER BANK PAVILION

Updated: Aug 7

Photos by Joanna Gleason

Review by Jean Senat Fleury

On August 1, 2024, Saul Hudson, known professionally asSlash, the British-American musician and lead guitarist of the hard rock band Guns N’ Roses, brought his S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival to the Neighborhood Seaport District/ South Boston Waterfront, in Massachusetts.

The Leader Bank Pavilion, located at 290 Northern Ave, one of the Boston largest Music venues, with its graceful sail-like tent and stunning skyline backdrop, has welcomed around 3,000 fans who came to watch the live show performance called S.E.R.P.EN.T., an anagram that stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality, N’ Tolerance.

Slash, the iconic Grammy-Winning guitarist and songwriter,after releasing three months ago “Orgy of the Damned”, his sixth solo album, in support of the album and in celebration of the blues, hit the road with a group of all-stars blues artists including Robert Randolph, ZZ Ward and Kevin Roosevelt Moore, known as Keb ‘Mo’.

Phenomenal! Phenomenal! Phenomenal! There are the three words to describe Slash’s live show performance in Boston.

It was 6:30 p.m. when the first group arrived on stage. Robert Randolph, the leader of the Family Band, as opener, was terrific. Known for his style of music, a mix of different genres: R&B, sacred steel, funk, soul, jam, gospel, country, rock, blues, Randolph once again, at the Leader Bank Pavilion in Boston, draws comparisons to the style of Ralph Mooney, the greatest steel guitar player in history.

His innovative approach to the pedal steel guitar helped him win four Grammy nominations, multiple Blues Music Awards and a BMI Award. His work can be heard on numerous TV and film broadcasts, including his long-standing theme song for the New York Knicks “Get There,” and “Ain’t Nothing Wrong WithThat,” the current theme song for NFL Thursday Night Football.

Playing alongside of a group of talented artists including Marcus Randolph, Lenesha Randolph, and Brett Haas, Robert Randolph played different songs such as I Need More Love, Outside Woman Blues, Foxy Lady (The Jimi Hendrix Experience cover), Power of Love, etc.

Robert Randolph Concert Setlists at the Leader Bank Pavilion, August 1, 2024

• I Need More Love

• Outside Woman Blues

• Foxy Lady

• Power of Love

• Aint’ Nothing Wrong With That

• Instrumental Jam

The second opener was ZZ Ward. Zsuzsanna Eva Ward knownprofessionally as ZZ Ward enjoyed the audience by playing many songs from different albums released by the group such as Criminal released on May 6, 2012, Til the Casket Dropsreleased on October 16, 2012, followed by 365 Days. Put the Gun Down, her first single that broke into the top 10 on the AAA radio chart on February 3, 2013, and also broke into the top 40 on the Billboard Alternative chart, on March 2, 2017.

ZZ Ward Concert Setlists at the Leader Bank Pavilion, August 1, 2024

• My Baby Left Me (Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup cover)

• Dust my Broom (Elmore James cover)

• Mother

• Cannonball

• Ride

• Lil’ Darlin

• Grinning in Your Face (Son House cover)

• Put the Gun Down

• Cadillac Man (The Jesters cover)

8:15 p.m. It was with great excitement that the public welcomed the third opener on stage, Kevin Roosevelt Moore. Known as Keb ‘Mo’, an American blues musician, singer, guitarist and songwriter, Moore has been described a Living Link to the seminal Delta blues that traveled up to the Mississippi River and across the expanse of America. His past modern Blues Style is influenced by many genres, including folk, soul, jazz, pop and country. In 1996 and 1998, he won the Best Contemporary Blues Album Award of the year with Just like You and Slow Down. After being nominated many times, in 2004, he won again the Best Contemporary Blues Album with the relapse of Keep It Simple. Three time Grammy winner for Contemporary Blues Album and a Grammy nominated for Country Song of the Year for ‘ I Hope’ a co-write with the Dixie Chicks that appears on their latest album, Keb ‘Mo’ is always considered as the great appreciation for the blues and gospel music.

Keb ‘Mo’ Concert Setlists at the Leader Bank Pavilion, August 1, 2024

• Somebody Hurt You

• Government Cheese

• Everything I Need

• Suitcase

• Am I Wrong

• Standin’ at the Station

• The Worst Is Yet to Come

• Perpetual Blues Machine

• I Remember You

It was around 9:15 p.m. when Slash and his band entered the stage. The iconic Grammy-winning and songwriter performed different songs from his blues album “Orgy Damned”, a collection of 12 dynamic songs that shakes up and revitalizes blues classics with a stripped-down, instinctive approach, creating a singular expression that pays homage to the blues.

From the opening riffs of the Bukka White cover “ParchmanFarm Blues,” to the never-ending groove of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor” — the latter of which was covered flawlessly on the new disc by AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson, with Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler chipping in on harmonica — Slash enjoyed the crowd with a healthy dose of Blues from the Deep South of the United States.

The music was rich and varied: A mix of blues, neo-soul, hip-hop, pop, and rock. On stage, Slash performed alongside his band featuring bassist Johnny Griparic, Keyboardist Teddy “Zigzag” Andreadis, drummer Michael Jerome, and singer/guitarist Tash Neal.

“The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. tour is a celebration of blues and rock ‘n’ roll music, and a celebration of unity and togetherness in these uncertain and divisive times,” Slash said in a press release.

“S.E.R.P.E.N.T is a vehicle to help support and uplift people and communities suffering from the injustices of racism and equal rights violations, as well as to support children adversely affected by war and poverty across the world. So, we are contributing a portion of every ticket and VIP package sold from the tour to those ends. S.E.R.P.E.N.T. will also provide an environment where folks can get together for a day of great music and hang out and have a good time.”

Slash who had achieved worldwide success and has received critical acclaim shown once again in Massachusetts why he is considered one of the greatest guitarists in history. The top hat-wearing guitar hero, known primarily for his heavy metal styles with Gun ‘N Roses as well as his recent run with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators, is phenomenal. His S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival Tour in Boston is a success.

Slash Concert Setlists at the Leader Bank Pavilion, August 1, 2024

• Parchman Farm Blues (Bukka White cover)

• Killing Floor (Howlin’ Wolf cover)

• Oh Well (Fleetwood Mac cover) with wheeling solo

• Big Legged Woman (Freddie King cover)

• Awful Dream (Lightnin’ Hopkins cover)

• Papa Was a Rolling Stone (The Temptations cover)

• Stormy Monday (T‐Bone Walker cover)

• The Pusher (Hoyt Axton cover)

• Born Under a Bad Sign (Booker T. & the MG’s cover, with Mo Krebs)

• Metal Chestnut

• Cross Road Blues (Robert Johnson cover)