Review of “Adler’s Appetite”

At “The Pitz”, Milton Keynes,

On Thursday 03/02/05

 By: Gaby

 This was the night that the freaks came out to play and I’m not just talking about the audience!

 This was a well anticipated gig that to be honest was a mixed bag.

 To a large and appreciative audience Adler’s Appetite took to the stage playing a bill complete with the entire contents of the classic “Guns & Roses” album “Appetite for Destruction”. Ambitious to say the least but not an impossible feat considering Steve Adler was one of the original drummers in “Guns” for said album and helped the band to reach the dizzy heights of success.

 I suppose for me it was a piece of rock music nostalgia mixed with a good-time edge.

Nice though it was the gig began less than impressively, with a big build up and a general lack of passion and kick to start proceedings, but after 20 minutes or so a 20% amount of effort had zoomed up to 100% as the guys seemed to have found that all important element of any good gig – energy and enthusiasm.

 This was a gig that in no doubt were we led to forget was Steve Adlers as he led proceedings from behind his drum kit continuously absorbing the audience in mutual appreciation of his fellow rag tag band members from various rock outfits including the infamous Jizzy Pearl from “Love/Hate” as deputy front man offering what I felt to be less than great vocals copying perhaps far too much from the vocal style of Axl Rose than that of his own raspy and unique style.

 The mix on the night was also sadly lacking with vocals almost imperceptibly being drowned out.

 For me a couple of the highlights included the unique and special lead guitar playing of one mesmerizing “skunk haired” chap from “Faster Pussycat” and some awesome bass playing.

 If you went along to this gig seeking out a “Guns & Roses” nostalgia hit alone, then you may have been sadly disappointed, however if you went along to see a group of fine and accomplished musicians having a blast and kicking out some great “Guns” tracks along with a few covers and a few of their own tunes as a mega jam session amongst friends then you would have found a small slice of rock heaven in the suburbs.

 It’s funny how the ole rock n roll world goes. Having seen Slash from “Guns” fame in “Velvet Revolver” only a couple of weeks ago attracting a much larger crowd in a much more prestigious venue – the London Hammersmith Apollo pumping out tracks from their world wide acclaimed album “Contraband” and here I was now checking out Steve Adler from same “Guns” band pumping out all the old familiar “Guns” hits such as “Sweet Child of Mine”, “Paradise City” , “Welcome to the Jungle” etc..whilst trying to sell a few albums of their own original material in a venue he himself described as a “Gymnasium” in front of a few hundred people at most!

 I’m not sure there is a moral to that story, but you will have to make up your own minds to that one.

 One thing is certain to me that the queue to the bar is proportional to how good the band on stage is and the queue to the bar for Steve Adler’s band was certainly a very short one! 

If down and dirty back to basics rock n roll is your bag then you could do far worse than check out Adler’s Appetite rocking out in a sports hall near you.