Duff McKagans Loaded, The Academy

Posted on October 12, 2009 by Paul Groome

Curiosity dragged me along to Loaded in The Academy last Thursday. I was apprehensive in wondering how much charisma and stage presence can the bass player from Guns N’ Roses and Velvet Revolver really have. I mean, Duff was always cool, but in that pensive bass player sort of way. He had his work cut out to convince me, although I’m sure that concept didn’t worry him too much.
 

The Evil Knievals were the openers and did a fine job. Sounding a little like Therapy? at times, but with enough of their own attitude and influence to make a difference, they won the growing crowd over. A set that lasted a little over a half an hour, threw enough of a taste to the audience to get them interested. Finishing with one final tune, the frontman/guitarist and bass player swap vocal duties and force the set to a conclusion.

The bass player deserves a mention though. For that final three minute punkrock ensemble, he roared the words from the base of the spine. A cross between playing a song and exorcising demons, I’m quite sure this man was the most panned out bastard in the whole city when he was finished.

As the lights dimmed, Beyonces All The Single Ladies increased in volume on the P.A. Caught a little bit unawares, a handlebar mustached roadie appeared onto the stage and announced “Duff McKagans’ Loaded!”. I thought this was a comment on his sobriety and an explanation for the opening music, rather than the name of the band.

Bounding onto the stage sporting fashionably skinny ladies jeans and some rock musician shades, he was just missing a glittery ‘Pornstar‘ t-shirt to complete the setup. The crowd cheered in appreciation as they started into Sick. Quickly followed with Sleaze Factory, Executioners Song and Dark Days, they stuck with Loaded songs with the exception of two Guns ‘n’ Roses songs. It was freshing to see Duff use these songs as a ‘nod to his past’ rather than using more of them to fill a setlist. So Fine from Use Your Illusion II and It’s So Easy from Appetite For Destruction were welcome additions with the audience.

Duff had a very personable way of addressing the crowd which immediately drew the crowd and band together. He had a lot more control of his audience than I would have anticipated.

Being honest, I never really gave Duff much credit. Guns N’ Roses punk attitude always appeared to be derived from Slash, when in fact Slash was schooled on the LA glam-rock scene. Axl also came from this lineage. Duff is the one member who genuinely cut his teeth on the punk scene in Washington and subsequently brought that punk-rock element to the Appetite years of Guns N’ Roses. The Loaded set on Thursday evening reinforced that point. Go on Duff, ya mad thing!

Duff McKagan’s Loaded

Duff McKagan’s Loaded Myspace

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Tags: All The Single Ladies, Beyonces, Duff McKagan, Eval Knieval, Guns N Roses, loaded, The Academy, therapy?, velvet revolver