May 26, 2004 - New York, NY - Roseland Ballroom

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General Information

Date: May 26, 2004
Location: New York, NY
Venue: Roseland Ballroom; 239 West 52nd Street; New York, NY 10019 [ Venue website ]
Box Office Number: (212) 777-6800
Additional Info: Special Guest: Living Things

Set List

• Sucker Train Blues
• Do It for the Kids
• Headspace
• Crackerman
• Illegal I
• It's So Easy
• Fall To Pieces
• Big Machine
• Set Me Free
• Used to Love Her
• Slither
• Sex Type Thing
• Mr. Brownstone
• Negative Creep

Reviews (22) [ send in your own review/pictures of the New York show ]

Thanks to Yoko: The Big Ole Rotten Apple - The sweetest fruit-city there ever was. We pulled in on Saturday morning after an overnight drive from Toronto, and there we were, in the Capitol of the Rock-n-Roll World. The weekend was foot-loose and gig-free, with time to rest up and party down (town). Monday morning came early with a little Howard Stern Show action. Howie was his usual self, but seemed to really enjoy the company of his long-time friends (V.R.). Tuesday we did Letterman, and that was really cool. No, seriously, I mean it was REALLY cool. Like 57 degrees Fahrenheit. Despite the bitter chill of CBS Studios, the show was a 'rockin. Slither sans intro was the tune of the day, and the Bug Expert Guy in the dressing room next door was diggin' it. Wednesday night the Roseland Ballroom was on fire. The crowd was intense and the band was spot-on. Lots of friends and family as well as industry folk were in attendance to witness the first live VR performance in NYC.

Thanks to Mikey: The most kick ass thing ever. It was the most amazing moment to see my guitar God on stage for the first time. The whole band fucking rules and can't wait to see them again. This band has such a huge impact on my life. They are all so talented. On stage they go fucking crazy and sound unreal. It's unbelievable to hear a new band put it together so well and have such a huge impact on the music industry. I can't wait to see you guys again when you come to the tri state area.

Thanks to Randy: Hey, I know this post is coming in a little late, but I had a few free minutes so why not add my comments on the show now. The Velvet Revolver show at Roseland, NYC literally took my breath away. The openers, the Living Things, were pretty decent, but no one really gave a shit about them. The fans were there to see one band. It didn't help that they mocked GW Bush which got a nice amount of boos from the crowd. After an extensive wait, which was probably my only criticism, Velvet Revolver came out and absolutely tore the place down. I've been to quite a few concerts in my day and I am also in the music industry so going to shows is not only a hobby of mine, but it's something I do for work purposes, and this show definitely ranks up there with the best of them. I must tell you that if you missed this band, do not make the same mistake again. I can only pray that this band sticks together because they will, as Weiland has said before, save rock and roll.They opened with the heavy sounds of Sucker Train Blues which completely blew me away. In a way, I was thrilled to hear all the new tracks because I, like most people, had only heard Set Me Free and Slither before. Every song was played with a great amount of passion and you can definitely tell that these guys were having a great time playing a venue of around 3,000. My highlight of the night was probably when Scott introduced "Fall to Pieces" which I believe will be their next single. The song is absolutely beautiful and seeing Scott lean up against Slash doing his solo was incredible. The STP and GNR covers were completely insane as well. Sex Type Thing and Mr. Brownstone in the same show? Could it get any better???

All in all, they played for around 1hr 45 mins included 2 encores. I was so impressed, I actually bought a shirt, which is saying a lot for me at least. I have seen STP play around 4 times and I have to say that Weiland is by far the best lead singer I have ever seen. The energy he has and gives to the crowd is like no other. And this was also my first time witnessing the God himself, Slash completely rock out the way guitars were made to. I hope that all who read this share the same excitement as I have for Velvet Revolver. Hopefully we'll see them plenty of more times.

Thanks to Shay Wilson: This was definately one of the best shows that I have seen in my life. I was one of those unlucky fans who was shut out of the show when the ticks sold out so quickly. Unbelievebly, on the night of the show, Velvet Revolver was on KROCK radio and I got to chat with them and they gave me tickets to see the show. I was so unbelieveably stoked. The guys were so tight that night, you'd think they had been on the road for months. Everyone in the group is on top of their game.

It's so great seeing Scott doing what he does best. I hope to God that he has kicked his addictions for good. He continues to be the most incredible, animated and kick ass front man in rock today.

Thanks to Jon Dawk: Simply put, this was the best concert I have ever seen. I have seen some well regarded live acts before and Velvet Revolver blew every one of them out of the water. I am a huge GNR fan, I saw Axl and the freaks at MSG in 2002, I had the time of my life and I thought it would never be topped but on May 26th, 2004, at Roseland Ballroom in NYC, I proved myself. Weiland sounded so fucking perfect, it was absolutely insane. I saw STP play with the Chilli Peppers in Jones Beach and he was good then but he was incredible at Roseland. I think they opened with Sucker Train Blues and that just set the mood for ass kicking for the rest of the night. The covers of GNR and STP were outstanding. I didn't expect to hear any soft songs cause I have only heard Slither and Set me Free but when they played Fall to Pieces, I was moved. That is plain out, a great fucking song. I think I would have enjoyed the show if they played horribly for 40 minutes just cause Slash, Duff and Matt are my heroes but they were really amazing. The on stage chemistry was awesome. It really felt like Weiland belonged up there with these guys. Like I said, he really blew me away. Kushner can hold his own. I have never heard of him until Velvet Revolver but I don't have any complaints. The cover of Negative Creep was insane, I don't think anyone expected that. I would go see these guys every time they came around and I think that anyone who has there doubts abut Velvet Revolver should go see them and let the music speak for itself. These guys are bringing the balls back to rock n roll, no more pussy-footing around. Velvet Revolver is going change the tempo of the rock industry and show the rest of these emo bands what rock really is. Thanks for a great show!

Thanks to Josh Leisner: They went on an hour late- a minor annoyance given who the band is (or was in their past lives). From note one they rawked. Scott came out dressed in the mirrored shades and the Judas Priest leather cap (a subtle tribute to Axl, I'm sure). The first four songs were Velvet Revolver tuned (don't have bootlegs yet, so I'm at a loss for what's what until Tuesday). 'Used to Love her' was a kick only because Scott looked thoroughly bored (and probably was) and 'Sex Type Thing' to 'Anything Goes' to 'Mr. Brownstone (how fitting) was BRILLIANT. 'Slither' sounded great (though played to death on KROCK here). The only off note was the effing mosh pit in the middle front part of the floor- people were doin' more pushing than listening towards the end, but I got a couple of good licks in before the night was over. Can not wait for the next go-round!

Thanks to Lisa: This was an amazing show from what I could see of it.

Scott was amazing as always. They sounded sooooo goood!!!

Unfortunatly for me and my little cousin we were about ten people from the center of the stage and we were getting
crushed by the back of the crowd pushing up. It was the scariest moment of my life, because we got seperated and I couldn't find her.

So I was in a panic for half the show trying to find her I finally did and just watch from a distance. So for that I couldn't enjoy the show.

But I hope to see them next time around. Oh and the opening band they were the worst thing I have ever heard. And yes, I was one of the ones yelling at them to get of the stage. They were very insulting to the people of N.Y.C.

Thanks to Brian Fitzpatrick: This show tops the "new" Guns N' Roses by far. I saw them last year at Nassau Collesium, it was not what I expcted. This show I was at Wednesday night blew my mind. There is nothing more a fan could ask for in a show. The music was unbelievable, Scott's Voice, Slash's guitar, Matt's drums, it was just an amazing time. This was the second time I've seen Slash in action. I saw him with Slashs Snakepit, while they were touring with AC/DC. That was a great show, but nothing compares to this. I've been too mannnny concerts, Aerosmith, AC/DC, Clapton, and many more, but this was truley the best show I've ever seen. I'm psyched for this new album and I will be there at the next concert you have in New York, or any other surrounding areas.

Great job guys!! Keep this up and you're goin down in the record books, you're already in mine.

Thanks to Snake: Great fucking show!!! Gotta tip my skully to those guys on stage rockin' songs from the opening "Sucker Train Blues" all the way through to the last set Nirvana cover "Negative Creep". The crowd was great (and I would assume that that made the guys feel pretty good). There's not much I can say about the show that hasn't been said already. It rocked< rocked< rocked!!! What I really dug was actually hearing Slither live and getting first taste of some of the other Velvet Revolver songs. Can't wait for the album man!! Highlights; the songs, Slash coming out with his trademark top hat, Scott talking about his past and giving his thanks, Slash and Duff giving their thanks, and oh yeah the songs and everything that went in it!!!! One of the last sets was "Mr. Brownstone" and everyone went nuts to that one as well "Sex type thing" (by the way to Kim, the song following Matt's drums of "You could be mine" was none other than"Mr. brownstone"!!). Can't forget "Fall To Pieces", that was an absolutely beautiful song. To all of you out there that hasn't checked out a Velvet Revolver show and there's one near you, you must check them out, get tix and see this band and if not get the album. This band rocks, with a great lead singer and great musicians any fan of rock and music can't ask for more. Thanks fellas great fucking show and keep rockin'.

Thanks to Rafer Guzmán from Newsday.com: Guitar solos, drum rolls, bare-chested musicians smoking on stage, a giant Zildjian gong hanging behind the drum kit: If the very thought of these things causes you to salivate, then the record industry has a Pavlovian bell for you called Velvet Revolver.

The band already has a built-in set of fans. It's front man, Scott Weiland, once led the popular grunge-metal act Stone Temple Pilots. The other musicians hail from one of hair-metal's most beloved groups, Guns N' Roses: Duff McKagan plays bass, Matt Sorum drums and Slash lead guitar; session man Dave Kushner plays rhythm guitar.

But that isn't Velvet Revolver's only appeal. Listeners are growing bored with a diet of highly processed McRock from corporatized radio stations and record labels, and the time seems right for a return to raw, meaty rock music.

Other groups, too, are sensing that dissatisfaction and reacting accordingly. Audioslave puts Chris Cornell, the former Soundgarden singer, in front of three members of Rage Against the Machine. Members of L.A. Guns and Motley Crüe have combined to form Brides of Destruction. But neither of those acts has been as eagerly anticipated as Velvet Revolver. That's partly because of its prestigious pedigree and partly because of Weiland's much-publicized stints in rehab to battle a heroin addiction. (It's probably no laughing matter to Weiland, but if there's one thing rock fans love it's an unstable lead singer.)

On Wednesday night, Weiland also battled comparisons to Guns N' Roses' iconic singer, Axl Rose. But Weiland played it smart: He never tried to mimic Rose's high, whining vocals, even though his own mid-range voice lacks distinction. He also concocted his own fashion code, sporting tight black trousers, a black muscle-tee, mirrored sunglasses and a high-crowned military cap.

Weiland has always been a gender-bender (a strange tradition among the leaders of macho rock bands) and at Roseland Ballroom he bent to extremes. On "Sucker Train Blues," from the band's upcoming album, "Contraband" (due June 8 on RCA), Weiland shifted his hips suggestively and swirled his shoulders like a burlesque star. On the radio hit "Slither," he moved like a cobra, his head hovering menacingly above his slim torso. Weiland also used a bullhorn to distort his voice or trigger the wail of a siren and he swung the thing like a battle-ax on "Crackerman," a hard-hitting Stone Temple Pilot song.

There were some painful pangs of nostaliga, as when Slash donned his totemic top hat and played Guns N' Roses' "Used To Love Her," a twerpy joke-song about killing one's girlfriend. But Velvet Revolver was best on numbers such as "Set Me Free" and "Illegal I Song," when the rhythm section laid down a thunderous groove and Slash played his muscular, almost formalist guitar solos over the racket. Those moments were strong enough to make you believe - or at least hope - that rock and roll still lives.

Velvet Revolver. A group with a storied past and a hopeful future.

Thanks to KellyMarie: It was totally kick ass. Very intimate setting and the guys were all in tune with each other. Scott was great. And of course Slash was the rock star of the show. We need a band that rocks, Velvet Revolver might just be that band we've been waiting for. I think the guys in the band were all exited too.

Thanks to NYRose: Oh my....amazing. I am not surprised as I am a huge Weiland fan and have been following him since my first STP show in 1994. 'Crackerman', was amazing and Slash's intro to 'Mr. Brownstone', was incredible. Velvet Revolver, played as if they have been a band for years. They gelled purrfectly. Thanks Velvet Revolver for a wonderful show! Stay clean Scotty ;)

Thanks to Dan: The show was insane, the crowd was insane. Scott Weiland shows the Guns N' Roses fans why Stone Temple Pilots was the greatest live band of all time. When they played 'Crackerman', I think the crowd went absolutely nuts. The new songs sounded promising and I can't
wait to hear the album. The Nirvana cover of 'Negative Creep' was awesome. Next tour they just need to cover Alice in Chains -' Dam that River' and the show would be perfect.

Thanks to Alex: The show was very energetic. Scott proved again that he is one of the best rock front-men around, he really got the crowd going. The band was tight, sounded great. I'm glad they picked GNR covers that are in the low voice that perfectly suits Scotts voice. I enjoyed the whole concert, but the Velvet Revolver material didn't stand up to STP and GNR classics for me. However, I won't jump to any conclusions until I hear the album. Nirvana cover was a highlight for me, I don't think many people in the crowd knew it though.

Thanks to Chris: Velvet Revolver definetly know how to bring down the house and they surely didn't disappoint last night in the city that never sleeps N.Y.C. there are so many things to comment on I don't quite know where to start. The setlist was setup as the shows before and they rocked every damn one of them. Thanks to my friend who came with me and his cop buddies who were at the show we were able to watch the show from VIP and avoid the mosh pit jammed packed floor. Not only did we have an amazing view of the stage but as I turned and saw some kid getting an autograph from this girl right in front of me it was no other then Gina Gershon who we saw play a few songs with Camp Freddy and Slash just last year at the same venue. We asked her if she had seen VR yet and she said no but she was looking foward to it. She seemed totally blown away by Slash's solos which were absolutely astonishing especially on Set Me Free where Dave and Slash were battling back and forth at the end of the song. Slither was another amazing song played as it was extended with a long build up to the song and solo as well. This was the best damn concert I have been to without a doubt and it is probably one of the few chances you will have to see such talent so closeup because this band is going to be huge Velvet Revolver kick ass!!!!!!

One last note the new opening band (Living Things) were the suckiest band I have ever seen. Besides from starting fights with the audience the morons had the audacity to put a gun to a George Bush mask while 2 girls dressed in George Bush masks one with a dildo strapped to her was getting a bj from the other. The band kept yelling f**k Bush and f**k anyone that supports him the crowd overwhelmingly booed them off stage. I luckily got to run into one of these jerks after the show up in VIP and said aren't you in the band that opened up tonight and he replied yes. From that point he stuck out his hand for me to shake it and in return I gave him the one finger salute and told him you guys suck. Hopefully nobody will have to endure this band ever again who knows maybe Axl Rose can use them since he goes through bandmates like toilet paper.

Thanks to Brian: Wow! This band is finding its own identity and it's great to see all of the boys rocking really hard. Slash and Duff seem relaxed with Weiland slithering around as opposed to angry Axl. The STP covers and G&R covers were terrific! The new stuff is great as well and the new cd should be cool. A song called "Fall to pieces" was phenomenal. Don't miss this chance to see history. If they are in your town, check 'em out before they play larger venues.

I think the set list was pretty much the same as has been previously listed. They sound great and Matt really bangs the drums with great thunder. I hope this lasts...

Thanks to Philly K-Rock: To start the night off was Gina Gershon sitting in the V.I.P. section to the right, facing the stage. She's a hot, and loaded $$$ chick, so I thought I'd tell ya that. Opening band Living Things should change their name to Shitty Things. Enough said.

Mike Mayhue, (Duff's bass tech, intro'd the band). Many of you might remember him when I tell you that he introduced Guns @ every show during the Illusion's world tour. .....from Hollywood,..(yeah, that guy).

Velvet Revolver hit the stage about 9:30. Scott in his cop hat, big mirror cop sunglasses, black pants & chrome belt. Slash started out in a ripped NIN t-shirt, black chaps, bandana in backpocket. Duff had on a light-blue Louenbrau(*?*) beer t-shirt. Don't remember what Dave had on, but the skully hat was in check as usual. All were shirtless including Matt Sorum by mid-show. Slash rocked his top-hat for at least 3 full songs. Nice to see Slash in typical Slash gear, hearing that recently he's only wearing the top hat for about 1 song. Lots of guitar changes for the whole band, even mid-song(s).

The set list was no different really, same deal as the other shows. So here are (in no particular order), IMO the coolest parts of the night.

Scott was really energetic, lots of crowd interaction. Slash said "NY, you guys ate this show-up", referring to ticket sales. Also before Slither, Slash said "Here's the moment you've been waiting for"........yada, yada

Adam Day (Slash's guitar tech) gave me a pick after the show. Thanks Adam. Lots and lots of cameras in audience. Heres the deal, the new songs kick ass and you guys who will be at the upcoming shows, are gonna love it. See everyone in Philly tomorrow night.

Thanks to Tom: What an amazing show. You know Mr Weiland was in town when the Roseland Ballroom in NYC sells out and the streets are packed with scalpers and people looking to buy tickets. I don't think you could of fitted one more person in the club. It was packed to the brim to see one of the best lineups you could ever put on stage. Velvet Revolver came out to the house announcer saying "From Hollywood Velvet Revolver" as we have seen so many times in other reviews. They did a blistering set that included "Sex type thing","Big Machine","Fall to pieces", "Slither", "Set me Free", "Used to lover her" to name a few. I don't think I have ever seen a tighter band on stage. I was really impressed with Matt on the drums. He was wailing all night long on the five piece. What can you say about Slash and Duff that hasn't already been said. They are simply amazing to watch and listen to on stage. I was also very impressed with Dave's guitar playing also. I've never seen him play before and I walked away a "Dave" fan. Hopefully it's not the last time I get to see Velvet Revolver but if any of you get the chance to see Velvet Revolver do whatever you can to see them cause it was magical.

Thanks to Kim: Let me start by saying I think this is one of the best shows I've ever seen. Period.

We arrived fairly early, and luckily, since we know a guy who works security, he got us upstairs to the "VIP area". It was very dead up there before the opening band went on. We wondered if Velvet Revolver would be hanging out up there before they went on. We staked out a great spot on the balcony, right near the stage. A bit of wandering around though and we realized that there was a "meet and greet" going on up there, but behind closed curtains. I suppose you needed an extra special pass to get in there. We were a little bummed, but it was alright.The first band came on, the Living Things. I wasn't too thrilled. But we agreed that no band could open to a group like Velvet Revolver. Because you know that no one cares. They all just want to see the main act. Luckily for all of us, they only played for about 25 minutes, more or less. The crowd was a tough one - they got booed off the stage! By now it was around 9 pm and the anticipation was growing larger and larger. The crowd down below was getting restless and the meet and greet let out. Now the balcony was packed. Good thing we had our spots! It must have been a bit after 9:30 when the lights finally went down. Everyone went nutty. You could see the outlines of Slash and Duff in the dim stage light as they strapped on their instruments. I thought I was going to explode. Then the lights came on and in a burst of sound the band was there. The crowd flipped out. Holy shit! I can honestly say that I haven't felt that sort of excitement for a show in a very, very long time. Being a long time STP fan and a newly converted GNR fan, along with my husband whose first concert back in 1992 was GNR, the both of us were just about ready to die. They all looked just like you expected them to. Scott reminded me a bit of Rob Halford with the big hat and studded belt (ha!)...they started up the first song (I assume it was 'Sucker Train Blues', based on other set lists I've seen). We were all immediately sucked in and were rocking out like there was no tomorrow. Next they played some more of the new songs. I don't know titles yet but I do know that they really were great and it made us that much more excited to hear the album. Scott introduced one of the next songs as a cover of a Herman's Hermits song...turned out to be 'Crackerman' which set the crowd on fire. They did 'It's So Easy' by GNR and I swear, it may have been the best I've ever heard that song. The guys next to me were arguing about the fact/non-fact that Scott was possibly even better than Axl. Well, based on Scott's performance, it really did make you think about it. They went on to do some more Velvet Revolver songs, and before you knew it, they were going off stage. But we all knew they'd be back. Couple minutes went by and they were out again. I can't remember the order of the songs but they did 'Sex Type thing' by STP which also made the crowd go crazy. 'Used To Love Her' by GNR that had everyone singing along and smiling from ear to ear. 'Mr. Brownstone', which may have been the crowning moment for the whole show. Every single person in that place was loving it. 'Negative Creep' by Nirvana, which actually was pretty cool sounding, despite the fact I had a hard time imagining what that cover would sound like before hand. Then it was over.

The band was spot on for the whole show. Highlights were Scott's serpentine movements/crazy dancing throughout the whole show (he is one hot, hot man-yes, I am a woman), Slash's triumphant return to the top hat during the encore, Matt's brief but rockin' drum opening to "You Could Be Mine" before launching into another song (damn why can't I remember?), Slash thanking the crowd from the bottom of his heart for the support and love from the fans (and also mentioning that it was "A highly anticipated show...you guys jumped on that shit!"), Scott's moment of speaking to the crowd before "Fall To Pieces" about turning himself around thanks to his wife, the band and everything else....ahh it was just an amazing night. I am still buzzed from it. Thank my lucky stars we're getting to see them again in Atlantic City!

Thanks to Rob V.: Let me start at the beginning with the opening act. I forget what they were called but they were horrible. I can honestly say the worse opening act I have ever seen in my life. The singer wanted to fight everybody in the crowd, very unprofessional. Then it was what we were all waiting for and Velvet Revolver sounded great. It was so good to see the guys from Guns n' Roses on stage again. The crowd was so energetic and the band really played of off that. Slash especially had a huge smile on his face all night. Scott sounded good (I have to admit I was a little nervous after the Letterman performance). The one bad thing was the sound. It was so incredibly loud that it made a lot of the concert inaudible, it was just one big blur at times. I hope they will fix that next time around. However, it was great to see that there is a real rock n' roll band out there again and I know that they will take the music industry by storm.

Thanks to SlashNBurn: Wow... that was fucking amazing. Hands down the best concert experience I've ever had. It was one of the only shows I've been to where it seemed like the entire crowd was really into every single song. The energy was just awesome... seemed like Velvet Revolver and the crowd were really feeding off each other's energy.

I can't recall the exact setlist, but I do know that it was slightly different from all the other previous shows. All of the songs seem to have been played in the same order, except one of the songs (Crackerman?) with a tune in which Slash does that talking with the guitar thing (sorry can't recall the name).

The opening band, Living Things, was pretty bad. It was the first times I went to a concert where a band was completely booed off the stage at the end of their set... just horrible. Everywhere I looked people were giving them the finger and it seemed as though the lead singer was calling out people in the audience for a fight... funny stuff. Well besides that, the show was just as I expected... a great high-energy rock and roll show.

Thanks to Rod: I've have never been to a show so chaotic as this one before!! The energy was incredible! I lost my show, my digital camera and my pants!! Luckily I was able to retrieve all 3! 'Sucker Train Blues' was the highlight for me! When they hit the stage me and TOR went nuts!!! I couldn't believe it! It felt so good. It was so surreal knowing that we are amongst the first to see this band while they are still-pretty much underground!

When Scott introduced 'Fall To Pieces' he said how this song is about him turning his life around and kicking the habit and the place just went nuts. They cheered sooo loud. It was a great moment as was Slash & Duff thanking everyone. It seemed like they were shocked by how energetic the crowd was! It must've made them feel really good inside!

I couldn't believe how many people knew 'Slither'!! I thought it got the best reception along with 'Mr. Brownstone', 'Sex Type Thing' , 'Big Machine', 'Fall To Pieces', 'Set Me Free', 'It's So Easy' & 'Used to love her', which everyone sang along with huge smiles on their faces. What a night!!! Man I can't wait to catch Velvet Revolver next time. Next time will be a much bigger show for sure. This band is gonna be huge!!!

I'm gonna work on getting the pics up tommorow. I bought the shirt with the band picture on the front! I'm broke but I couldn't resist!