Review: Duff McKagan's Loaded, A Theory of Everything

Published on GiggingNI.com 08-10-09


Leather jackets and black t-shirts were dug out of cupboards tonight for Duff McKagen’s headline gig in Spring and Airbreak. Formerly of Guns n’ Roses and Velvet Revolver, McKagen needs no introduction to fans of hard rock and metal, and he and his band, along with a strong support put on a great show for an almost capacity crowd.



Support act ‘A Theory Of Everything’ kicked off the night with a set of good hard rock. The rapidly expanding crowd lapped up the energy and charisma on stage clapping and chanting along to lyrics of a quintet who more than fit the bill without having anything overly unique or revolutionary to offer in their performance. Most songs were driven by heavy guitar riffs and rumbling bass, reminiscent at times of Thin Lizzy in the Cold Sweat era and at others of Metallica in the Load/Reload days. In addition to these rockers, a well written ballad was thrown in for good measure and went down just as well with a more than happy crowd and front man Gary Short thrived on the feedback from his audience using the unfortunately placed pillars to swing round as he delivered a faultless performance. After a brief appearance of a megaphone and siren, A Theory of Everything blasted into ‘Leech’ and, finisher, ‘Gotta Get’ got the crowd bouncing with the band. Overall a good opening performance who gave the crowd a taster for what was about to follow.



A confused cheer shook the floor as the background music died down only to be replaced by Beyoncé’s ‘All The Single Ladies.’ Not quite the expected entrance for Duff McKagen’s Loaded, but an entrance nevertheless. From Seattle on Saturday to Belfast tonight McKagen apologised that the band had been on the road for 42 hours, but on their performance you’d never have guessed it. Galavanting round the stage and using every square inch of floor the three men at the front set off at a blistering pace. Sleaze Factory and Got No Shame were favourites with a crowd more than familiar with the band. McKagen paid tribute to the Belfast crowd remembering last year’s gig and with a wry smile commented that the girls at the front were ‘Northern Ireland’s finest.’ Coming across as extremely down to earth and humble only sent the adoring fans into another frenzy of hair and leathers before old GnR ballad ‘So Fine.’ Vocal and rhythm guitar duties were handed over to bassist… for ‘Don’t Stop Singin’’ and the performance ended with another GnR classic ‘It’s So Easy.’ McKagen has gone a long way to proving himself as more than just Slash’s right hand man with strong vocals and the formation of a great sounding band of his own. However, old Guns n’ Roses favourites may have to be phased out if he is to further establish himself as a musician in his own right and not be thought of as a former member of Guns n’ Roses.

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