The iconic guitarist Slash, known for his time with Guns N’ Roses, has now been associated with Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators far longer, for 14 years compared to his seven years with GnR. The name Slash, Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators represents the combination of a legendary guitarist, a famous singer, and their band. This review will refer to them as The Conspirators to keep it short and accurate.
Dublin’s 3Arena marked the Conspirators’ first European tour location. Unlike other bands aiming for highly intricate visual performances to elevate their live shows, The Conspirators set a simpler precedent. They displayed just a banner behind the drum platform and relied on lights and music for rest of the show.
The band’s music selection comprised tracks from their four collaborative albums including their latest, simply named ‘4’, along with the lauded 2010 self-titled solo album from Slash.
One selection that raised eyebrows was ‘Don’t Damn Me’ from the 1991 Guns N’ Roses album, Use Your Illusions 1. Despite not being a common choice for a GnR cover, and never being performed live by the band, it was included in Conspirators’ list. Confidently sung by bassist Todd Kearns, it turned out to be a pleasing addition.
Clad in an AC/DC sleeveless top, Slash, as the main highlight, graced the stage. Intriguingly, he also has a single, ‘Killing Floor’, teamed with AC/DC’s vocalist, Brian Johnson as a precursor to his upcoming solo blues album, set for a May release.
Adorned in his signature top hat, glasses and inky curls, there is a timeless aura about him and his retro style rock n’ roll. The guitar-line in Wicked Stone lingered for an impressive five minutes, and is testament to Slash being a guitarist who can hold attention for this duration while still sounding engaging.
A significant amount of The Conspirators’ lineup is unyielding, intense rock. Yet, when the rhythm slackens, it’s even more captivating. Tracks like Back to Cali from Slash’s individual album and Fill My World from 4 are beautiful numbers that prompted waving mobile phone lights. The open admission from Myles Kennedy that Fill My World, a grand ballad, is inspired by his pets is commendable.
The extra performance was a delight with Slash on pedal steel guitar playing a rendition of Rocket Man by Elton John, with the drummer shifting to the keyboard. They should definitely experiment more with this formula.
Anastasia from the first shared album of The Conspirators, Apocalyptic Love (2012), was chosen for the set’s finale. It is a piece that can proudly stand alongside anything Slash produced as guitarist for Guns N’ Roses.
Praise is due for Frank Sidoris, the rhythm guitarist for The Conspirators, who also had a stint with the opening act Mammoth WVH. Led by Wolfgang Van Halen (WVH), son of Eddie Van Halen, Mammoth WVH generated great crowd enthusiasm, which is hardly surprising considering their distinguished musical lineage.