KNAC.COM - July, 3, 2001

by Jimmy Metal

Slash’s Snakepit Live At Birch Hill Nite Club, Old Bridge, NJ, June 23rd, 2001

As the 2001 summer concert season continues in full swing one of the biggest surprises has to be Slash’s Snakepit. The Snakepit gang has started their US summer leg on the east coast and this would include a stop at one of the most popular rock clubs out east, The Birch Hill Nite Club in Old Bridge, NJ. I have to be honest in saying that this was one show I really didn’t plan on hitting when it was announced. Why??? Without question is Slash a legendary axe-man (we ALL know that) and yeah that is enough to go out and see his solo outfit. But I saw them with AC/DC last summer and I really wasn’t impressed due to a few factors. The sound wasn’t that great (not uncommon for openers), they were touring a CD (Ain’t Life Grand) that wasn’t out (you can’t a win crowd over by playing 95% material that people don’t know), and Slash will always (like it or not) have the GN’R thing to live up to. You see I’ m not really a fan of side projects (I know Snakepit isn’t one per say), as Dave Mustaine, Tony Iommi, and Nikki Sixx have all given us side projects that really weren’t necessary to be given out so… But after some nudging from a friend of mine (thanks Ed), who told me that Ain’t Life Grandwas right up my alley, Ain’t Life Grandhas become a “cult” favorite of mine. The morale of the short story??? I am very stubborn, but enough of that so let’s get on to the show…

Lots of rumors have been flying around lately that the Birch Hill might not be around too much longer (it is on the market), but that isn’t the main issue on this night. Now I have seen lots of gigs at this venue and I always call the box office to find out what time the headliner goes on stage. No surprise to find out that Slash’s Snakepit was going on at midnight (there were three opening acts), as that is an old trick the owner likes to use (i.e. selling liquor all night). I arrived at the venue around 11:30PM and the place was packed and there were easily 1,000 plus people here for this all general admission show (1,500 capacity). Just by parking my car in the last lot was a clear signal that this show was going to go over well. This show was sponsored by NY radio station WNEW 102.7 (courtesy of metal DJ Eddie Trunk) so it was nice to see that the promotion paid off.

Once inside there was a nice variety of Snakepit memorabilia for sale, including t-shirts, tour books, 8x10 photos, guitar pics, and posters. Also, there was a sign that said Slash’s Snakepit would be signing for fans thirty minutes after the show at the stage area. Fans who are interested in meeting a living legend might want to be aware of this, as the band have been doing signings at most gigs after their sets. I made my way into the deck area (back of the club) and saw that Eddie Trunk was in motion with his Saturday night metal show. During a break Eddie saw me and said, “Hey Jim, nice to see you and thanks for coming down.” He noticed my bag of stuff I brought down hoping to get Slash to sign and he told me, “I did an interview with Slash (live on the air) a little while ago, he was really cool, and I am going to be introducing the band soon.”

After Eddie Trunk introduced the band, they hit the stage at the stroke of midnight and it was a blizzard of Slash’s Snakepit!!! They opened with “Life’s Sweet Drug” and the fans went crazy. I was under the impression that most of the crowd was made up of Guns N’ Roses diehards (probably true), but the crowd was really into the Ain’t Life Grandmaterial and were singing along to a lot of the tunes. Lead singer Rod Jackson has a much stronger voice than I thought, as he and the band simply sounded great. Jackson seemed to be having a blast and he told the crowd (something along these lines), “We have to get a picture of you guys because this has to be one of the best shows we have done.”

As the ninety minute set rolled on, Ain’t Life Grand (every song played) was the showcase and the singles “Been There Lately” and “Mean Bone” went over best with the crowd. The latter sounded much better live especially without the silly “rap” thing going on during the studio version. One aspect that has to be greatly respected is that Slash does not rest on past milestones (i.e. not on heavy on Gn’ R tunes). Watching Slash perform live is really guitar playing at its finest, as he seems to make it so easy. The only thing that made me scratch my head was that Slash didn’t do a lengthy guitar solo, as that was one of the main reasons why I hit this gig. But no matter as fans will enjoy seeing Slash master his craft at such a close range (I was in the middle section behind sound board). Slash a west coast struttin’??? One bad mother??? You bet your fucking ass he is!!!

Again, it was the crowd that made this show such a memorable night for Slash’s Snakepit and there was even a sign that read, “Slash for President.” Rod Jackson commented on that by saying, “If this guy is president then we are all going to hell!!!” The crowd was also starting to get very rowdy in front of the stage and bassist Johnny Griparic had to instruct fans to move back so people wouldn’t get crushed. Yes, Slash did play a couple of Guns N’ Roses much to the delight of the crowd and they would include “Its So Easy,” and the set finale “Mr. Brownstone.” Jackson nailed both songs pretty well, though he was a little of on the tail end of “Its So Easy” (i.e. high notes). The crowd was still fired up and weren’t going home without an encore and the Snake gang closed the show with “Beggars and Hanger-ons” from the first Snakepit record.

Then as advertised Slash’s Snakepit (with a thunderous roar from the crowd) came back on stage a half-hour after their set to sign items for fans who decided to stick around. And a LOT of fans stuck around (200 plus) to meet Slash and company. The line was sort of “organized” and the security barked out orders, “Everyone make a single file line. It doesn’t matter if you are first or last you will get an autograph. But please leave the venue after receiving your autograph.” While waiting, I was talking to a fellow fan about the possibility of the Birch Hill being changed soon (with new ownership looming) and we touched on the great rock gigs that we have seen take place here: Ace Frehley, Peter Criss, Rob Halford, Dio, W.A.S.P., Quiet Riot, and others. Also, I was able to get a guitar pick from a roadie who was actually pretty cool. Usually road crew guys (when asked for “goodies”) tell you to fuck off, claim they don’t have any, or ignore you. I asked this dude if the Snakepit guys are cool and he said, “They are the best and always treat their fans great.”

At first the band were walking back and forth (there was a barricade between stage and floor were fans were) trying to sign for everybody, but eventually the band settled into one corner to sign. It should be noted that Slash was very ill this past spring (due to pneumonia), but he looked great tonight (sans goatee) and he could easily have passed for a G n’ R photo session circa 1988. On a personal note, Guns N’ Roses were one of the bands that have enabled me to become a metal warrior for life (ala Jimmymetal) and Appetite For Destruction is an album that I will take to my grave. Once Appetite broke huge the world over during my junior year of high school (‘88-’89), Gn’R became one of my bands. I saw GN’R twice on the Illusion tour (Dec '91 at Madison Square Garden and June '92 at Giants Stadium) and though I was a million miles away it was simply spectacular to witness rock and roll at its finest. Now I would have the honor of meeting (for the first time) a member of the GN’R family. What follows is brief chat I had with Slash’s Snakepit (order of meeting them) during the after show signing:

JIMMYMETAL: “Hey Matt, thanks for signing for us and were AC/DC nice guys when you toured with them???”

MATT LAUG: (drummer): “No problem man and yeah AC/DC were awesome to open for. In fact, Phil Rudd (AC/DC drummer) called me last week to see how I was doing.”

JIMMYMETAL: “That’s very fucking cool.”

-Next up bassist Johnny Griparic

JIMMYMETAL: “Hey Johnny, how is the tour going so far on the east coast???”

JOHNNY: “The tour is going great for us. We played a sold out show in NYC last night (Wetlands Night Club) and you saw the turnout here tonight.” “The east coast has been very supportive of us.”

JIMMYMETAL: “How is Slash doing health wise???”

JOHNNY: “Better than ever man!!!”

JIMMYMETAL: “How long have you known Slash???”

JOHNNY: “About six or seven years.”

JIMMYMETAL: “Does he talk to the other Gn’R guys???”

JOHNNY: “Yeah, he talks to all the guys except for Axl. In fact, when Duff releases his next album Izzy might be touring with him.”

JIMMYMETAL: “Did you guys try to latch onto a big tour this summer like Ozzfest???”

JOHNNY: “No, as that really isn’t what we are about. The AC/DC tour last summer was perfect for us.”

-On to lead singer Rod Jackson

ROD: “What the hell do you have in this bag???” Is it for me??? LOL!!!”

JIMMYMETAL: “Just my stuff I brought to get signed.” By the way, I saw you on VH-1 with Slash and that was pretty funny when he smashed the guitar.”

ROD: “I know, I can’t believe they showed that!!!”

JIMMYMETAL: “Are you guys going to wait five years to put out another album?” [Note: The first Snakepit record came out in ’95 with a different lineup].

ROD: “No way man!!! It will be sooner.”

-Finally it was time to meet Slash!!!

JIMMYMETAL: “Hey Slash, would you mind signing my stuff with my silver paint pen???”

SLASH: “No problem.”

JIMMYMETAL: “How are you feeling health wise???”

SLASH: “I feel fine and it’s nice that everyone has taken an interest in my well being.”

JIMMYMETAL: “I thought you guys sounded a lot better than when I saw you last year.”

SLASH: “Yeah, the tour is going well.”

And that was it, as the line had to keep moving. The thing that will always stick out for me about this encounter was here is a guy who doesn’t need to do this (I would assume he is mega rich), but yet he was completely reserved, down to earth, and took the time to sign for his fans. I would never have used the word “class” in the same sentence with Gn’R before, but that is the perfect word to define Slash towards his fans. Slash even wanted to give me back my silver paint pen, but I told him to keep it because another fan behind me on line also wanted her item signed in silver.

Slash signed all my items including Appetite on vinyl, the Jan. '91 Rolling Stone and May '92 RIP magazine covers (featuring Slash only), Snakepit CD booklet, and Snakepit promo post card. All the Snakepit guys signed my CD booklet and promo post card, but I didn’t have Keri Kelli sign either item. Not that I dislike Kelli (he seemed very nice), but I am picky in sticking to who played on the album and is featured on the cover for signing purposes (i.e. Ryan Roxie). The night was going to well so I decided to get on line again and get individual pictures with Slash and Rod and both were very cool again. While on line, Eddie Truck comes up to me and says, “Hey Jim, let me borrow your camera as Slash is wearing my radio show t-shirt and I want to get a picture of me posed with him wearing it.” “No problem, but please be careful as I have STP film (from Tower NY signing) in the camera,” I told him. Eddie was very thankful and I mailed pictures out to him a couple of days later. Also, some dude on line got his black Gibson Les Paul guitar signed by Slash and it looked awesome. In fact, Slash enjoys signing and checking out guitars (are you reading this Kiss???) that his fans bring him. On a side note, Dave “Snake” Sabo (Skid Row) showed up at this gig and was interviewed by Eddie.

It was then onward home towards the deserted Garden State Parkway North and I was flyin’ like an Aeroplane!!! Once home it was nearly 4am and I looked at the signed Appetite For Destruction album and thought to myself, “Man, its been 13 years since I first became obsessed with this album. Never thought I would one day meet one of the true metal greats.” I then immediately crashed and fell into a deep summer’s sleep….

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