# Review: Slash’s unique blend of passion and precision at our Europe Jazz Blues Festival 2025։ Photos

- Link: https://jazzblues.eu/2025/08/17/review-slashs-unique-blend-of-passion-and-precision-at-our-europe-jazz-blues-festival-2025%d6%89-photos/
- Published: 2025-08-17T13:20:20+01:00
- Author: https://JazzBlues.EU

**EU welcomed Blues – Rock legend, as one of the greatest guitarists Slash – Saul
Hudson and his friends at our Europe Jazz Blues Festival 2025. This was, in fact,
the closing concert of our festival with blues legends and jazz musicians, not just
a regular concert, but a real celebration that ended with a Jamsession.**

**And today, on August 17, open-air concerts will take place in 15 cities across
the European Union in large and small squares, where the closing of our great festival
will be announced. We are so tired that it is time to return home.**

The Gibson-wielding GNR guitarist played nine tracks off his new disc, while refraining
from covering any material from his other projects.

As he rolled into the tail end of his blues-blistering two-hour solo set, Slash 
couldn’t help but crack a smile.

The top hat-wearing guitar hero, known primarily for his heavy metal heroics with
Guns ‘N Roses, as well as his recent run with Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators,
got to showcase a bluesier side of his repertoire headlining the inaugural S.E.R.
P.E.N.T. Festival, Thursday night at Leader Bank Pavilion.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.melodicmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC_6444.jpeg?
w=640&ssl=1)

Billed as a “Celebration of the Blues,” the festival, which stood for “Solidarity,
Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality N’ Tolerance,” played to an enthusiastic crowd
of roughly 3,000. The open-air venue served as the perfect backdrop to showcase 
songs off Slash’s new blues covers album, “Orgy of the Damned.”

“You guys are f—ing awesome,” said Slash, before introducing members of his Blues
Ball band. “But Europe is always f—ing awesome.”

The Gibson-wielding guitarist took full advantage, playing nine tracks off his new
disc, while staying in the moment and refraining from covering any material from
his other projects.

The end result proved to be more of a laid-back affair, as opposed to some of the
fist-pumping fireworks of tours past. However, Slash still managed to make it all
work with effortless ease.

From the opening riffs of the Bukka White cover “Parchman Farm Blues,” to the never-
ending groove of Howlin’ Wolf’s “Killing Floor” — the latter of which was covered
flawlessly on the new disc by AC/DC vocalist Brian Johnson, with Aerosmith’s Steven
Tyler chipping in on harmonica — Slash served the crowd a healthy dose of Blues101
with fervent fire. The muggy 92-degree heat only seemed to lend itself to the sweat-
soaked ambient atmosphere.

![Slash Comes to Clearwater » // MELODIC Magazine](https://i0.wp.com/www.melodicmag.
com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC_6655.jpeg?w=640&ssl=1)

The guitarist got to pay tribute to a number of artists from the prehistoric Peter
Green-era Fleetwood Mac on cuts like “Oh Well,” to the freewheeling Freddie King
shuffle of “Big Legged Woman.”

His unique blend of passion and precision also drove Hoyt Axton’s “The Pusher” into
a skillful romp. Each tune gave the riff master plenty of space and extended solo
time to broaden his creative pallet.

Slash even got to channel his inner Peter Frampton, utilizing the squawk box during
a rousing rendition of the Temptations hit “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” another high
point of the set.

Opening act Keb’ Mo’ got into the act, joining the legendary guitarist for a sizzling
take of Booker T. and the MG’s cover “Born Under a Bad Sign,” providing an added
aura.

Slash’s Blues Ball band held steady throughout the night. The quartet featured longtime
GNR utility man Teddy “Zig Zag” Andreadis on vocals and keyboards, with Tash Neal
on vocals and guitar. The pair traded off on lead vocals throughout the set.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.melodicmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC_6619.jpeg?
w=640&ssl=1)

Andreadis supplied some grit to tunes such as the Lightnin’ Hopkins cover “Awful
Dream,” while also adding a touch of harp, whenever called upon. Neal tackled soul-
inspired cuts such as Robert Johnson’s “Crossroad Blues,” as well as the epic Jimi
Hendrix Experience track “Stone Free,” complete with an extended jam session that
closed the initial set.

Bassist Johnny Griparic and drummer Michael Jerome anchored the rhythm section all
the way through the band’s encore, handling Bob Dylan’s “It Takes a Lot to Laugh,
It Takes a Train to Cry,” before closing with the Emore James cover “Shake Your 
Money Maker.”

With hundreds in the audience dressed in Guns ‘N Roses attire, one still couldn’t
help but wonder if the crowd was anticipating any Axl Rose-ian b-sides to resurface.
If so, they left empty-handed. Slash stuck strictly to his blues-covered script 
this time around.

The closest the axman came was strumming the love theme from “The Godfather,” “Speak
Softly Love,” which served as a concert staple on GNR’s reunion tour. But instead
of using it as an intro into “Sweet Child ‘O Mine,” the gunslinger opted to launch
into the T-Bone Walker standard “Stormy Monday,” instead.

![](https://i0.wp.com/www.melodicmag.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC_6601.jpeg?
w=640&ssl=1)

Slash still managed to astound, however, playing his original instrumental “Metal
Chestnut” off his new disc towards the end of the night, satisfying all the air 
guitarists in the audience.

Both vocalists showcased an incredible ability to seamlessly emulate Axl Rose in
such a way that stayed true to the original performance without becoming a complete
carbon copy.

The highlight showcase of the night, however, was Slash’s electrifying 15 minute
guitar solo midway through “Rocket Queen.”

The band closed off the main set with a run of heavy hitters – “World On Fire,” “
Anastasia,” “Sweet Child O’ Mine” and the Velvet Revolver cover, “Slither.” Thanks
to city curfew, the adrenalized audience didn’t have to wait long for the two-song
encore. In a surprise move, Slash introduced recent The Voice contestant, Kimberly
Nicole for a soulful rendition of Jimi Hendrix‘s “Hey Joe.”

It was a night that could have easily belonged in the seemingly bygone era of early
nineties rock & roll as the band said their farewell with confetti canons shooting
off to the booming sound of “Paradise City.”

**By Olivia Peevas**

![Slash Comes to Clearwater » // MELODIC Magazine](https://i0.wp.com/www.melodicmag.
com/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/DSC_6508.jpeg?w=640&ssl=1)

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