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.
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.
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.
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.
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
