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So as 2013 came to a close, what better when to end the year than with a FREE concert? That's exactly what the Houston area rock fans got just a few days before Christmas. Thanks to Justin Ellerton and his company, Blackhorse Limo, we were treated to an early present in the form of SKID ROW and FASTER PUSSYCAT performing at Warehouse Live in downtown Houston.

Justin came up with the 'Blackhorse Limo Free Concert Series' idea as an unconventional way to advertise his business. Personally, I think it was a great idea to think outside the box and as one might expect, the place was packed.

First up on this night was Dallas-based band THE JUNK. A nice band to get things kicked off, they played a nominal set of original material that really served to get the crowd going for the main bands of the night.

Next up was L.A. glam/sleaze rockers FASTER PUSSYCAT. Over the years the band has undergone some changes in lineup and appearance but the current band has been solid for some time now and is one of those party rock bands that I never get tired of seeing. Singer Taime Downe, joined by guitarists Xristian Simon and Ace Von Johnson, bassist Danny Nordahl and drummer Chad Stewart, kicked off their set with "Jack The Bastard" from the album Whipped!. From there the band just kept things rolling with a montage of band hits like "Cathouse", "Slip Of The Tongue", "House Of Pain" and "Bathroom Wall". The band seemed to be in great spirits despite the whisperings of discontent between certain band members prior to the show. Whatever issues there may have been were left outside when the band performed. Later in the set toward the end of "Bathroom Wall", the microphone was turned over to bassist Nordahl as the band jumped right into a cover of the SUPERSUCKERS tune "Pretty Fucked Up", which has actually become a staple in the band's set the past few times I have caught them live. Following this song and a brief drum solo, the band rolled right back to finish "Bathroom Wall". Then, in tribute to Bianca Halstead and the band BETTY BLOWTORCH, Taime and Co. launched into "Shut Up And Fuck" before closing out their rousing set with "Babylon", the track from their debut album, complete with the cartoonish "Faster Pussy, Pussy, Caaaaaat" playing in the background throughout. After the show was over and all during SKID ROW's set you could find the FP boys at the merch area chatting, taking pics and signing everything for the fans. Another great show from these guys!

www.fasterpussycat.com

Setlist: (My apologies if this isn't 100% correct. I had to take a smoke break at some point) :)

• "Jack the Bastard"
• "Cathouse"
• "Slip of the Tongue"
• "Number 1 With a Bullet"
• "Sex, Drugs, And Rock 'n' Roll"
• "House Of Pain"
• "Nonstop To Nowhere"
• "Pretty Ugly"
• "Don't Change That Song"
• "Bathroom Wall"
• "Pretty Fucked Up" (SUPERSUCKERS cover) (bassist Danny Nordahl on vocals)
• "Shut Up And Fuck" (BETTY BLOWTORCH cover)
• "Babylon"

And finally, SKID ROW. I had only had the opportunity to see these guys once since vocalist Johnny Solinger joined the band back in 1999, that being on one of the annual POISON package tours back in the early 2000's, so I was pretty eager to see how they sounded now. They got things pumped for the 'sold out' crowd with set opener "Let's Go", from the band's latest release United World Rebellion: Chapter One. This band was also on fire for their last show of 2013 as they rolled through their 15 song set with "Big Guns", "Makin' A Mess", "Mopnkey Business", "Slave To The Grind" and, of course, the hits "18 & Life", "I Remember You" and set closer "Youth Gone Wild". A revelation I thought was really interesting was when Solinger mentioned that he only had to drive 30 miles to get to the venue. Interesting because last I had heard, he lived in Dallas. But come to find out, he now lives just north of Houston in the same town I work in, but have yet to run into him anywhere. The band put on a flawless performance and was fully energetic. Of course, what would the holiday season be without some good old-fashioned Christmas music, SKID ROW style, in the form of "Jingle Bells", performed right before the last song?

My only critcism of the show was that while FASTER PUSSYCAT had no problems coming out and hanging with the fans after their set, the same couldn't be said for the guys in SKID ROW. After waiting around for at least an hour or so, I chose to leave once I got word that Snake Sabo had already departed the venue and to my knowledge the rest of the band never came out. I'm sorry, but it isn't like the band had to jet off to another show right away. It was their FINAL SHOW of the year, and it being Christmas and all, the guys could have made the effort to show appreciation to their fans. Sorry guys, but that was a complete bummer on what was otherwise a fantastic show.

www.skidrow.com

Setlist:

• "Let's Go"
• "Big Guns"
• "Makin' A Mess"
• "Piece Of Me"
• "18 & Life"
• "Thick Is The Skin"
• "Riot Act"
• "Darkened Room"
• "Kings Of Demolition"
• "Psycho Therapy"
• "I Remember You"
• "Monkey Business"

Encore:

• "Slave To The Grind"
• "Jingle Bells"
• "Youth Gone Wild"

Check out some photos from the show!
All Photos By Larry Petro

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