The lineup changes at each show and other past performers have included the talents (and not-so-talents) of Kip Winger (Winger), Steve Plunkett (Autograph), John Payne (Asia), Jimi Jamison (Survivor), CJ Snare (Firehouse), Jani Lane (Warrant) and Jeff Scott Soto (Journey).
Although we weren’t jacked with the lineup this year, Vick, Homework, Chazbo and myself donned our mullets and jean shorts and made the familiar trip down Route 2 on Friday night. Accompanying the Nelson boys for this summer’s bill were returning headliners Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple, Rainbow) and Janet Gardner (Vixen) and Scrap Metal newcomer John Corabi (Motley Crue, The Scream). Strangely absent was Mark Slaughter who was present for all other gigs in Uncasville.
Here’s what you need to do before you read on.....Cleanse your Rock & Roll pallet from any bad taste you had in your mouth about the Nelson twins....Erase the memories of their long blonde, he/she looking videos...Unclench your fists and purge the urge to punch them in their pastel-wearing nuts...
Now, let the review begin....
First the good news, Gunnar & Matthew have transformed themselves from those Barbie-doll looking tools to regular looking Rock & Roll celebs who have a pile of talent – plus they appear draw a vast female audience. This band has offered them the opportunity to rock out to many of our favorite hits and escape their embarrassing past – albeit their ticket to fame. Each year Gunnar shows he is a capable guitar player (even changing two broken strings on stage while the set continues around him) and Matthew plays a solid base. Most impressive is they know their place with this group – that is, they are there to have fun and jam for 100 minutes rather upstage anyone else with their music. Their harmonies are still spot on for the diverse set list yesterday. Now the bad news, everyone still needed to endure three Nelson songs in the set list.
Bad news continued....Back in the MTV days Vixen was the all-girl band whose videos you loved to watch with the volume off. While the years have yet to take a major toll on Janet’s looks, her songs provided nothing other than a chance to over-criticize her on stage moves as a nearly 50 yr old woman trying to hold on to her 25 yr old babe image. While her voice still is very good, Janet seemed misplaced on a Scrap “Metal” show.
It must have been difficult combing the globe to find this year’s talent if Janet had to return and the talented but little-known John Corabi were the best available 80s rockers. It was our first time seeing John and the consensus is this guy can sing and he looked the part of a rock lead singer with his unkempt white-man dread locks. His best tune by far was Motley Crue’s Live Wire – however, his other Crue song selections of Home Sweet Home and Smoking in the Boys Room resembled a cover band performance. Motley Crue belongs in arenas not in Dens. John actually shined to open the show with Thin Lizzy’s The Boys are Back in Town.
Surely the highlight of the night was when 60 year old rock legend Joe Lynn Turner appeared to play two classic Rainbow songs “Stone Cold” and “Street of Dreams” then rockin renditions of Deep Purple’s Smoke on the Water and Highway Star. Joe Lynn, who keeps Hair Color for Men in business with his jet black mop, still has that familiar powerful voice and range that is unwavering. Always a bit disturbing to me about this Rock & Roller is what I call his microphone gloves – an unnecessary wardrobe accompaniment that should have died w/ Michael Jackson a few years back. Apparently Microphone Blisters are a job hazard that I was completely unaware of.
The band mixed in some other classic rock hit including Led Zeppelin and had the Den rockin’ towards the end. Overall, while this show was not Scrap Metal’s best - it still outperformed my expectation and the trip down memory lane was rock-worthy.
Randall
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