Gilby Clarke/Eric Singer Live In OKC 10/24/97
Review from: Joe D / KISS HELL Online
Just around a week and a half before this show I had read about it online that Eric Singer was playing drums on Gilby's new tour & I was surprised to see that one of the early dates was my hometown of Oklahoma City. I checked around the clubs & it turned out the date for the show was the 24th (not the 25th) and was at a club called the "T-Bar."
We got there around 9:00 & the place wasn't at all full yet. We went back towards the restaurant area where I located Stefan (the bass player) & asked him some things, then Eric walked up & I did a quick double take as I did not recognise him at 1st-his short hair caught me by surprise.. But Eric walked up & said "hey Joe" & we shook hands & talked a little as I got some things signed. He mentioned he didn't even have the promo tape of COS which he was signing.
Stefan checked out KISS HELL #27 as I was getting some photos of them holding issues, etc.. People in the restaurant were coming to Eric for autographs (even little kids). Eric mentioned that he thought I was in "that Fractured Mirror band" (Ace tribute) I said no as I pointed to Greg's shirt of my band SOCIAL PARASITE-the last time I saw Eric was in Jersey where Fractured Mirror played. Eric dissapeared to the bus for awhile as Greg went off with Stefan for a drink.
Later Eric walked in again & came & sat at our table, kind of excluded from everyone, this is when I got to talk to Eric about some things. The guy's so casual & normal it just hardly ever hits me that this is Eric from KISS. He was also happy to talk & sign things for all my friends there. This was during the opening band & we talked about things like COS (he always asked me or other fans what they thought of it-'I Walk Alone' in particluar which seems to be his favoite song on COS), about ever playing with KISS again-we agreed that would probably never happen.
Eric was a little surprised when I told him all the airplay "Jungle" has been getting & surprised also that this show wasn't advertised locally at all. My friend also asked Eric What's next & he replied "One day at a time." When asked if he would be singing tonight he made an inch with his fingers & said about this much! After a while Eric was off to prepare as showtime drew close. This was certainly the coolest way for me to pass time while waiting to see Eric play live.
Despite no publicity there was a turnout of around 100 people, this small crowd made the band very accessible-except Gilby who was in the bus 'till they hit the stage around 10:45. This band is a trio, the lineup is-Gilby-Guitar/lead vocals, Eric-drums/vocals, Stefan-bass. Eric played on a scaled down kit with a double bass pedal. Gilby played 2 sparkle finish ESP Les Pauls (blue & silver) & a beat up Gibson. Stefan played a Gibson Firebird bass.
This lineup sounds much better than the lineup on the CD in my opinion. While Gilby's CD's are cool they don't pack the punch of this lineup, if he could capture the live energy & chemistry of this lineup I think he'd have something really spectacular. At 10:45 the band hit the stage kicking ass with some original songs including "Wasn't Yesterday Great" & "If It's Good Enough For Rock & Roll" mixed with songs from Gilby's first CD & various cover songs including "Nothin' To Lose" with Eric singing lead & Gilby on the chorus answers. Gilby did a great version of "Mercedez Benz" by Janis Joplin. More new songs followed including "Punk Rock Pollution", "The Worst" & a great blues song "Blue Grass Mosquito" where Gilby did an awesome slide solo. His guitar playing was very impressive-especially from the front row seeing it so clearly. The band also invited the crowd to have a drink with 'em on this song as the crowd raised their glasses-the band all had a shot except Eric who doesn't drink much. He was drinking water all nite I think (SMART!). "Knockin On Heaven's Door" brought the house down & closed the main set with a crazy loud sing-along where some guy in the crowd kept grabbing the mike & singing it. This was Gilby's only Guns&Roses related song performed tonight. The first encore was a truly astounding version of the Stones' "You Can't Always Get What You Want", Gilby started it with a 'Little Wing' type guitar intro & the band came in, the song built up more & more 'till it was at a rockin' speed- great version which the crowd really enjoyed. This looked like the end of the show until the band came back-Eric gave 2 people sticks in the front & they tore into "Strange Ways" with Eric on lead vocals-this really rocked & ended the evening loud & proud.
After the show some fans hung around the tour bus, Eric invited me into the bus & introduced me to Gilby who was very cool. Eric took a photo of me with Gilby. Eric also gave me a stick he'd played with that night (thanks Eric!) as I was leaving I said 'Strange Ways was great' & Eric said "We played that cause you were here", thinking he was kidding I said 'No fucking way' & the whole band responded "We really did-we saw you in the front row all nite & decided to play that song for you" I was flattered beyond words & thanked the guys for such a cool gesture. Gilby & his band put on an awesome show & I'd reccommend all KISS fans go check 'em out & show Eric your support. Eric Singer makes it worth seeing alone-which is surely why KISS fans will be attending but this really is a great band in it's own right that does stand on it's own. Thanks to Eric, Gilby & Stefan for such a great show. Go check these guys out if they hit your town. Joe D