Photographs by Lee-Ann Richer.
*It is with tremendous sadness to report that Scott Weiland was found dead on his tour bus yesterday, Thursday December 3, 2015 at age 48. Our thoughts go out to his family, friends, crew, and fans. We were privileged enough to cover and interview him at the last show of his life. Below are a review and photo gallery of his final performance in Toronto*
California-born singer/songwriter Scott Weiland, and his band the Wildabouts headlined at Adelaide Hall (originally booked at the Hardrock Café until a few days ago), in Toronto on Tuesday December 1, 2015. Weiland was the former frontman for the band Stone Temple Pilots and super group Velvet Revolver and has sold over 44 million records with both bands. This multi-platinum singer/songwriter has two Grammy Awards under his belt for Best Hard Rock Performance for “Slither” and “Plush”.
Adelaide Hall is a very cool club that screams VIBE. It’s very intimate and suits the smaller original scene band. In addition to Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts, we (my wife Lee-Ann – photograph for Live in Limbo – and I) also saw two of the four opening bands.
The band The Road Heavy (band three of the four openers) was on stage when we arrived. I wish I had the chance to see more of them! Their style has a heavy, southern rock feel. They really have it together as a band. Fallen Heirs was the next band to take the stage and they were wild and energetic. Vocalist Tim Shaw was quite the comedian! At one point he asked the audience how many paid $45 to see Fallen Heirs?
Last band of the night – Scott Weiland and the Wildabouts!
Once the set list was taped at various spots on the stage, it was like a signal to the audience the band was coming. The sixteen song set list (including the three song encore) was comprised of seven songs off his current release Blaster. This is his fourth solo album and was released March 2015. There were seven STP songs and one Velvet Revolver song.
When Scott arrived on stage he appeared to be shaky and moved very slow and somewhat cautiously. However, it wasn’t long before he found his grove and joined the rest of the band that was already rocking out. Bassist Tommy Black and Guitarist Nick Maybury seemed right at home on stage. Nick is the new guitarist, taking over for former guitarist Jeremy Brown, who passed away earlier this year. At times Maybury would play lead with his teeth Hendrix style. One to keep your eye on is drummer Joey Castillo (former drummer for Queens of the Stone Age). I don’t think I have ever seen a drummer hit drums and cymbals with such force. I am surprised he didn’t pound his drums through the floor of the stage!
STP songs like “Crackerman”, “Meatplow”, “Big Bang Baby”, “Vasoline”, “Big Empty” and “Dead & Bloated” were hammered out. Weiland didn’t have much in the way of banter with the crowd other than announcing the next song however this gathering of fans didn’t seem to care. They were too busy worshiping Weiland and his new band with cheers, screams and singing every word to every song.
Off the album Blaster songs such as, “Modzilla”, “Amethyst”, “Way She Moves”, “Hotel Rio”, “Parachute” and “White Lightening” were the highlights performed in the set.
Near the end of the evening, “The Jean Genie” a David Bowie cover, was played and it was very well received by the audience!
The last three songs in the encore were, “Circles” off of Blaster, “Do It for the Kids” from Velvet Revolver’s Contraband, and “Unglued” from STP’s Purple.
Listening to the opening bands from the middle of the room I found the sound was excellent but when I moved up to the front of the stage I didn’t like the sound. The band didn’t sound together and the vocals seemed off. As I was leaving I stood at the back and again, it sounded better.
The reviews are all over the place when it comes to Scott Weiland. One day the review is glowing and the next one…isn’t! So who do you believe? Believe the fans. Last night they loved every note.
Watch Scott Weiland’s last interview.
