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Review by: Janel Spiegel
Photography by: Diane Fleischman
SLASH
S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival
Monday, August 3, 2024 at 6:15 PM
Wind Creek Steel Stage
711 E. First St.
Bethlehem, PA
Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, what a beautiful day. What a way to kick off a Monday. Rocking out with SLASH and the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival, a Celebration of the Blues. The blues is the reason we have music. It’s a gift. SLASH was joined by opening acts: ZZ Ward, Robert Randolph (SLASH was wearing a Robert Randolph t-shirt.), Grace Bowers & The Hodge Podge. We already know, Mother Nature LOVES the blues. The weather was beautiful.
The S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival is SLASH’s blues tour that goes along with the release of the album, Orgy of the Damned. It was a packed house tonight at The Wind Creek Stage, and another irresistible day at Musikfest 2024. It’s forty-one years of making history for Musikfest. The first fest was held in 1984. SLASH started the celebration of the blues, and brought along some of the most incredible artists including: Samantha Fish, Warren Hayes Band, Keb’ ‘Mo, Christine “Kingfish” Ingram, Robert Randolph, Eric Gales, ZZ Ward, Jackie Venson, and Larkin Poe.
Let’s take a moment and talk about SLASH. Slash or Saul Hudson is the lead guitarist for the band Guns N’ Roses, his birthday also just passed so Happy SLASH Day belated. Slash has had a couple of iconic bands over the years that includes: Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators (I attended one of those shows, and it was incredible.), Slash’s Snakepit, Velvet Revolver, (They have some incredible songs.).
Tonight… at Musikfest with my fellow music and dancing loving friend ready to go, we had a blast. Slash’s blues band is unbelievable, the talent is just impeccable. Johnny Griparic, Teddy Andreadis, Michael Jerome, and Tash Neal. Tash Neal is WILD, this gentleman can SING, and play. His energy is so beautiful. His voice is just soothing, and tonight’s show was gritty, grimy, sweaty, full of love, and heartache. It was the BLUES with a touch of Rock, a bit of jazz, a little bit of Slash breaking out his solo of The Godfather soundtrack theme song.
Grace Bowers stated she was inspired by Slash, and that’s why she started playing guitar. It was nice to hear a little bit of her story. Her band, and her singers are full of soul, and love. It was breathtaking.
ZZ Ward talked to the crowd, interacted, and spoke about being on tour with her kids. She put on one hell of a show. She performed, “Mother,” “Grinning in You Face,” a Son House cover. She also performed “Ride,” and “Put the Gun Down.”
Robert Randolph… OHHHH, Robert Randolph. Robert Randolph and The Family Band. They could play all day, all night, all week, all month. Just keep playing. It was perfection. Part of the setlist including, “I Need More Love,” and we all do. We all NEED MORE LOVE.
The setlist for Slash included: “Papa Was a Rolling Stone,” (The Temptations cover), “Storm Monday,” (T-Bone Walker cover), “Metal Chestnut,” “The Pusher,” (Hoyt Axton cover), “Cross Road Blues,” YES THE ONE AND ONLY, MR. ROBERT JOHNSON – The Standing Ovation, and extended ovation was BEYOND WELL DESERVED.
Without these artists, the artists you love today, and even back in the day would NOT exist. I will hover above galaxies, and stand on that mountain because those artists wrote what they felt. They did not get enough of everything. THEY DESERVED EVERYTHING.
Howlin’ Wolf, Booker T. & The MG’s, Muddy Waters, T-Bone Walker, Hoyt Axton, Etta James, Robert Johnson, Freddie King… I could go on and on, and on, B.B. King, Buddy Guy. Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, John Lee Hooker, Elmore James, Big Bill Broonzy, Big Walter Horton, Son House, Mississippi John Hurt, Little Walter, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Willie Dixon, and Mamie Smith.
Lots of people showed up with a variety of t-shirts. The Guns N’ Roses fans always faithful to Slash, Myles Kennedy, The Hollywood Vampires. It was quite a night. People were excited, and just wanted to forget about Monday.
They added some rock in and Tash Neal made it perfect singing The Jimi Hendrix Experience’s “Stone Free.” It was a beautiful mix, and a new take on such a classic. Slash came out to sit at the Lap Steel guitar or Pedal steel guitar. It was awesome to see Slash in such a different element with such talented artists. Johnny Griparic is such a VIBRANT soul as a bass player. He gets into every bit of the moments. Teddy Andreadis has such a beautiful voice. It’s GRITTY, and DEEP. He takes you ALL THE WAY in to feel all the FEELINGS. It was just a beautiful show. It would be great to see this band again.
It was awesome to see Slash vibing with all of the songs, and the different takes they put on the songs. If you haven’t seen them live before, go see them. Tash Neal, Gary Clark Jr., and Lenny Kravitz need to make a whole album together. (Add Robert Randolph in there.) Gary Clark Jr. has out of this world talent.
They ended the night and thanked the crowd, thanked Bethlehem, and Musikfest… and then came back for one more. It’s always great to have an encore. Slash is an ICON, a legendary artist, and one of a kind. There will only ever be one SLASH.
It was a blast. Musikfest just outdoes itself every year. Keep those Blues alive, and go check out Musikfest for more music.
https://www.slashonline.com/news/slash/
https://www.robertrandolph.net/
https://www.instagram.com/theteddyzigzag/?hl=en
https://www.instagram.com/grace__bowers/
https://www.instagram.com/johnnygriparic/
