Skid Row + Enuff Z’Nuff @ KK’s Steel Mill, Wolverhampton – Wednesday 19th October 2022

20 October, 2022

“I think we’ll keep him! ” declared Rachel Bolan after introducing Erik Gronwall mid-way through Skid Row‘s electrifying headline performance at KK’s Steel Mill. And they would be well advised to do so; he is definitely a keeper. It is fair to say that the New Jersey rockers have been through their fair share of changes but the Swedish vocalist is proving to be the perfect fit. Not only does he possess the necessary on stage charisma to hold his own as front man of a band with a steep history but Erik also has that magical voice that gives him the ability to belt out classics like speed metal opener ‘Slave to the Grind’ and convey the emotion of power ballad ‘In a Darkened Room’.

Last time Skid Row were here in Wolverhampton, they had Erik’s former band H.E.A.T. along as support and clearly Bolan, Scotti Hill and Dave Sabo saw something in the singer that inspired them to make the call when the time came. New album The Gang’s All Here represents a promising start and a couple of songs were included in the set with both the title track and ‘Time Bomb’ going over well.

It has been more than thirty years since Skid Row first came to the UK and blew away the audience with their opening slot at Milton Keynes Bowl. And of course the debut album still made up a considerable part of the show, from the raucous ‘Big Guns’ to the arena filling anthems ’18 & Life’ and ‘I Remember You’. The addition of Erik has given them a new lease of life and and ‘Youth Gone Wild’ saw the evening end in spectacular fashion. They will never escape their illustrious (and sometimes turbulent) past but Skid Row are in great shape for the future.

Setlist:-

Slave to the Grind
The Threat
Big Guns
18 and Life
Piece of Me
Livin’ on a Chain Gang
The Gang’s All Here
Riot Act
In a Darkened Room
Psycho Therapy
Monkey Business
I Remember You
Time Bomb
Youth Gone Wild

Along for the ride on this tour are Enuff Z’Nuff, another band who have been coming here for more than three decades and who have been through a considerable number of line-up changes themselves. The irrepressible Chip Z’Nuff is still fronting the band and they include Birmingham born guitarist Tony Fennell, who briefly fronted Ultravox in the early 90’s. Beatles tribute album Hardrock Nite was released last year via Frontiers and they kicked off with ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ which, along with ‘Eleanour Rigby’ and ‘Jet’, was highlighted by some impressive triple-part harmonies. Despite only having 45 minutes on stage there was, fortunately, still time for renditions of signature songs ‘Fly High Michelle’ and ‘New Thing’; Chip’s between song banter adding to the overall good-natured vibe that EZN’s blend of power pop evokes. Always fun live, tonight was no exception.

Setlist:-

Magical Mystery Tour
Kiss the Clown
Eleanor Rigby
Baby Loves You
Jet
Fly High Michelle
New Thing