April 28, 2005 - Saint Paul, MN - Xcel Energy Center

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General Information

Date: April 28, 2005
Location: Saint Paul, MN
Venue: Xcel Energy Center ; 175 Kellogg Blvd;Saint Paul,MN 55102 [ Venue website ]
Box Office Number: (651) 265-4800
Additional Info: Special Guests were Hoobastank.

Thanks to Mike for the set list!

Set List

• Sucker Train Blues
• Do it For The Kids
• Headspace
• Superhuman
• Crackerman
• Illegal I
• Fall To Pieces
• Dirty Little Thing
• Big Machine
• It's So Easy
• Sex Type Thing
• Set Me Free
• Wish You Were Here
• You Got No Right
• Mr. Brownstone
• Slither

Reviews (23) [ send in your own review/pictures of the Saint Paul show ]

Thanks to Joe Dorman: Concert was everything you'd hope. The guys sounded fantastic and the music was tight. They had the energy of people half their age. It was amazing. My friend and I had tickets in the 17th row right on the side of the stage. During the third song we moved down and stood in the front row. Awesome!!! We stood there the whole rest of the concert and never got hassled to leave. Concert wasn't full, but it was nice because it left a lot of options for getting closer.

I was impressed by Dave Kushner. He is not flashy or showy, but he jammed the whole time. Scott, Slash and Duff were on their A game. Perfect. My favorite though had to be Matt. Never missed a beat. Great show. Many thanks to Velvet Revolver for stopping in Minnesota. Hope to see you back here again soon.

Finally, the local rag newspaper here, the Star Tribune, printed a review and claimed that Velvet Revolver played "I Used to Love Her." Not true. And the other local newspaper, the St. Paul Pioneer Press printed a review and a picture with sidebar saying "Each time Scott Weiland approached Slash's half of the stage, Slash would saunter across to the other side. Slash rarely even looked in Weiland's general direction during the concert." Well, I don't know how anyone could tell where Slash is looking with his hair in his eyes, and the way those guys were constantly moving all over the stage, it's really grasping at straw's to make an assinine assumption like that. I suppose if you go digging deep enough for a story you can discover one. But in my humble opinion, I'd rather pay attention to the performance, which was fantastic, than to try and conjure up some half-witted soap operatic theme into a rock concert.

Thanks again to Velvet Revolver for an unforgettable performance.

Thanks to Renee Cupo: Real Rock and Roll finally. Loved the whole concert and all I want is more!!!!

Thanks to 1/2 Pint : I saw them at the Excel center. It was one of the best concerts I have ever been to! I've been to a lot. Anyway they kicked ass! I really didn't think Hoobastank did a great job opening for them though. They just weren't the right band for a job like that. I am a little dissapointed though because I'm going to Ozzfest and I'm going to the Sommerset, W.I. show Aug. 7th and Velvet Revolver doesn't start playing Ozzfest, until Aug.23. I would really like to see them again. Thanks :)

Thanks to Peg: I won't regurgitate what others have said - but a couple of things that stood out for me about an exciting (atmosphere, energy) but OK (musically) show:

- the pit was vicious. People were being carried out of there bloody. Beer + testosterone poisoning = zero judgment. When a 200 lb. drunk football player careens into a 5' 4", 110 lb woman (um - ME) the smaller person is going to get hurt. Grow up, people.

- the sound was really muddy, and it wasn't all the Excel's fault. Most songs were played faster than the CD, which left Scott struggling to keep up at times. Scott's vocals were often drowned out by Duff's bass. As someone else stated, we often couldn't quite hear the low end of Slash's range.

Does anyone from Velvet Revolver's crew read these boards? Please do something about the sound mix for future concerts. Previous posters from previous shows have provided similar feedback.

But all in all, worth the price of the ticket + Ticketmaster extortion fees, and ALMOST worth the bruises I came home with. Scott is always so hypnotic to watch. And Matt was in THE ZONE.

Thanks to Dave: Saw Velvet Revolver in St. Paul last night. I got the 5 Star VIP package from ILAA.

Kinda spendy, but we got free shirts, programs, laminates, Slash picks, alcohol, food, etc. in the pre-show party at 4 p.m. There were about 30 of us there.

At around 5 p.m., we got to go down to the floor for sound check. Everyone was there except Scott (who doesn't do sound checks -- gotta save the voice). They played a couple songs (Dirty Little Thing was one, a Black Sabbath song, too, which was a bit strange, and I think Set Me Free, but I really wasn't paying attention to the song selection). Duff got down on the floor with us during a song (wireless bass) and walked around listening from different places on the floor.

After they warmed up and played a couple of songs, they came down and mingled with us for pictures and chit-chat. They were really engaging! They signed things for everyone, including the best T-shirt of the group: It simply said "Axl Who?"

I got two unopened Contraband CDs signed by Slash and I gave him two shirts (he loves bizarre shirts). One was a 1995 world tour for a band called Unity XL that I totally made up and 4-color silk screened so it looked like a real band shirt. The "Stompin' the Jaggies" Tour had realistic dates and cities on the back and everything. One of a kind. If you saw it, it looks more professional than many of the ones you buy at the venues. I told him, "Wear this so people come up to you and say, 'Who the fuck are they?!" He laughed and said that was a great idea. So let me know if you ever see him in it. The other shirt I gave him was an authentic New York City Police Department official shirt that I traded a real NYC cop for when I was in Manhattan in 1995. Slash said to me, "Oh, man, I've been *looking* for one of these!" Glad to help!

Part of the VIP 5 Star package was the ability to stake out your GA floor position before doors opened. So most of the 30 people camped out front and center. But since I brought my 10-year-old son with me (he's a drummer and a big GNR & Velvet Revolver fan), we opted for front row next to the stage right by Slash so he wouldn't get trampled to death (and it did get extremely rowdy up front -- there was massive body surfing and I saw a couple of people carried out with blood on their faces).

As luck would have it, I ended up sitting next to Matt's cousin and we started talking. Matt has a lot of family in the Twin Cities. I told her my son is a huge Matt fan, so she called Matt's dad over from the stage and he said he'd get us backstage after the show. Cool!

It was really an awesome high-energy show. There were about 6,000 people and they were pumped. It was the standard Velvet Revolver set list that they are doing right now. The only thing different from the other recent ones was that they didn't play Used to Love Her. They came on about a half hour late, so maybe they drop that one when necessary. It usually pisses off the females in the
crowd anyway. (It sure did when they played it last year on their first leg. I've never seen so many growly women as when that song was being played.) Brownstone and It's So Easy got the most movement from the crowd. At one point during Sex Type Thing, Scott walked all the way up to the back of the auditorium, about 50 rows up straight back -- and sat down. He put the mic to his lips and shouted, "Rock n' roll is not just OBS-ER-VA-TION -- rock n' roll is PAR-TI-CI-PA-TION!" and he started dancing around with the girls up there. That was an interesting
moment.

As the show was ending with an extended version of Slither, Adam (Slash's guitar tech) handed my son the set list that he peeled off the stage. After the show, we were led to the room marked "Matt's Family." There were about 40 people in there, family and friends.

Matt signed my two CDs that Slash signed and he signed our laminates and the set list Adam gave my son. Then he talked to my son about drumming and gave him some encouragement, and also a signed drumstick that he used in the show. He signed it, "To Rob - Matt Sorum. Rock On! Hit 'Em Hard!" Then he showed Rob how to spin a stick like a pro. He really gave the kid a lot of time and attention, considering how many people were there.

Right after he signed the stick for him, I told Matt: "When Rob grows up into a superstar drummer like you and you're in a nursing home, he'll come and sign a stick for you!" Matt laughed and said, "Yeah, that's probably not too far away!"

Matt is a genuinely nice guy.

http://www.transactual.com/pix/Matt_and_rob2.jpg
http://www.transactual.com/pix/Matt_and_rob1.jpg

Thanks to Kimmy B: The show was ok. But I think band needs to be more audience appreciate to the people in the front row. I notice that no one was being touched & that is what front row is all about. Die hard fan get up there to see the band & with knowledge that they will get a chance to be touch by the very people that they idealize. But that was not the case. I was very disappointed more by Velvet Revolver than with Hoobastank.

Thanks to Sandra: I have no clue where the Star Tribune reporter was during most of the show because that review is off the mark. They did not play "I Used to Lover Her." That is a fact. Now, did their energy wane and the show hit a rut? I sensed that briefly but they picked the pace and the energy level right back up to just blow the crowd away. The whole band (not just Slash, Duff & Scott) made the songs from Contraband so much more intense and interesting than what is ever heard on the album. I luckily had great seats, but they went out of their way to give a great show to those in the extremely crappy side of the stage seats.

I was never a GNR fan, I did like STP, but frankly this was one of the best damn shows I have ever seen: for the tightness of the band, for the intensity of the music, and for the pure talent on stage. Scott's intonations and range are unique, and dead on. All the guys are charismatic and each personality shines.

Way too fucking cool.

Thanks to Joshua Squiers: I believe Scott's quote while hanging out in the crowd was, "Rock 'n Roll is not Observation, it's Participation."

Thanks to dh: The show was unbelievable. Hoobastank once again opened, I actually thought they were good, but judging by the lame response they got from the crowd, I appeared to be in the minority. When Velvet Revolver came on the crowd went crazy. The sound in the Xcel Energy Center was actually really good, Scott's vocals were not overwhelmed by the guitars. Usual set list, subbed Pink Floyd for Used to Love Her. Scott went into the crowd during Sex Type Thing. Overall, an awesome show, best I've seen in a long time.

Thanks to Greg Preboske: Kick-ass show. One of the best concerts I have ever seen. I saw them in Chicago when they first started touring. They were incredible then and even better now. The crowd at this show was a lot more intense than the first time I saw them. Mosh-pits, fights and body passing. It was a pure adrenaline rush. The only low point was that Weiland messed up the lyrics to Wish You Where Here. Other than that, everything sounded perfect. I plan on seeing them as many times as I can.

Thanks to Grettchen: Last night's show was awesome. I can't remember the exact playlist but they rocked. Hey, does anyone know why Scott went out into the audience when they played Sex Type Thing? Is this a show ritual for Scott?

Thanks to Matt: This was a great show and the night before Duff and Matt showed up at a bar in Minneapolis and I missed them by like 10 mins, which really ircked me. Hoobastank stank. While Velvet Revolver played 1 of the best shows I've ever seen. Besides a fight on the floor it went pretty smoothly and on top of that they were in 1 of the top rated arenas in the country which kinda gave it a more superior aura.

Thanks to Paul: A good show, but am I the only one who thought the sound SUCKED. Guitars could only be heard when Slash started jerking off on the high part of the neck, and Weiland was forcing all night, Illegal I he was completly off-key. Still you can't fault them for the raw energy and power this 5 piece showed.

Thanks to Breanna: But first, Hoobastank. When they came on stage, my mind flashed back to the VMAs, where they didn't do so well. But, woah. They have tons of energy. ( And the lead singer is about as skinny as Scott is.) They were really good, a bit of a surprise.

Then Velvet Revolver came on. Wow. Scott wore his glittery black pants with the stiching on his butt... He started out with a coat, which he stripped off, of course; a red vest, which was taken off; a button up shirt, taken off as well; a red tie, stripped off. Duff stripped too, but I didn't get to see that. But shirtless Duff and Scott... Just wow.

Highlights - Scott rocked on It's So Easy - I think it was his best song. Scott, erm, playing with his microphone.

Only problems were the Scott sounded like some possesed demon alien child, but compared to the feedback and terrible sound quality, it was nothing. No Used To Love Her. This, I think, is because of some stupid curfew. We didn't get the speech, either.

Thanks to Kyle: It was my first concert but it was an unforgettable one....hoobaSKANK wasn't so great. But I think Velvet Revolver totally blew the shit out of the crowd. So to make it short IT WAS FUCKING AWESOME!!!

Thanks to Mike: As far as I can tell the rest of the show appeared to be accurate. This was one hell of a show! It has to be one of the loudest shows that I have been to next to STP and Metallica. The band was on fire all night long from the moment that they came out!

Does Scott go out into the crowd for every show? Because last time that I saw STP in St. Paul back in 2000 he did the same thing during Plush. He came out into the middle of the floor and got on the security guys shoulder and sang the rest of the song in the crowd.

Thanks to Josh: Wow... This show kicked ass despite getting in a fight with 3 trouble makers that were throwing themselves into people in the pit and severly beatin the shit outa of them for half the show and missing it! Slash showed the reason why he is the best guitarist to ever pick up the instrument! It first started with Hoobastank which "STANK", they threw drum sticks into the crowd and the people who caught them busted them and threw them back at the band! Then the main event Velvet Revolver! It starts off with Sucker Train Blues all you can see in a dark arena is Slash's lit cigarette and then bright lights and a energetic open of the hard rock set! Headspace was a awesome song in which Slash really put the crowds ears to the test with that stack of Marshalls! He began Set me free with some teaser type riffs of the opening of the song and then starting the awesome intro full on and then really fucking loud!!!(my right ear is finally getting hearing back!) Then they start Mr. Brownstone off with a You could Be Mine drum solo and straight into Slash's wah pedal intro of Mr.Brownstone. They ended with Slither which seemed to be the loudest song of the set! Awesome solo just like the album! Then they had everyone screeming and mashin each other till the long ending of Slither! My first Velvet Revolver show and it was kick ass and it won't be the last! Hoobastank was a joke to open for this polished act Velvet Revolver! I guess sometimes you need a sucky band to make you feel you got your money's worth and appreciate the main band!

Thanks to John Weber: The set list was the same as the show before. Not one of the best Velvet Revolver shows (this is the third I've seen) but still good. They opened with the theme music from A Clockwork Orange, very cool, but the sound was not on. It seemed too high pitched. I don't blame the band. Other shows I've seen at the Excel have been less than par. Scott came off the stage and walked into the first tire of seats, only a mere six feet from me to get the crowd really going. Can't wait for the next album so we can hear the new tunes!

Thanks to Jim Meyer from The Star Tribune: It would be hard for rock supergroup Velvet Revolver to match the intensity of its local debut a year ago at the Quest nightclub, but this Grammy-winning quintet came pretty close Thursday night at Xcel Energy Center.

The arena was set up for half a house, so a boisterous crowd of about 6,000 was made to feel bigger and crazier than normal for being squeezed into a small portion of a huge arena.

Velvet Revolver features the instrumental core of Guns 'N Roses plus singer Scott Weiland of Stone Temple Pilots. Despite their past achievements and the excitement surrounding their comeback, Velvet Revolver is content to pound out a blistering brand of heavy rock showcasing Slash's trademark guitar cries, plus some GNR and STP classics for old time's sake.

Having been on the road nonstop for a year, the Velvet Revolver show is a well-oiled machine. In fact, it's not much different from the Quest set except with bigger gear, strobe lights and video sidescreens giving us too many close-ups of the musicians.

Weiland is still a charismatic figure, though he can't seem to decide which move to steal -- Mick Jagger's prancing, Axl Rose's hip shaking or David Bowie's glam dramatics on a budget.

Despite all of Velvet Revolver's musical power, the show began to feel like work after about a half-hour. The hit ballad "Fall to Pieces" was rushed, as if the five guys wanted to get back to rocking fast and loud. When they did, the second half of the main set seemed repetitiously hard and routine, though it was capped with a surprisingly effective acoustic encore featuring Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here,"You Got No Right," and "I Used to Love Her." After that, the band came back for the GNR classic "Mr. Brownstone" and a prolonged version of Velvet Revolver's first single, "Slither."

Hoobastank's opening set stank because lead singer Douglas Robb has an utterly nondescript voice. Whether he was screaming the fake torment of "Out of Control" or the sweet syrup of the smash "The Reason," none of it rang true, especially with a band that had absolutely no original melodic ideas.

Thanks to Ross Raihala from Pioneer Press: There was a certain cinematic quality to Velvet Revolver's Thursday night concert at the Xcel Energy Center.

When they weren't showing close-ups of the band's remarkably well-preserved hides, the large screens on either side of the stage brought the silhouetted James Bond girl of the band's album cover to life, giving the largely male audience of about 5,000 some female curves to gaze upon between shots of Scott Weiland's emaciated torso.

Throw in the Velvet Revolver logo - animated on the screens and rendered in Vegas-style lights behind the band - and the concert felt like one of those summer blockbusters Hollywood is just starting to trot out. Not necessarily a great one - just big and loud and sticky and dumb. And, what do you know, pretty fun.

Famously consisting of half of Guns N' Roses with former Stone Temple Pilot Weiland on vocals, the men of Velvet Revolver know how to work an arena. The tight, well-chosen set sniffed out every last corner of the band's debut "Contraband," blowing up the likes of "Set Me Free" and "Headspace" into even bigger, riffier rock monsters.

Even the ballad "Fall to Pieces" took on epic proportions thanks largely to Weiland's reptilian charisma. Notorious for his public battles with addiction, it quickly became clear why guitarist Slash and his fellow GNR expatriates gambled on accepting him into their ranks. He's compulsively watchable, even if he borrowed every last sneer, squeal and tossed-off profanity from greater talents. (Iggy Pop, for one, should really get his lawyer on the horn.)

One can't help but wonder how long this ride will last, despite the band members' insistence they'll have a sophomore album out by the end of the year. Slash - who was never the warmest guy, granted - rarely even gazed in Weiland's general direction during the show. And each time the vocalist approached the guitarist's half of the stage, Slash would saunter across to the other side.

Still, these guys are doing something right. They made "Contraband" sound much better than it actually is, and the covers - including STP's "Sex Type Thing," GNR's "It's So Easy" and even Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" - turned into audience sing-alongs. One wonders if they'll come up with a sequel.

Thanks to Mike Schmidt: Just got back from this show too.

Awesome, Velvet Revolver is such a great band.

That was cool when Scott got down in the crowd and walked to the back of the arena.

I wish they would have played Cheap Trick's "Surrender".

Thanks to Scott: The show rocked!!! Hoobastank opened and did a good job of warming up the crowd but even the lead singer admitted that people were there for Velvet Revolver. He said that Hoobastank was just a big fuckin appetizer for Velvet Revolver. They played for like 45 min.

Velvet Revolver hit the stage with Sucker Train Blues and followed right up with Do It For The Kids.

Highlights from the show have to include Set Me Free, where Dave and Slash dueled at the end, each backing up the other with the lower intro riff (guitar players know what I'm talking about). I didn't know Dave could play like that!! 2nd half of the show Slash showed up w/ his double neck and the band played "Wish You Were Here" it was amazing and the place was nuts with lighters. The band played a couple STP songs including Sex Type thing and closed out the show with a semi encore of Mr Brownstone and an amazing performance of Slither.

This was my first Velvet Revolver show but will definetly not be the last, these guys rocked hard and were amazing! It's the next morning right now and my ears are still ringing!! If you get the chance to see these guys do not pass it up, you will be rocked!!

Thanks to Kenny Peterson: WOW show was fuckin great! First got there and realized our seats were not that close. Spent most of the time trying to find closer seats. Hoobastank went on, they were good, sound was awesome. Got next to the floor, then got kicked out of our seats again. Asked the bouncer if we could get on the floor...answer was no. Got some closer seats. Lights went off and we rushed down towards the bounce with like 20 other peeps... Yah we got through. Fuckin sound was awsome. They covered I think all of Contraband and did Mr brownstone, It's So Easy, Pink Floyd, Sex Type Thing and a couple others. Everyone looked healthy and Scott got the fans involved by running to the back of the arena and stating that "it's not rock n roll unless your participating" or something like that. A lot of moshing compaired to their show last May at the Quest here. Saw two dudes get into a fight and then some friend split them up. All in all it was a great fuckin show!!! Can't wait for the new cd.