Stone Temple Pilots
with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
October 12, 2010
Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, FL
Review by Adam McCormick
Photos by Leah Pritchett
The most difficult feat for any great band is the ability to return to relevancy after a long hiatus. The band must simultaneously reinvent its sound and retain the characteristics fans used to love, all while avoiding looking like a lame cover band of its former self. Few acts have accomplished this, Bruce Springsteen, The Rolling Stones, and U2 are a few that come to mind; but most seem to just meddle in mediocrity before finally disappearing into obscurity. Stone Temple Pilots, one of the defining grunge bands of the 90's, is the latest to attempt the seemingly impossible. STP stopped at Hard Rock Live on Tuesday, October 12 in promotion of their latest self titled album.
Almost 18 years since STP released their greatest work Core, it's clear that former 90's grunge fans have changed as much as the band. The audience, who failed to show any support for the opening act Black Rebel Motorcycle Club,
Scott Weiland
was primarily comprised of couples in their 30's and 40's, drinking light beers and cocktails, tired from their 9-5's. A little less than half the arena was full while BRMC tried their best to warm up the salty crowd, highlighting the set with the infectious garage, blues, rock song, "Ain't No Easy Way." After tearing through a short and tight set list, BRMC’s lead singer politely thanked the audience and the band exited stage right.
Following a nearly 30 minute long break between acts, the lights dimmed and STP marched to their respective positions. The flash of stage lights and strike of the first chord even managed to raise the geezers in the audience out of their comfortable padded seats. Not until the third song of the night, "Vasoline," did STP seem to finally harness their old school rock powers. It was clear that lead singer, Scott Weiland and company could still put on one hell of a show.
The band moved through each song like true professionals, not missing a beat, lyric, or solo, stopping only occasionally to announce a new song or wait for Weiland to hydrate (with water this time around...he's “sober” now). Weiland wasted little time interacting with the crowd, belting out all the classics and new stuff with calculated force.
The band moved through each song like true professionals, not missing a beat, lyric, or solo, stopping only occasionally to announce a new song or wait for Weiland to hydrate (with water this time around...he's “sober” now).
Robert DeLeo
While Weiland looked in top form, guitarist Dean DeLeo stole the show with some truly face melting solos. For all the traditional STP fans, the hits: "Crackerman," "Plush," "Interstate Love Song," and "Sex Type Thing" were as gritty and aggressive as ever. The new songs, while by no means bad, seemed a bit Coldplay-ish, especially when accented by the enormous LED screen on the back of the stage.
The encore, featuring Weiland screaming through a megaphone for "Dead and Bloated," and DeLeo mastering an epic solo during "Trippin' on a Hole in a Paper Heart," was decidedly the highlight of the set.
Whether STP will ever become a significant, defining band to a new generation is probably a question that won't be answered for some time. For now, the old songs still rock, and the new stuff... well maybe one day it'll feel like the old stuff.
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Scott Weiland
Robert Levon Been
Peter Hayes
Peter Hayes