L.A. Guns with Budderside and Sinful Lilly
The Forum
Hazard, Kentucky
June 30, 2017
Veteran west coast rockers L.A. Guns brought their reunion tour to The Forum in Hazard, Kentucky. Fellow L.A. band Budderside and Richmond Kentucky’s own Sinful Lilly were in support.
Sinful Lilly got things started with their own brand of (as Fredi Handshoe the band’s front man calls it) guitar-driven, alternative hard rock. They tore through songs like Wait Your Turn, Guilty, Jack, and a new song called Devil Music and the Record Machine. They put on a high energy stage show with Nikki Handshoe (bass and vocal) often leaving the stage to mingle with the audience, while never missing a beat! Trey Bledsoe rounds out the trio on drums.
Budderside was next on the bill. They have been in direct support of L.A. Guns on this reunion tour. They are also from L.A. and it was great seeing them out here in Hazard! Budderside is made up of Patrick Stone – Vocals, Michael Stone – Bass, Colin Reid – Guitar and Rich Sacco on drums. They performed many tracks from their debut CD Budderside along with a super nice cover of Johnny Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues.
The reason for this night of rock and roll was L.A. Guns! The reunion tour is Tracii Guns and Phil Lewis, two original members of L.A.Guns along with Michael Grant – guitar, Johnny Martin – bass and Shane Fitzgibbon on drums. This is what I and everyone else in this enthusiastic crowd were here to see and hear! L.A. Guns didn’t disappoint. Wasting no time, they launched into No Mercy followed by Electric Gypsy. Tracii Guns brought out a bow to play the next solo, then right into Over The Edge, Bitch Is Back and Sex Action. After a couple more tunes, Michael Grant played and sang a dedication to the late George Michael with his cover of Faith. After a short break the band was back on stage closing out the night with Never Enough, the crowd favorite Ballad of Jane and Rip and Tear. L.A. Guns did not disappoint! I have seen them several times over the last few years, but the twin guitars of Tracii Guns and Michael Grant added something that took this show to another level.
The promoter of this show and numerous others in the Hazard / Whitesburg Kentucky area was and is Greg Napier of Greg Napier Promotions. He has and is bringing top quality performers to this area of the mountains. Get out and support Live Music in the mountains. Well, support live music wherever you are!
L.A. Guns Setlist:
No Mercy
Electric Gypsy
Bow Solo-Over The Edge
Bitch Is Back
Sex Action
Speed
One More Reason
Kiss My Lover Goodbye
Don’t Look At Me That Way
Malaria
Never Enough
Jelly Jam
Ballad of Jane
Rip And Tear
All photos by Tom Biggs at TRB Photography LLC
©2017. Please DO NOT copy or use without permission.
