Black Star Riders - Killer Instinct Tour
Black Star Riders found themselves being rehomed on Friday night after Shepherds Bush Empire was temporarily closed down due to structural fears; their gig took place at Scala which proved to be a blessing for Black Star Riders, as Scala was full, whereas Shepherds Bush Empire would have been at about 50 percent capacity.
Black Star Riders are currently touring with Whitesnake and Def Leppard, sadly there were no surprise guests at Scala but that did not stop the band from delivering a rocking show which was not a massive surprise when you consider that the band were born out of the last touring version of Thin Lizzy and the members’ touring credits Alice Cooper and Ozzy Osbourne.
Black Star Riders appeared confident on a stage; their set was made up of original material such as Killer Instinct and All Hell Breaks Loose with a couple of Thin Lizzy favourites thrown in for good measure with Boys Are Back In Town getting a massive reaction. The classic sound of Thin Lizzy and the material of Black Star Riders complemented each other perfectly.
Each band member was introduced to the crowd throughout the night, and they all got a massive reception without there being a clear crowd favourite; guitarist Scott Gorham had clearly not adjusted to playing a smaller venue, as when the band were trying to get the crowd to cheer, he would look and point well over the heads of the crowd, as if they were playing a stadium and he was trying to get those in the nosebleeds involved.
Overall, Black Star Riders put on a great show - their years of experience oozed from the stage and they played an impressive 100 minute set, which was a treat to see in an intimate setting.