Review by : Craig McDonnell
Photo’s By Alessio Michelini
Despite the fact that they are growing on me, it was nice to get away from the drone of the much talked about World Cup vuvuzelas for just one night and instead go to one of my favourite venues in Dublin, The Olympia, to enjoy 90s rock band, Stone Temple Pilots.
This night also provided a rare experience for me. It is not common for me to have the privilege of watching a relative blank canvas on stage, particularly one of such fame and presence. Being an early 90s baby, this band was reaching its peak while I was still in nappies, so only their biggest hits were in my repertoire of music.
This did not stop me from thoroughly enjoying the gig. As odd as it was to see a man in his 40’s gyrating, shouting into a megaphone and sweating so much that his shirt went from light blue to black over the course of the night, it was great to hear songs such as ‘Big Empty’, ‘Wicked Garden‘ and ‘Sex Type Thing’ being sung as well as hearing the wonderful guitar riffs from Dean DeLeo and the unique and almost manic stage presence from bass-player Robert DeLeo.
The encore began with front man Scott Weiland climbing into one of the famous Olympia boxes, standing on the ledge and singing the opening lyrics to ‘Dead And Bloated’ into a microphone. The crowd sang back to him as he climbed back down onto the stage, defying his increasing years.
Ending with ‘Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart’, the cynic inside me was left thinking if this was just another 90’s band reforming for a quick buck. However with their new, self-titled album debuting at #2 in the Billboard charts, maybe Stone Temple Pilots are gearing up for another shot at the big time.
Setlist – (thanks to Swear im not paul)
1. Vasoline
2. Crackerman
3. Wicked Garden
4. Between The Lines
5. Sour Girl
6. Creep
7. Hickory Dichotomy
8. Bagman
9. Huckleberry Crumble
10. Tumble In The Rough
11. Big Empty
12. Plush
13. Lounge Fly
14. Interstate Love Song
15. Sex Type Thing
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16. Dead And Bloated
17. Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart
