SKID ROW & BUCKCHERRY LIVE!! | PIEDMONT HALL GREENSBORO
The night of March 25th, 2023 at Piedmont Hall in Greensboro, North Carolina was a mix of late 80’s, 90’s & more current fans of the bands Skid Row & Buckcherry. Not only was I excited to relive part of my youth by covering the first band I’ve ever seen in concert (Skid Row with Aerosmith January of 1990 in Philadelphia!) but as soon as I pulled into the parking lot, I was met with a sea of leather pants, jean vests covered in band patches, Skid Row & Buckcherry t-shirts and hearing groups of people talking about the first times they ever saw these bands. I love feeling that energy.
The show started with Michigan rockers NO RESOLVE. These guys were new to me, but they killed it! The vocals of singer Oscar Pegorraro were intense & the rest of the guys (Matty Shea, Jason Hatmaker & Dennis Patterson) followed suit. Watch for them, they are going to be huge.
Next up were California rockers Buckcherry and as soon as they hit the stage everything was completely LIT UP (which also happened to be their first song). Lead singer Josh Todd was there to impress & his vocals were on point. I love a band that keeps the energy level high while you sing along and not only did they keep the energy high, Josh & the guys didn’t stop moving the entire time. Band members Billy Rowe, Francis Ruiz, Kelly LeMieux & Stevie D played along while Josh Todd sang favorites such as LIT UP, SO HOTT, RIDIN’, SORRY, and of course they ended the night with Todd’s incredible dance moves & and a nearly 8 minute rendition of the obvious crowd favorite CRAZY BITCH. It was insane & everyone at Piedmont Hall loved it!
When the guys in Skid Row took the stage, I had a total fangirl moment…and I instantly started singing along to their first song SLAVE TO THE GRIND while capturing the show. Original members Rachel Bolan, Scotti Hill, Dave ‘Snake’ Sabo are now joined by drummer Rob Hammersmith and new lead singer Erik Grönwall. Skid Row continued the energy of the night & kicked it up a notch with Erik’s vocals…he has some serious range & hit every single high note & scream the way it should be done. The band was cohesive & sounded like they just walked out of a studio. Skid Row was formed in Toms River, New Jersey in 1986 and after 30+ years together they still have the same heavy metal edge that they have always had. The crowd was pumped up and singing along to 18 & LIFE, PIECE OF ME, QUICKSAND JESUS, MONKEY BUSINESS, THE GANG’S ALL HERE, I REMEMBER YOU & closing out the night on a high note with YOUTH GONE WILD. What a great night & an amazing show!
Contributing Editor Angela Gallagher
