January 25, 2007

Jam
Music
      Artists A-Z
      Album Reviews
      Concert Reviews
      Concert Listings
      SoundScan Charts
      Lowdown Column
      Pop Encyclopedia

Movies
Television
Video
Theatre
Books
Country
TIFF 2009




ENT Blog
Video Clips Gallery
RSS Feed

JAM POD NOV 21


Concert Review: Rock Star Supernova

Massey Hall, Toronto - January 24, 2007
By -- Toronto Sun
Bookmark and Share


TORONTO - Lukas Rossi got the homecoming of his life last night as the Toronto frontman of reality-TV band Rockstar Supernova played Massey Hall.

Taking the stage before a sold-out crowd, the 30-year-old Rossi was greeted by screaming, clapping fans of all ages -- from kids to grandparents -- before he and his three bandmates even began their hour-and-15-minute set.

"I'm back f---ing home, aren't I?" said Rossi with a big smile on his face. "A year ago I was just a fry cook (at Hooters). You guys made this happen. I'm so f---ing happy to be Canadian."

And when Rossi, backed by Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, ex-Guns N' Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and Black Crowes bassist Johnny Colt (filling in for an injured Jason Newsted, formerly of Metallica), was once again treated to more prolonged love later in the show, he said; "F--- California, I'm coming back home."

As promised by Rossi before the band arrived, last night's concert was a drastically toned-down affair compared to the sexually-charged tour launch in Las Vegas on New Year's Eve.

Absent was Rossi's over-the-top suggestive intro -- edited down to him basically just saying, "What happens at a Rockstar Supernova show, stays at a Rockstar Supernova show," -- drummer Tommy Lee operating a "t-tty-cam," and two female dancers in bikini tops, g-strings and chaps.

Instead, it was mostly about the music, as heavy-handed as it was at times -- loud, brightly lit, and with Rossi's tendency to wail instead of sing.

When everyone settled down, like during such standouts as It's All Love, Headspin -- "this is for you, Mom," Rossi began by way of an intro -- The Dead Parade and Be Yourself (And 5 Other Cliches), it actually was tolerable.

And while opening and closing the show with Underdog and a cover of The Rolling Stones' Let's Spend The Night Together, as they did in Vegas, the group drastically moved around the song order and added one new cover, a rocked-up version of Don Henley's Boys Of Summer.

Present too, as in Sin City, was an all-female string quartet which joined the group for two songs, a cover of The Verve's Bittersweet Symphony and Rockstar Supernova's own ballad Can't Bring Myself To Light This Fuse.

Canada obviously loves their home boy as the group's label presented Rockstar Supernova with plaques signifying their self-titled debut album had gone platinum (100,000 copies sold), the first place it has done so.

Otherwise, it was a Rockstar Supernova TV reunion of sorts with no fewer than three people involved in the series as openers.

The other two lead singer finalists, South Africa's Dilana Robichaux and Toby Rand with his Australian band Juke Kartel, along with The Panic Channel, led by show co-host and guitarist Dave Navarro, warmed up the audience for Rossi and company.

And while Robichaux may have been the most eye-catching -- in a black leather bustier, white crinoline skirt with a black cross on it, and crazy, multi-coloured extensions in her hair -- it was Rand who walked away with the best musical set of the three.

Women flocked to the front of the stage as soon as the tank-topped, well-toned Rand appeared and he gamely had his picture taken with several of them during his five-song set, which included Chemical Dreaming, familiar to anyone who watched the TV series.


More Concert Reviews

HOT MUSIC HEADLINES
Plaskett tops Folk awards
Second autopsy requested in Jewell death
MJ's glove fetches $350K
Fight promoters sue DMX
Chaos shuts down Bieber event
Live Review: Cranberries in Toronto
Live Review: Kelly Clarkson in Calgary
Jackson's drugs bought in Vegas
Britney's ex-boyfriend jailed
Rapper Wale recruits Gaga on CD
More Headlines
Cyrus' tour bus driver killed
Oasis attacker admits to shove
Eminem delays new album to '10
Q & A with Susan Boyle
J.Lo, Lambert ready for AMA stage
Live Review: STP in London, Ont.
Live Review: Jimmy Buffett in T.O.
Occhipinti wins Sicily prize
Arkells getting radio play
The Cat Empire soaks up sounds


Lowdown column
Get the inside scoop on the Canadian music industry with Karen Bliss.
Who's coming and when
Want to know when your favourite band is coming to town? Check out Clive, JAM Music's extensive Canadian concert listings.
TV Listings
Wondering what's on tonight? Check out our TV listings for the complete schedule in your area.


Did you win a trip to the Montreal Jazz Festival?

Find out here!

Berkeley Church concert winners!

Kid Rock contest winners



Wham






What do you think of Oprah's decision to end her show in 2011?
It's a good one - she's going out on top
I'm disappointed
I could care less


Results | Story