Jack Russell’s Great White Performs At The Whisky

By Andrew Bansal

imageFebruary 27th 2015, Whisky-A-Go-Go, West Hollywood CA: Los Angeles-based glam metal band Great White have been a prominent name in the sub-genre for almost four decades, and are still soldiering on, albeit in two different incarnations. Singer Jack Russell’s version of Great White has been acknowledged by fans as the more legit of the two ever since members of the group went separate ways into two different bands and started doing shows under the same name in 2011, purely because of Jack Russell’s perennial rock ‘n roll voice. His LA fans and family turned up in good numbers to attend a headline show at the Whisky-A-Go-Go in West Hollywood last Friday February 27 2015, some making the same old “don’t burn it down” jokes we’ve been hearing for the past ten years. After bearing witness to the band’s very likable performance at the same venue in 2013, it remained to be seen whether they would deliver the goods to an equal extent two years down the line.

For those that arrived early to ensure being able to get tickets and to get a good vantage point to watch the show from, the long wait was finally over at 11:30 PM as Jack Russell and his band mates took the stage for a 90-minute performance laden with fan-favorites from the 80s and the early 90s, along with a brand new tune called ‘Hard Habit’ and a cover or two. Jack Russell’s singing voice sounded excellent right from the outset, better than the show two years ago in all honesty. Early on in this set I was even doubting whether he was actually singing or lip-syncing, that’s just how good he was. Exhibiting his entire range and putting forth an apt representation of each song, Russell yet again proved himself as one of the finest voices in rock ‘n roll that are still going strong. Longtime guitarist/keyboardist Tony Montana stood by his side and played his part with ease, and so did the other three members of the band. Normally, a version of the band with just one original member wouldn’t be considered worthwhile enough by most fans (ask Geoff Tate), but Jack Russell’s Great White will certainly continue to be an exception to that rule.

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For the encore, Jack Russell brought out two guest musicians. Firstly, singer extraordinaire Oni Logan lent his glorious pipes to the band’s cover of Lynch Mob’s ‘Wicked Sensation’ with Russell taking a brief break and admiring Logan’s efforts from the side of the stage. And to bring an end to the show, Robert Sarzo played guitar on ‘Once Bitten Twice Shy’ as Russell resumed vocal duties. The audience was very much satisfied what what Jack Russell’s Great White treated them with, and the band seems poised to continue enjoying a loyal fan-following for years to come.

Jack Russell’s Great White links: website | facebook | twitter

The Whisky-A-Go-Go links: website | facebook | twitter | instagram

Set List:
01. Out Of The Night
02. All Over Now
03. Desert Moon
04. Psycho City
05. Save Your Love
06. Mista Bone
07. Lady Red Light
08. Hard Habit
09. Mistreater
10. House Of Broken Love
11. Rock Me
11. Wicked Sensation (Lynch Mob cover w/ Oni Logan)
12. Once Bitten, Twice Shy (w/ Robert Sarzo)

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