Michael Monroe/Vains of Jenna show last night at the Brixton in Redondo Beach....

The RARE's "Concert Guru" with my review of last night's Michael Monroe (Hanoi Rocks) w/ supporting band, Veins of Jenna...The show started of w/ J.J. & The Real Jerks...And, in my opinion they did a solid job of "warming" up the crowd for roughly 30 minutes or so. But, *note to the bass player*--your "one liners" in between the songs in the set...stick to your bass from now on, please!!

Vains of Jenna came out next with a blistering set of "Sleaze" Rock, that I'm sure had Michael and the other members in his band "head-banging" to the tunes while they were getting ready for their own set. Before their night was over, they even pulled off a "Zeppelin" classic, and to the delight of the crowd...a worthy version of Tom Petty's "Refugee".

When Michael finally hit the stage in front of the sold-out Brixton crowd, one could tell that the 20 years that he hadn't been on a stage in the L.A. area...was forgotten with the first note he "belted" from his microphone. The multi-talented Michael pulled songs that required his expertise from his sax & harmonica playing, to keep the frenzied crowd at bay.

A set full of songs from the "solo" days, such as "Not Fakin' It" mixed in with "classic" Hanoi Rocks songs like "Boulevard of Broken Dreams"...that was dedicated to the memory of his former band-mate "Razzle". There was a brief moment in the show, that Michael mentioned the close proximity of the club and the place where the fates of Motley Crue and Hanoi Rocks will forever be entwined.

To my surprise, was the number of "new" songs that Michael included in his set...If the club's reaction was any indication of future sales of his new material...Michael should do well.

Thanks to the staff at the Brixton, for putting on one of the best "Rock" shows...I have seen in a while!!

-Matt \m/ \m/