In the world of rock and roll, guitarists hold a special place in the heart of fans. There seems to always be a discussion over who is the best, the fastest,or the most original. Of course, there are some iconic artists that make everyone’s list like Hendrix, Page, Clapton, Beck, Randy Rhoads, and Eddie Van Halen but there is one name that needs to be added to that list, George Lynch. George is one of the most talented and also one of the most underrated players on the planet. This past Thursday, Charlotte rock fans were treated to a show by one of the very best as Lynch Mob made a stop in the Queen City as part of their current summer tour.
The crowd at Amos’ Southend was a small one but filled with hardcore fans who knew that a special evening was in store. As the lights dimmed, the sound of Bob Dylan’s “Rainy Day Women #12 & 35” was playing while the band took the stage and double checked their instruments. The set kicked off with “21st Century Man” as lead vocalist Oni Logan worked the crowd and the shred master himself, George Lynch , began the night in blistering style. For the firsthalf of the show, the band played Lynch Mob favorites focusing heavily on their debut album from 1990 “Wicked Sensation” with a few newer songs thrown into the mix, including a personal favorite “Testify” from their “Rebel” album. There were a few technical difficulties and Oni asked if there were any smarty pants in the audience who might be able to fix it as the crowd laughed.
The second part of the evening centered around Lynch era Dokken hits which really got the crowd fired up. Oni’s vocals were spot on and although the venue was unusually hot, the band stayed on point. Drummer Jimmy D’Anda was solid behind the kit with only his hat and hands visible behind his cymbals as he pounded away all night. Bassist Sean McNabb was not only a fierce musician but a real showman. He looked so familiar and it wasn’t until closer to the end of the set that I realized he was also an accomplished actor as I recognized him from the tv show Sons of Anarchy. At one time during the evening, Logan joked and asked if anyone would be kind enough to grab him an IPA. George mentioned that he thought he was playing better than ever and that it was a little scary and I couldn’t agree more. He was fantastic all evening long putting on a master class of rock guitar. Lynch mentioned to the crowd that they had run out of t-shirts at the merch booth the night before and so they got some supplies from Michael’s craft store and made their own shirts at the hotel. If you bought a t-shirt at the show, you were going to have a Lynch Mob original.
Highlights of the set were the final two songs, the instrumental “Mr. Scary”with George’s signature sinister style and the Dokken classic “Tooth and Nail”both of which were a real showcase for Lynch’s abilities. After a few short moments, the band returned for an encore. Once again, Lynch showed why he is a true guitar great with a poignant and searing version of “The Star Spangled Banner” before capping off the evening with Lynch Mob’s biggest hit “Wicked Sensation.”
Lynch Mob put on a hell of a show. If you’re a fan of fantastic rock and roll guitar, don’t miss your chance to see one of the very best. Check out George Lynch and Lynch Mob this summer as they roll into your town. You’ll be very glad you did.
Setlist:
21st Century Man
She’s Evil But She’s Mine
River of Love
Hell Child
Believers of the Day
Testify
When Heaven Comes Down (Dokken)
Into the Fire (Dokken)
The Hunter (Dokken)
Mr. Scary (Dokken)
Tooth and Nail (Dokken)
Encore:
The Star Spangled Banner (Francis Scott key cover)
Wicked Sensation
We would like to thank Dustin Hardman from Frontiers records for his assistance in obtaining the credentials to review the show.
