GREAT NIGHT FOR GREAT WHITE
Healthy again, Jack Russell delivers a strong performance at outdoor Rainbow party
Hollywood , California – He has been through a lot over the years — lots of highs but a disproportionate amount of lows, too — and Jack Russell is still standing.
The founding singer for Great White has his own verson of the iconic pop-metal band, and Russell came through with a rousing performance Sunday, Sept. 6 under the stars in an outdoor Labor Day celebration at the Rainbow Bar & Grill.
Pardon Mr. Russell for feeling most comfortable back on the Sunset Strip. There he was where it all started after the post-Motley Crue boom found a slew of Los Angeles bands in addition to Great White all getting signed, going platinum and touring arenas.
Neither Russell’s version of Great White nor the other featuring singer Terry Ilous can headline large venues anymore. Nevertheless, there were about 1,000 or so that hung around until the end on a hot day that began at 2 p.m.
He is 54 now, and Russell appeared well-recovered from a series of illnesses and addictions that plagued him in his 40s — not to mention the stigma of the Rhode Island fire in 2003 that killed 100 and is still whispered about until this day.
On Sunday, it was a party, and Russell was the happy host. Dressed like a college student in a preppy button-down white shirt, Russell and his bandmates tore their way through an 80-minute set that featured all the big Great White radio hits, plus a warming rendition of Led Zeppelin’s “California.”
“Mista Bone” was the first one that really got the crowd going about 15 minutes in, and from there Russell did a good job of keeping hold of the momentum. His voice was clear and crisp, his attitude was positive and carefree, and his backing musicians adroit.
“Save Your Love” sounded as good as ever. “House of Broken Love” tinged some good memories of a lost era when the Sunset Strip was music’s grandest launching pad. “Rock Me” (which to me has always sounded a lot like “Save Your Love,” not that it’s a bad thing) was delivered with power and grace, and then of course came the closing “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” Great White’s most popular song of all.
Jake E. Lee’s Red Dragon Cartel opened, and though the set went over OK as twilight was setting in, the performance was overly loud and muddled, and the Ozzy songs sounded like shit. Perhaps there is a reason Lee took such a long break before launching this new project.
Leatherwolf, the Untouchables, Jon E. Love & The Haters and The Hard Way also performed.
Photos By: Margott Hinostroza
Gerry Gittelson can be reached at gspot@metalsludge.tv
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