Heres a shocker: Duff McKagans new solo album Tenderness, out today, is more country sounding than some mainstream Nashville releases joining it on record-store shelves. The Guns N Roses bassist embraced that rootsy, even twangy, vibe wholeheartedly when he kicked off his solo tour at Philadelphias Theatre of Living Arts on Thursday night.
Backed by Shooter Jennings, who produced Tenderness, and Jennings four-piece band, including fiddle player Aubrey Richmond, McKagan recreated the woke 11-song LP in its entirety and rewarded GNR diehards with Use Your Illusion I deep cuts. Those too leaned toward country music, and curiously to songs originally sung by erstwhile member Izzy Stradlin.
Following an opening set by Jennings that found the Grammy-winning producer leaning into his more psychedelic, exploratory material, like the churning Dont Feed the Animals and the sneering Gunslinger (Im a motherfuckin gunslinger goes the chorus), McKagan dove right into the GNR catalog with UYI Is boozy and woozy You Aint the First. The Tenderness duet with Jennings Breaking Rocks followed, underscoring that this solo tour is anything but rather, its the live embodiment of the bond McKagan and Jennings forged in the studio.
Philly has always been a good fucking rock town, McKagan said, after a warm reception for Chip Away, his Tenderness takedown of clickbait culture and sensationalism. Indeed, the crowd was into this new phase of McKagan, especially considering the album wasnt yet available when he took the stage. He threw them another bone for paying attention, nodding to his Seattle roots with a version of Mad Seasons River of Deceit and segueing into GNRs Stradlin-sung Dust N Bones. With two of Tenderness most topical and challenging songs on deck, it was probably the wise move: Last September addresses the #MeToo movement and what it means to act like a man; Parkland takes a stark look at gun violence.
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Still, for all the heavy subject matter on his solo project, McKagan couldnt help but indulge his inner rock star. He delivered a roaring take on the Clashs Clampdown, with backing vocals from Jennings bass player Ted Russell Kamp, and returned yet again to Guns N Roses with Use Your Illusions most country track, Dead Horse. He forgot some of the words, but the crowd didnt, helping him find his groove and setting up the room for one final communal moment: the show-closing Deepest Shade. Written by Greg Dulli and cut by McKagans fellow Seattle musician Mark Lanegan, the ballad took McKagan out into the audience, where he clasped hands and doubled down on his new albums mission statement: My love, I give to you, he sang.
McKagans U.S. tour, with Jennings opening all shows, continues in Washington, D.C., on May 31st and runs through June 16th in Seattle.
Duff McKagan setlist:
You Aint the First (Guns N Roses)
Breaking Rocks
Tenderness
Chip Away
Feel
Wasted Heart
River of Deceit (Mad Season)
Dust N Bones (Guns N Roses)
Last September
Its Not Too Late
Falling Down
Cold Outside
Parkland
Clampdown (The Clash)
Dead Horse (Guns N Roses)
Dont Look Behind You
Deepest Shade (Mark Lanegan)
Shooter Jennings set list:
Bound Ta Git Down
Denim and Diamonds
All of This Could Have Been Yours
Steady at the Wheel
Dont Feed the Animals
Living in a Minor Key
Born Again
Leave Those Memories Alone
Gunslinger
White Trash Song
Rock N Roll Suicide (David Bowie)