Guns N' Roses bassist and Irish passport holder Duff McKagan has kicked off his 2024 European solo tour, with a show in Dublin on Monday night (30th September 2024). Taking place at the Academy on Middle Abbey Street, the excited Irishman declared; "I wish we could play here very fucking night!"
Launching his first solo headline run in half a decade, the 'Lighthouse Tour ‘24' celebrates the release last year of his critically acclaimed third solo album of the same name. Eschewing the big arena rock theatrics of his day job, - such as Guns n' Roses 80,000 capacity return to Slane, Co Meath in 2017 - the gig was the opposite of what he's more commonly used to, with an intimate venue, relaxed atmosphere, and a (mostly) laid back, chilled out songbook.
Greeted like a returning son, McKagan strode onto the velvet curtain-backed stage looking every inch the rock god, in tailored black suit and Aviator shades, and with a Gibson guitar hung low. Launching into the foot-off-the-gas country of 'Forgiveness', with its slide guitar licks and unfussy acoustics, it was clear that was going to be no G n' R show.
That didn't mean that something more raucous wasn't to come, but for now, the acoustics remained, and picking up the pace, the jaunty 'Chip Away' was followed by the tremolo guitar and gospel organs of 'This is the Song'. In a nod to his musical roots meanwhile, the punky 'I Saw God' revealed the first hints that this was no lounge act.
Greeting the crowd, the clearly elated singer said; "Dublin! This is fucking awesome!", before confessing to some opening night nerves; "this is our first show as this band. I'm trying not to be nervous", he said, before adding; "We couldn't have thought of a better place than to start this tour than Dublin."
With the title track of his 2019 release 'Tenderness' coming next, the beautiful hymn was followed by the gospel blues of 'Feel'.
Offering the fist edgier moment of the night, a short cover of The Stooges' 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' saw Duff give the audience; "just a little kick in the ass there, right?"
Revelling that he and his wife had spent a few days in the city before the show, the former Velvet Revolver man said; "We flew here on Saturday because we wanted to see some family. I have an Irish passport. I'm one of you lot! We went to Temple Bar and we had a blast!"
Changing gear, and mood, where he teased something more energetic earlier in the evening, he finally delivered, donning a Fender Telecaster, and a snarl for a cover of The Clash's 'I Fought the Law' and an edgy, breakneck take on Guns n' Roses' 'You're Crazy', which predictably, sent the audience wild.
An utterly inspired cover of David Bowie's 'Heroes', meanwhile, drew the biggest response of the evening, with the Guns' bassist moved to declare; "seriously guys, I wish we could play here very fucking night. You guys are fucking wonderful".
Signing off with the anthemic 'Don't Look Behind You', a moved McKagan said simply; "until next time. Fuckin' love you Dublin!"
Duff McKagan's 'Lighthouse Tour ‘24' continues across Europe in October and November.
OCTOBER
2 – Glasgow, Scotland – The Garage *
3 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy 2 *
5 – London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall *
7 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg *
8 – Cologne, Germany – Die Kantine *
9 – Munich, Germany – Freiheitshalle *
11 – Brno, Czech Republic – Sono Centrum *
13 – Warsaw, Poland – Klub Stodola *
14 – Berlin, Germany – Heimathafen Neukölln *
16 – Milan, Italy – Magazzini Generali *
17 – Solothurn, Switzerland – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl *
19 – Liege, Belgium – OM *
20 – Paris, France – La Trianon *
22 – Stockholm, Sweden – Nalen *
NOVEMBER
4 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club †
6 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge †
8 – Chicago, IL – Outset †
10 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater †
13 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey ^
18 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater +
20 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox +
* w/ James and the Cold Gun
† w/ Lee Ving’s Range War
^ w/ Grace McKagan
+ w/ Joey “Sh*thead” Keithley
Greeted like a returning son, McKagan strode onto the velvet curtain-backed stage looking every inch the rock god, in tailored black suit and Aviator shades, and with a Gibson guitar hung low. Launching into the foot-off-the-gas country of 'Forgiveness', with its slide guitar licks and unfussy acoustics, it was clear that was going to be no G n' R show.
That didn't mean that something more raucous wasn't to come, but for now, the acoustics remained, and picking up the pace, the jaunty 'Chip Away' was followed by the tremolo guitar and gospel organs of 'This is the Song'. In a nod to his musical roots meanwhile, the punky 'I Saw God' revealed the first hints that this was no lounge act.
Greeting the crowd, the clearly elated singer said; "Dublin! This is fucking awesome!", before confessing to some opening night nerves; "this is our first show as this band. I'm trying not to be nervous", he said, before adding; "We couldn't have thought of a better place than to start this tour than Dublin."
With the title track of his 2019 release 'Tenderness' coming next, the beautiful hymn was followed by the gospel blues of 'Feel'.
Offering the fist edgier moment of the night, a short cover of The Stooges' 'I Wanna Be Your Dog' saw Duff give the audience; "just a little kick in the ass there, right?"
Revelling that he and his wife had spent a few days in the city before the show, the former Velvet Revolver man said; "We flew here on Saturday because we wanted to see some family. I have an Irish passport. I'm one of you lot! We went to Temple Bar and we had a blast!"
Changing gear, and mood, where he teased something more energetic earlier in the evening, he finally delivered, donning a Fender Telecaster, and a snarl for a cover of The Clash's 'I Fought the Law' and an edgy, breakneck take on Guns n' Roses' 'You're Crazy', which predictably, sent the audience wild.
An utterly inspired cover of David Bowie's 'Heroes', meanwhile, drew the biggest response of the evening, with the Guns' bassist moved to declare; "seriously guys, I wish we could play here very fucking night. You guys are fucking wonderful".
Signing off with the anthemic 'Don't Look Behind You', a moved McKagan said simply; "until next time. Fuckin' love you Dublin!"
Duff McKagan's 'Lighthouse Tour ‘24' continues across Europe in October and November.
OCTOBER
2 – Glasgow, Scotland – The Garage *
3 – Manchester, UK – Manchester Academy 2 *
5 – London, UK – Islington Assembly Hall *
7 – Utrecht, Netherlands – TivoliVredenburg *
8 – Cologne, Germany – Die Kantine *
9 – Munich, Germany – Freiheitshalle *
11 – Brno, Czech Republic – Sono Centrum *
13 – Warsaw, Poland – Klub Stodola *
14 – Berlin, Germany – Heimathafen Neukölln *
16 – Milan, Italy – Magazzini Generali *
17 – Solothurn, Switzerland – Kulturfabrik Kofmehl *
19 – Liege, Belgium – OM *
20 – Paris, France – La Trianon *
22 – Stockholm, Sweden – Nalen *
NOVEMBER
4 – Boston, MA – Paradise Rock Club †
6 – New York, NY – Le Poisson Rouge †
8 – Chicago, IL – Outset †
10 – Denver, CO – Bluebird Theater †
13 – Los Angeles, CA – El Rey ^
18 – Portland, OR – Aladdin Theater +
20 – Seattle, WA – The Showbox +
* w/ James and the Cold Gun
† w/ Lee Ving’s Range War
^ w/ Grace McKagan
+ w/ Joey “Sh*thead” Keithley