Road Reports Archive
Sebastian Bach
Ziggy's . Winston Salem, NC, USA
By: Kim Thore
Show Date: 2/1/2012
"He is the real deal, he is obviously in his element, and after 26 years of colossal highs and
enormous downs, Bach isn't exiting stage right to live off royalties."
Bach in Demand
Fewer front men have managed to keep landing on their feet like Sebastian Bach. Whether
he's forging the great rock divide with Skid Row, performing on Broadway, or being the
only saving grace of the Chinese Democracy tour, he has remained solidly within the cross
hairs of rock and metal. And, if the recent packed show and kick off of the 2012 tour at
Ziggy's in Winston Salem, NC is any indication, he's loud, proud and continues to draw a
crowd.
Launching off with a spot on performance of Slave to the Grind, followed by the lead track
from the newly released Kicking and Screaming, Bach was in top form vocally. Performing
songs from Angel Down and the new cd, he slid, with perfect timing, in some of his best
Skid Row classics that had the crowd elevated into a rock and roll euphoria--a crowd that
was a surprising mix of longtime and new fans suggesting that Kicking and Screaming is
reaching more admirers than your average Skid Row junkie. Just ask the elementary school
kid who got up on stage during "Youth Gone Wild" with horns up and dreams of
stage stardom.
Backing Bach were child guitar prodigy Nick Sterling, guitarist Johnny Chromatic, Bobby
Jarzombek on Drums and newcomer Jason Christopher on bass. While there may never be
another Hill/Sabo/Bolan/Affuso heyday ensemble, much can be said about the current lineup
holding their own and managing to dodge that "we sound like a cover band"
bullet. Jarzombek and Christopher were quickly playing in the pocket and Sterling and
Chromatic make for a fearsome guitar duo.
It was a pleasant surprise to hear Bach be able to hit the same notes of yesteryear and
perform with as much enthusiasm as he did when Skid Row were playing coliseums. Just as
the show began, Bach was standing stage left at the stairs and there was no mistaking the
pure elation in his face as he eagerly awaited his cue to start the show. Jaded? Going
through the motions? Not this guy. It could have been 1986 and Bach's first show. He is
the real deal, he is obviously in his element, and after 26 years of colossal highs and
enormous downs, Bach isn't exiting stage right to live off royalties. He's proving that he
"won't be the one left behind and that you can't be king of the world , If you're
slave to the grind".
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