Just days after the Presidential election, more than a few of us were looking for a pleasant distraction from the results and the unending post-mortems that followed. Duff McKagan, of the legendary rock band Guns ‘N Roses, made a solo stop on his Lighthouse Tour, at one of the newest Chicago music venues, Outset. He brought along Lee Ving, founder of the famous/infamous band FEAR, performing under the Range War moniker. This was a little bit different from what we at Dying Scene usually cover. Different but good. It served well as that aforementioned much-needed distraction.
Before helping found the legendary rock band Guns ‘N Roses, Duff McKagan was known for his work in the Seattle punk bands The Fartz and Fastbacks.
On his Lighthouse tour, McKagan brought an optimistic feel to the venue just days after the dramatic national news. But he was not up for anything heavy. At one point, McKagan thanked the crowd members for taking time to be there together, noting the varied professional and personal lives of the fans. It was a much-needed night of lightheartedness backed by really good music.
The set included “Forgiveness,” “Chip Away,” “This Is the Song, “I Saw God on 10th St.” He also was joined on stage by FEAR frontman Lee Ving at one point, as the two performed “All Turning Loose.”
It was a set that spanned various genres and years, covering numerous iconic songs. These included The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog,” Johnny Thunders’ “You Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory,” “I Fought The Law” by The Crickets, and David Bowie’s “Heroes.” Of course, he covered his own most famous band, Guns ‘N Roses, performing “You’re Crazy.”
The evening was a pleasant one. For the large number of fans wearing G ‘N R shirts, a great opportunity to see one of their favorite rock stars in an intimate setting. That’s not a bad way to end such a tumultuous week.
It might come as a surprise to some Lee Ving, founder of the infamous punk band FEAR, has a country band. It sure was to me. But Ving, with his FEAR bandmate Frank Meyer, took the stage as Range War. Ving brought his still fierce vocals, his guitar, and a harmonica to a laidback setting. It was an engaging set, which included not only songs off Range War’s 2014 album Home On The Range but also the FEAR hits, “I Love Living In The City” and “I Don’t Care About You.”
Ving and Meyer also just dropped the final FEAR album recently. The Last Time was just released by Atom Age Industries/FEAR Records. Here’s our review from earlier this month.
This was the first time Dying Scene has covered a show at Outset. The West Town neighborhood venue is a new addition to the Chicago music scene. With dark wood accents and clean lines, it has a modern yet warm and cozy feel to it. Fans can enjoy the shows from the ground floor or balcony, and each level is equipped with a bar. The sound quality was also pretty terrific. The venue also has a large patio area, which I imagine is quite lovely on warmer evenings. I look forward to covering more shows at Outset for Dying Scene.
Thanks, and Cheers!
