2010
Whenever a major rock band like Stone Temple Pilots plays a radio festival, there are several risks the band takes that could jeopardize the whole night: Sound problems, the crowd being unfamiliar with the band’s music, annoying DJs trying to steal the spotlight. Stone Temple Pilots didn’t encounter any of these issues as they displayed one of their most solid performances yet Sunday night at the MMR-B-Q 2010 in Camden, NJ. Playing their second consecutive radio festival (the band played DC101′s Chili Cookoff on Saturday), Stone Temple Pilots played a seventeen song set to the near capacity crowd at the Susquehanna Bank Center.
Opening with powerful fan favorites “Vasoline”, “Wicked Garden”, and “Crackerman”, Stone Temple Pilots delicately balanced the set infusing it with new songs like “Between The Lines” and “Hickory Dichotomy” (the two most well received new songs off of their upcoming self-titled album) before playing radio hit singles like “Big Empty” and “Sour Girl.” Though he’s performed these songs countless times, Scott Weiland’s ability to sing and move on stage as if the band was on their first ever tour makes him such an excellent performer. Whatever is his new vice, he should stick to it. The DeLeo Brothers, who never seem to miss a note, continue to be masters of their instruments (Robert on bass, Dean on guitar). Last night’s show could’ve been recorded for a live release as it was nearly flawless. The biggest surprise is that drummer Eric Kretz sounds his best ever, especially on “Lounge Fly” and “Tumble In The Rough,” the latter of which has only recently returned to the band’s setlist after several years off.
Before ending the first set, Alice in Chains singer/guitarist Jerry Cantrell (who performed earlier in the evening with his band) joined Stone Temple Pilots onstage to play “Sex Type Thing.” Though the song stands strong on its own, Cantrell seemed to rejuvenate a nearly twenty year old classic hit. Prior to closing with “Trippin On A Hole In A Paper Heart”, Stone Temple Pilots began the encore by inviting a lucky fan to come up and sing the intro of “Dead and Bloated” into Weiland’s famed megaphone. The only complaint of the show was that it didn’t last longer. An announcement on STP’s late summer tour is coming soon and the band would be remiss to not return to the area.
Stone Temple Pilots self-titled new album comes out Tuesday May 25th. Find out how you can win it here
Setlist:
Vasoline
Wicked Garden
Crackerman
Between The Lines
Hickory Dichotomy
Big Empty
Sour Girl
Creep
Plush
Interstate Love Song
Bagman
Huckleberry Crumble
Tumble in the Rough
Lounge Fly
Sex Type Thing (with Jerry Cantrell)
Encore:
Dead & Bloated
Trippin’ On A Hole In A Paper Heart
