Thin Lizzy
Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den
Uncasville, Connecticut
March 26, 2011
Tony Pijar
For the purists out there, Thin Lizzy without Phil Lynott is nothing more than a tribute act. Let me tell you, the current Lizzy line up is definitely no tribute band. Ok, John Sykes has left the fold, but when Scott Gorham looks to his right nowadays, he sees not one, but two stars in Ricky Warwick and Vivian Campbell. And to push it, for credibility’s sake, Darren Wharton and original drummer Brian Downey are in for the count as well. Add the multitalented Marco Mendoza back in on bass and you have the next definitive and more than appropriate Thin Lizzy line up.
The band hit the stage running with “Are you Ready”, “Waiting for an Alibi”, “Jailbreak” (surprisingly early in the set), and “Don’t Believe a Word.” Gorham and Campbell complement each other perfectly, while Warwick is more than a fitting front man for this band. He admiringly carries the spirit and tone of Lynott, and even his inflections are eerily similar to Lynott’s. “Dancing in the Moonlight” showcased Mendoza’s nimble fingers, while “Massacre” hit right between the eyes. “Emerald” was, for me, the highlight of the evening with Gorham and Campbell trading one blinding lead after another; truly a gem on the live front. “Cowboy Song” and “The Boys are Back in Town” closed the set. The encores, predictably, were Seger’s “Rosalie” and “The Rocker,” with the surprise being the awesome “Killer on the Loose” with Downey driving the band on. Tommy Aldridge may be a better drummer than Downey, but it feels so right once again with Downey behind the kit. The one gripe I have is that nothing was aired off the magnificent “Renegade” album.
The new look Thin Lizzy sound energized, fresh, reborn, and destined to carry on this proud name and legacy. One question looms though; what will happen when Campbell reports to Def Lep duty? Robbo, anyone…?
