Slash Brings The SERPENT Festival to Salt Lake City to Celebrate Blues Music
July 23, 2024
Photo by: Paul Tefertiller
If you compile a list of the greatest rock guitarists to have picked up the instrument, there are certain names that make it on almost every list. One of those names is Slash, best known as the lead guitarist for Guns N’ Roses. On his latest solo project Slash returned to his childhood love of blues music to record his latest album, Orgy of The Damned. To celebrate the release of his album, Slash recruited a who’s who all-star group of blues musicians to join him on the road for the S.E.R.P.E.N.T. Festival, which is an anagram that stands for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality, N’, Tolerance.
This past week saw Slash bring the festival to Salt Lake City for a stop at the picturesque Red Butte Garden Amphitheatre. Joining Slash for the evening were Jackie Venson, Samantha Fish and Keb Mo.
First up on the evening was Austin based rocker Jackie Venson. Unfortunately, I arrived late and caught the last two songs of her performance, but those two songs hooked me for my first time seeing her perform. Others that I talked to in between sets told me that I missed out having not seen her entire set. It seemed like a lot of the fans in attendance this night really liked her performance and I hope to see Venson make it back and catch the entire performance next time.
Grammy nominated Samantha Fish was up next and got the audience going with her opening song which was a cover of MC5’s “Kick Out the Jams”. This had the crowd on their feet but her next song “Bulletproof” which showcased her strong guitar chops got the whole venue moving along and picked up the energy another notch. Fish owned the stage getting the audience into the mix before asking the audience to welcome a special guest who would be joining her on “I Put A Spell On You” and the Mad Hatter himself, Slash, walked out onto the stage and causing the venue to erupt in a cheer.
After a brief set change the festival goers were in for a treat with the next act up on the stage being that of Keb Mo. There are a lot of descriptors that can be used to describe Keb Mo, 5-time Grammy award winner, Blues Foundation Award winner, groundbreaking artist but perhaps one of the most important is as a living link to the seminal Delta River Blues. No matter how you describe him it’s clear that Keb Mo is one of the most talented blues musicians out there and the fans were in for a special treat and privilege having the opportunity to see this artist perform. Mo’s set was one of old-style blues music highlighting the music and picking of the guitar and the story of blues. The main event of the evening arrived as Slash took the stage to the cheers of everyone in the audience. Slash took us on a journey over the course of the next 13 songs highlighting his guitar chops and his love of the blues. The vocals on the night were shared by Tash Neal and Teddy Andreadis as they progressed through the songs. 10 of the songs performed on the night were on Slash’s “Orgy of the Damned” Album. Some of the fan favorites through the night were the cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Oh Well” “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” and the nights closing number “Shake Your Moneymaker.”
Overall it was a great night in a picture perfect setting celebrating blues music but the highlight of the night for myself and most everyone there was getting the opportunity to see one of the best guitarists to ever pick up the instrument share his love of music with us while showcasing the skills that have made him synonymous with the instrument he plays.
