As a black night fell upon Tarzana, it was a “Black Knight” fans yearned for as Leatherwolf headlined Paladinos Oct. 18.
Anticipation was high for the Southern California heavy metal band that hasn’t performed in the Valley in a few years, but this time was different. This time Leatherwolf had their “lead screamer” Michael Oliveri back fronting the band, and with the other original members Cary Howe and Dean Roberts, they were back with their blood pumping progressive metal and triple-axe attack looking like it was 20 years ago.
They opened the show with the epic song off “Streat Ready” called “Wicked Ways.” Wasting no time, they busted into “Thunder” off that album.
Leatherwolf faithful could tell Oliveri was not in his top form from the get-go, but it was obvious to everyone when he apologized about his voice, making it evident he was not on his game. But as the night progressed, and his vox loosened up, he became more comfortable with the mic and let the vox take control. The higher register was not what it used to be, but it was there, just packaged differently.
The band then performed a couple songs off their new album “World Asylum”, the first entitled. A good song and kept folks into the show, but patrons were reenergized with fists in the air when they broke into “Street Ready” and old-school favorite, “Spiter.”
By then the wee hours were approaching, and when Oliveri announced that they were going to “bore you with a couple more off the new album,” a chunk of the Paladinos crowd headed for the door. Only the Leatherwolf faithful remained.
They played “Dr. Wicked” and “I Am the Law” off the new album, which were good songs, but nothing to chant about. Perhaps another listen would do me good.
After those songs were over, and Oliveri referenced to his weak voice again holding out a hair that he said popped from his lung (which he didn’t need to do for he was singing in fine form by this time in the set), they pulled out a long-time favorite “Kill and Kill Again.”
After thanking a local patron in the front who set the band up with Coronas because he wanted to hear his favorite song, they blasted “Gypsies and Thieves” and without skipping a beat performed their biggest hit, MTV Video and epic metal ballad, “Hide Away,” which got those who were left in the club singing at the top of their lungs.
Apparently Oliveri heard the chants from the crowd of “I run…” which encouraged him to get crowd participation for “Hear me Callin” pushing the mic to the fans who were singing every word. This was actually the first time, besides thanking the fan for the beer, that he sang to the fans directly.
The night was coming to a close, you could tell the show was almost over and fans were wondering which epic Leatherwolf song they’d play to leave them until the next time they perform in the Valley (10 years from now?) Would it be “Cry Out,” “Rise or Fall” or anything they wrote off of “Street Ready” or their other two classic 80s metal albums? Nope, they pulled out their cover of CCR hit “Bad Moon Rising.”
“When you’ve got so many options on the table, to pick that song to end with was … disappointing,” said one distraught fan.
Musically, they were spot on and as tight as a frog’s ass is to water. The triple-axe attack was in full force with dual and triple harmony leads. Carey Howe and the Greg Erba played nearly flawlessly together reminiscent of their long ago influences Dave Murray and Adrian Smith. They were by no means up to the par of Gilbert and Bouillet, who amazed SoCal shred fans in the 80s in “Racer X,” but the flash and feel was there. We felt the “Thunder” from Dean (Drum Machine) Roberts and the foundation was secure with Pat Guyton on bass.
Their stage energy was high, just as it was 20 years ago. The show was superb and they looked great! How Oliveri got into those skin-tight, curtains from-my-grandmothers-house pants, is beyond me, but that’s what a front man does. However, if they were performing in front of a crowd or having a dress rehearsal for a few of their closest fans, you would never know. For most of the night, Oliveri sang to a spot on the wall, way in the distance, only taking a few moments here and there to fling himself around the stage or jam with his band mates. Comments from the lead vox like “Who’s seeing us for20the first time? You should have seen us 25 years ago, we were really good then” does not help the vibe either. It wasn’t until “Hear me Calling” that he sang with the fans, those who came to celebrate the music they grew up with.
On a night when the lead vox is off, the instrumental, “Black Knight” would have been a good choice to perform that evening instead of “Bad Moon,” but you gotta go with what you know.
One thing is for sure, Leatherwolf proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that once you’ve been blessed with it, the metal inside you will never die. Some of us are gifted enough to carry it on while the rest of us listen, watch, envelop and enjoy.
