July 10th, Hayden Homes Amphitheater, Bend, Oregon

Slash, like Cher, Madonna, and Beyoncé, is a celebrity known by a single name. When we hear the name Slash, we picture his long curly locks, low-slung guitar, and ever-present top-hat. Even casual music fans recognize him. Having started in the notorious late ‘80s band Guns N’ Roses, it’s no surprise he became well-known quickly. As he branched out, collaborating with artists like Lenny Kravitz and Michael Jackson, and leading successful bands such as Velvet Revolver and Slash featuring Miles Kennedy & The Conspirators, Saul Hudson, known as Slash, is now an American icon.

So when I heard Slash was bringing his latest project to Bend, I was excited to have this icon in our little piece of paradise. Seeing the lineup of artists he was bringing doubled my interest. A bit of backstory: In the mid-‘90s, after Guns N’ Roses broke up, Slash formed Slash’s Blues Ball, touring small clubs and theaters with local Los Angeles musicians, performing mostly blues covers. This tour appeared to be a cathartic release for Slash after the drama of G&R, a once-in-a-lifetime show. I was lucky enough to catch the show at The Roseland Theater in Portland, Oregon back then.

Flash forward to July 10th, 2024. Slash has reassembled Slash’s Blues Ball and created a multi-artist tour called S.E.R.P.E.N.T Festival, standing for Solidarity, Engagement, Restore, Peace, Equality, and Tolerance. A portion of every ticket sale goes to various charities focused on these tenets. The tour recently stopped at Bend’s Hayden Homes Amphitheater with a rotating cast of artists, including Keb Mo, Kingfish, and Larkin Poe.

For the Bend show, we were fortunate to have Eric Gales, Samantha Fish, and Warren Haynes join the top-hat king. Each artist delivered a stellar solo set with their respective bands. I missed Eric Gales’ solo set—sometimes a 5:30 p.m. show on a weekday is just untenable. However, several in my party arrived early enough to rave about his performance. I hoped he might make a guest appearance with Slash later, as these artists often join each other’s sets.

Next up was Samantha Fish. I arrived a couple of songs into her set, and she was already tearing it up. Samantha has spent years building a solid reputation as an exciting and talented blues vocalist and guitarist. She proved it here. Samantha attacked her white Gibson SG with authority, and her singing, starting from her toes and exploding from her mouth like fire, was believable. To call her a capable guitarist would be a huge understatement. Her style infuses passion and grit with solid blues phrasing and classic licks. Samantha has performed in Bend several times over the last 6-8 years. If you get a chance to see her…go!

Warren Haynes is a legend. Blues music fans and guitar lovers know him from his stints in The Dickey Betts Band, The Allman Brothers, The Dead, Gov’t Mule, and now his solo band. This is the man Dickey Betts and Gregg Allman recruited to play Duane Allman’s parts. Yes, the boy can play and has for five decades. Warren delivered a stellar set of solo songs, covers, and his biggest hit, “Soulshine.” He even brought out Eric Gales (my hopes realized) for a tune. The Warren Haynes Band, made up of a fantastic batch of studio and session musicians, was fantastic, especially with the addition of the saxophone.

Slash took the stage next. His band, Slash’s Blues Ball, recently released an album called “Orgy Of The Damned” featuring classic blues songs like “Born Under A Bad Sign,” “Hoochie Kootchie Man,” and “Killing Floor,” along with modern blues tunes like “Oh Well,” “The Pusher,” and “Papa Was A Rollin’ Stone.” On the album, Slash is joined by big-name artists like Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes, country superstar Chris Stapleton, and Brian Johnson of AC/DC. For this tour, his band members admirably covered the vocals.

De facto “frontman” and keyboardist Teddy Andreadis is a Hollywood legend, once awarded Best Keyboardist In LA by the LA Blues Association. He has provided vocals and keyboards on many LA sessions and nighttime hotspots. Teddy “Zig-Zag” has been the main vocalist and keys master for Slash’s Blues Ball since its inception. His deep, bluesy baritone is perfect for many of the songs in the set. Bassist Johnny Griparic, with his almost punk rock image, elevated these blues standards with his fretboard skills. Second guitarist/vocalist Tash Neal handled a few more rock and soul tunes, with “Papa Was A Rolling Stone” being a highlight. Slash also brought out Eric Gales for a roaring version of the Jimi Hendrix tune “Stone Free.” The entire band was a well-oiled machine.

This concert experience was as much a social event as a music lover’s pursuit for me. I was lucky enough to have a friend offer me access to one of the Cabanas available at HHA. These are elevated tents that hold 12 concert-goers, offering wait staff and parking as part of the package. I invited friends from different parts of my life, including band members, longtime friends, and their family members. It was so much fun enjoying an evening like this with such a varied group. I think everyone connected on some level, with music as the catalyst. Isn’t that as much a part of the live music experience as the music itself? I can’t wait for the next show!

David Miller: Accomplished Rock Guitarist, Versatile Vocalist, Seasoned Radio Broadcaster, and Veteran Music Journalist with over 40 Years of Invaluable Experience in the Music Industry