Escrito por metal08
As so many times before, Marco Mendoza returned on Friday night with his solo band, featuring Nolan Richard on drums and Drew Lowe on guitar. Mendoza made his solo debut with Live for Tomorrow in 2007, followed by Casa Mendoza (2010), Viva La Rock (2018) and, most recently, Take It to the Limit (2022). The 2018 album Viva La Rock forms the backbone of the evening’s setlist. The title track bursts onto the stage with the energy of a freight train, immediately setting the tone with its sheer drive and intensity.
The Ted Nugent cover “Hey Baby” is a particularly fitting choice, as Mendoza performed the song during his time touring with Nugent in the early 2000s, taking on the lead vocals himself. His vocal delivery is once again spot-on tonight, bringing an authenticity to the performance that few could match. Backed by his solo band, Mendoza gives the song’s meaty, instantly recognisable riff plenty of room to shine, while the band quickly gets the crowd singing and moving along to this classic slice of ’70s rock.
“Sue Is on the Run” takes things down a notch, its strong narrative and lyrical bite showcasing Mendoza’s skills as a songwriter. “Hole in My Pocket”, the bluesy track he originally recorded with Neal Schon, gets the motor running again, before “Rocketman” picks up the pace with its wild, stomping groove and swagger.
“Leah” provides one of the evening’s most emotional moments. Written for Mendoza’s soulmate, its restrained melodies and heartfelt lyrics reveal a more sensitive side of the bassist and singer. The Thin Lizzy classics “Jailbreak” and “Are You Ready” are among the evening’s biggest moments, and both receive a huge response from the crowd. Their familiar riffs and unmistakable energy turn the venue into a celebration of Mendoza’s long history with some of rock’s most iconic bands.
The main set comes to a close before Mendoza returns for the encore with “Sweetest Emotions”, adding one final soulful, groove-driven highlight to the evening.
Seeing Mendoza in a solo setting comes with an added bonus: with no frontman to share the spotlight, his powerful and distinctive vocals take centre stage alongside his bass playing. The result is a performance that showcases the full range of Mendoza as a musician — an accomplished bassist, charismatic singer and seasoned live performer who clearly thrives in the spotlight.
And it is live where Marco Mendoza shines the brightest. Whether performing as a solo artist on a Friday night in Uppsala or any of the documented live recordings from throughout his career—including Whitesnake’s Live… in the Still of the Night, Thin Lizzy’s One Night Only and Journey’s Live in Concert at Lollapalooza—Mendoza combines his natural command of the stage with exceptionally dynamic bass playing that is both expressive and melodic, while remaining deeply rooted in groove and crowd interaction.
Articulo publicado por https://metal08.wordpress.com
