Last night (February 27th) ZAKK WYLDE of BLACK LABEL SOCIETY performed an intimate, sold-out concert in Toronto at The Danforth Music Hall. After braving bitter cold temperatures outside, devoted fans were treated to a heart-warming performance inside. Somewhat reminiscent of the Book Of Shadows tour from 1996, this introspective affair was strictly a two man show. Zakk – who alternated between grand piano and lead guitar – was joined by his new rhythm guitarist Dario Lorina, on a stage adorned by BLS flags and banners, as opposed to the usual wall of Marshall Amplifiers.

This second to last stop on a 13-date cross-Canada trek had the duo offering up stripped-down versions of Black Label tunes, as well as a pair of PRIDE & GLORY tracks, and cover versions of classics by NEIL YOUNG, LEON RUSSELL, and BILL WITHERS; the complete setlist can be found below. Many of the songs were extended well beyond their original length, with the inclusion of awe-inspiring guitar solos courtesy of Zakk. Unlike most stadium or arena gigs where the guitar solo usually means beer and/or washroom break, when Zakk throws down, the local chapter is mesmerized; and justifiably so as no one else even comes close to evoking such emotion and feeling from a set of six strings.

An Evening With Zakk Wylde:

‘The Blessed Hellride’

‘Queen Of Sorrow’

‘Lovin’ Woman’

‘Machine Gun Man’

‘Spoke In The Wheel’

‘Road Back Home’

‘Heart Of Gold’

‘Throwin’ It All Away’

‘Speedball’

‘I Thank You Child’

‘Song For You’

‘In This River’

‘Ain’t No Sunshine When She’s Gone’

‘Stillborn’

After one final performance tonight in Montreal at The Corona Theatre, Zakk Wylde will join BILLY COX, BUDDY GUY, JONNY LANG, KENNY WAYNE SHEPHERD, and several others as part of the Experience Hendrix tour, which celebrates the music and legacy of JIMI HENDRIX. The tour officially begins in Dallas at the Verizon Theater on March 11th and, thereafter roars through over 20 cities throughout the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions before wrapping up on April 8th in Minneapolis at the State Theater. Further details and ticket info can be found at this location.

Then Black Label Society will release their new album, Catacombs Of The Black Vatican, on April 7th in Europe via Mascot Label Group, and on April 8th in North America via eOne Music. The track 'My Dying Time' can be heard below.

Catacombs Of The Black Vatican tracklisting:

'Fields Of Unforgiveness'

'My Dying Time'

'Believe'

'Angel Of Mercy'

'Heart Of Darkness'

'Beyond The Down'

'Scars'

'Damn The Flood'

'I've Gone Away'

'Empty Promises'

'Shades Of Gray'

'Dark Side Of The Sun' (bonus track)

'The Nomad' (bonus track)

BLS will follow the release of Catacombs Of The Black Vatican with a US tour, featuring special guests DOWN. Confirmed shows are as listed:

April

16 - Seattle, WA - Showbox Sodo
17 - Portland, OR - Roseland
18 - Boise, ID - Knitting Factory Concert House
19 - Missoula, MT - Wilma Theater
21 - Billings, MT - Shrine Auditorium
25 - Milwaukee, WI - The Rave
26 - Nashville, TN - Marathon Music Works
27 - Jacksonville, FL - Metro Park
29 - Ybor City, FL - The Ritz
30 - Lake Buena Vista, FL - House Of Blues

May

2 - Birmingham, AL - Iron City
3 – Charlotte, NC – Carolina Rebellion
4 - Silver Spring, MD - Fillmore
5 - Clifton Park, NY (Albany) - Northern Lights
7 - Philadelphia, PA - Electric Factory
8 - Worcester, MA - The Palladium
9 - Sayreville, NJ - Starland Ballroom
10 - New York, NY - Best Buy Theater
12 - Norfolk, VA - Norva
13 - Stroudsburg, PA - Sherman Theater
15 - Pittsburgh, PA - Stage AE
16 - Columbus, OH - Columbus Crew Stadium
17 - Ft. Wayne, IN - Piere's
19 - Sioux Falls, SD - The District
20 - Chicago, IL - House of Blues
21 - St. Paul, MN - Myth
23 - Grand Prairie, TX - Verizon Theater
24 - San Antonio, TX - AT&T; Center
25 - Pryor, OK - Rocklahoma
27 - New Orleans, LA - House Of Blues
28 - Houston, TX - House Of Blues
30 - Omaha, NE - Rockfest

June

1 - Denver, CO - Ogden Theater
2 - Salt Lake City, UT - The Complex - Rockwell
4 - Tempe, AZ - Marquee Theater
5 - Las Vegas, NV - Brooklyn Bowl
6 - San Francisco, CA - Regency Ballroom
7 - Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theater