SLAUGHTER – Up All Night In New Jersey

October 10, 2024, 5 days ago

By Rich Catino

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Slaughter continues with their Still Stickin It To Ya 2024 tour with a stop at the Starland Ballroom in New Jersey, September 28. I also recently saw them a month ago at The Mountain fest in Tennessee. The two founding members singer Mark Slaughter and bassist Dana Strum are joined by guitarist Jeff Blando (member since the late ‘90s), and now Jordan Cannata on drums. 

Blas Elias is currently on the road with the Stephen Pearcy band still plays with Slaughter from time to time. Tonight, we got the same setlist as in Gatlinburg, pulled from the biggest album sellers, Stick It To Ya and The Wild Life. 

I know, first question, how does Mark sound? Look, he's not in his 20's, 30's anymore, he's 60 and favors his strengths and mid-range. Yes, he still does the screams, and often, but not like he used to, and that's fine. I always enjoyed his vocal more on songs like ballads "Real Love", and "Days Gone By" (just Mark and Dana) where he is not in the high range. Slaughter also plays some rhythm guitar (a pre short solo) on "Spend My Life", and Blando heavies up the Zeppelin classic "Immigrant Song". 

Set kicks off the party with "Mad About You" and "Burnin Bridges", and gets a bit heavier for "Eye To Eye" and "Wild Life". Highlight was the addition of "Desperately", the single that should have been. 

Only disappointment is the headline setlist wasn't a change from the summer festivals, casinos, and fairs; nothing from the excellent Fear No Evil album, Revolution, or Back To Reality.  

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