2023.10.06 - Power Trip - Empire Polo Club, Indio, CA, USA

Credit: Kurt Schwarz/WRIF
https://wrif.com/galleries/pictures-from-night-one-at-powertrip-w-guns-n-roses-and-iron-maiden/

Richard on facebook and Instagram: Power trip was a pretty incredible experience. Having all of @metallica sitting on my side of the stage was more than a little intimidating. No pressure! Thanks so much to the legendary @rosshalfin for the photo with @kirkhammett and @robtrujillo and @duffmckagan

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyJaisRuJ3b/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Members of Metallica watching the show from the side of the stage (screenshots taken from video posted by Susan on Instagram):

https://www.instagram.com/p/CyJS1r1ukI2/

With this show, Reckless Life has been played more times than Black Hole Sun (102 vs 101), Down On The Farm has been played more times than Riff Raff (47 vs 46), and Perhaps has been played more times than Raw Power and Locomotive (14 vs 13).

Soulmonster wrote:With this show, Reckless Life has been played more times than Black Hole Sun (102 vs 101), Down On The Farm has been played more times than Riff Raff (47 vs 46), and Perhaps has been played more times than Raw Power and Locomotive (14 vs 13).

I have counted 15 performances of Perhaps up to this show (where it wasn't performed).

Slash with Chris Robinson of The Black Crowes and Ross Halfin

Credit: Tyler Tantrum











Unknown credit:

Review in Revolver Magazine (the introduction and the part about GN'R):
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Power Trip live report: All-time metal summit featuring METALLICA, AC/DC, PRIEST and more
Epic lineup rounded out by GN'R, TOOL and Maiden

By Steve Appleford

"So the question I got for you right now: Do you want heavy? Indio, do you want heavy?"

Even as he asked the question, James Hetfield already knew the answer, not just as Metallica's frontman and co-founder, but as a true fan of all that had unfolded this past weekend at the Power Trip festival, set on the vast green fields of the Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, since 1999 the site of the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. Metallica was joined there by five other essential headliners of metal and hard rock: AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Iron Maiden, Judas Priest and TOOL.

As hard-rock and metal summits go, Power Trip was unique in that it was limited to six acts, serving as a heavy-music answer to 2016's Desert Trip festival, which gathered a dream lineup of Sixties rock acts, including the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney and the Who at the same venue. TOOL, AC/DC and GN'R had all played Coachella in the past as sometimes lone representatives of heavy music on the festival bill, but gathered together, Power Trip was a show of force by some of the genre's biggest names over a three-day weekend, October 6th-8th.

There have been monumental metal summits before, one-off festivals and traveling roadshows over the decades remembered as much for hard partying and self-immolation as epic riffs. Back in 2004, Ozzfest had three pillars of metal with Black Sabbath, Judas Priest and Slayer all on the same stage in one eardrum-melting day. And in 2011, Metallica hosted the "Big 4" fest in Indio with fellow thrash originators Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax.

With fall temperatures reaching 100 degrees and above in the desert, each act pushed through the heat and delivered in top form. One clear highlight was AC/DC, marking their first live performance in seven years. In that company, no act could fall short without some kind of shame, and none did. [...]

Closing the festival's opening night was Guns N' Roses, delivering a marathon 29-song set that took the night to one minute past curfew and a blast of fireworks at 1:01 a.m. Opening with the signature rocker "It's So Easy," released as the band's debut single in 1987, the night was less about playing the hits than showcasing the band's history and range. Slash unfurled some sleazy, slippery bottleneck guitar on the Aerosmith-ish "Bad Obsession," while the big screen zoomed in on his fingers and skull rings in action.

Guns N' Roses last played on these grounds for Coachella in 2016 with the newly (and miraculously) reunited Axl Rose, Slash and Duff McKagan at the band's core. Axl had a busted foot that night, and performed on a throne borrowed from Dave Grohl, but the reunion has held together in the years since. While no new album project has emerged after reuniting, onstage this expanded lineup of players was a tight unity, delivering the old songs and surprises.

Axl screamed the opening lines to "Welcome to the Jungle" — the threatening "You know where you are!?" and "I want to hear you scream!" — more screechy and insane than ever, as lasers shot over the crowd. The song began with a music history lesson as Slash played a bit of Link Wray's "Rumble," a direct influence on later generations of heavy players. The guitarist also closed "Civil War" with a taste of Jimi Hendrix's "Voodoo Child."

These and other moments showed Slash is still growing as a guitarist, bringing new shadings even to the older songs. During the big solos, he would lean back in his Alice Cooper T-shirt, face skyward, mirror shades catching the light. He brought some exotic jazzman subtlety during his solo on "Double Talkin' Jive," from Use Your Illusion I. Axl noted that the song's grisly opening line about finding a severed head and arm in a trash can behind the studio (during the recording of Use Your Illusion) was a true story: "Whose they were, I don't know."

Duff stepped up to the mic for a snarling take on the Stooges' "TV Eye," sung with mad proto-punk force. There were other surprising covers, like Axl singing the 1968 Glen Campbell hit "Wichita Lineman," following a haunting echoing intro by guitarist Richard Fortus, and the more expected but always explosive "Live and Let Die," by Paul McCartney and Wings. Not every fan was able to make it the full three hours, and there were some empty seats by the very end of the night, but the run time was an impressive display of endurance for a band back in shape. [...]

https://www.revolvermag.com/music/power-trip-live-report-all-time-metal-summit-featuring-metallica-acdc-priest-and-more

Review/recap of the whole festival (there's a small part about GN'R):

https://variety.com/2023/music/reviews/metallica-ac-dc-judas-priest-power-trip-festival-concert-review-1235749590/

Another recap of the festival (probably a press release from the organizers):
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The Power Trip Festival: A Rock Spectacle featuring AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, and More

Indio, California – The Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, was the epicenter of pure rock and heavy metal as the Power Trip festival took place from October 6 to 8. The festival brought together an impressive lineup of legendary bands such as Metallica, Guns N’ Roses, Iron Maiden, AC/DC, Judas Priest, and Tool.

The festival kicked off with a bang as Iron Maiden took the stage on the first day. The British heavy metal pioneers delighted fans with a powerful setlist consisting of songs from their current tour, The Future Past Tour, as well as classics from albums like “Somewhere In Time” and “Fear of the Dark.” The band delivered an intense performance, showcasing their iconic sound and captivating the crowd.

Guns N’ Roses followed suit, treating the audience to an extended set of nearly 30 songs. The hard rock legends not only played their beloved hits but also surprised fans with memorable covers of artists like Bob Dylan and The Stooges. Their energetic performance lasted until 1 in the morning, leaving fans craving more.

The second day of the festival saw Judas Priest stepping in as a replacement for Ozzy Osbourne, who had to withdraw due to health concerns. The British metal veterans delivered a memorable performance, even bringing back founding guitarist Glenn Tipton, who had retired from touring due to Parkinson’s disease. Judas Priest also announced the upcoming release of their new album, “Invincible Shield,” adding another exciting element to their set.

Perhaps the most highly anticipated moment of the festival was the return of AC/DC to the stage after a seven-year hiatus. The iconic Australian rock band not only performed their classic hits but also treated fans to new songs from their latest album, “Power Up.” The crowd went wild as AC/DC rocked the stage, creating an electrifying atmosphere.

Finally, Tool took the stage, bringing their unique blend of progressive metal to the festival. While their setlist may have seemed unconventional for the event, their performance showcased their musical prowess and left an impression on the audience.

Metallica closed out the Power Trip festival with a blistering set of 16 songs. The iconic thrash metal band delivered a mix of their classic repertoire and tracks from their latest album, “72 Seasons.” Fans were left excited for their future performances, especially when they come to Mexico in September 2024.

Overall, the Power Trip festival proved to be a spectacular showcase of rock and heavy metal’s greatest acts. The Empire Polo Club in Indio, California, once again solidified its reputation as a prime location for unforgettable musical events. Fans can look forward to more incredible performances and moments in the future.

https://www.breakinglatest.news/entertainment/the-power-trip-festival-a-rock-spectacle-featuring-ac-dc-guns-n-roses-iron-maiden-and-more/

Concert footage:

Duff on Instagram: It's always a good day when the one and only @rosshalfin texts a guy some photos! Thanks Ross!



https://www.instagram.com/p/CyPvLdHryOQ/

More pictures by Ross Halfin

Review in All About The Rock (the part about GN'R):
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PowerTrip Festival Empire Polo Grounds, Indio, California, USA 6th, 7th, 8th October 2023 – Review

By Kevin Metallum

t’s one of those chances you have to take in your rock life. A rumor mill in April acknowledges that a huge festival would take place somewhere, sometime in the US with as yet unnamed bands taking the stage. As the days moved on it became clearer that one in particular would be making a long awaited comeback, more about them later.

So fast track… the tickets are announced to go on sale, the festival would be 3 days and take place on 6th-8th October 2023 at the world-famous Empire Polo Grounds in Indio California, which is the home of the legendary Coachella Festival. Heftily priced at a whopping $600 for GA standing, going up to a basic seat at $700 rising to $2000 and above. It’s clearly not a basement ticket price. However, when the lineup announcement for Friday night hits you with openers Iron Maiden followed by headliners Guns N’ Roses, it smacks you that this ain’t no low-end rock event. Both legendary rock acts have spanned the decades delivering the best and most memorable songs that have inspired rock fans young and now old.

Boom !! Blowing it further into legend status the Saturday announces the return to live shows with headliners AC/DC with the night opening with Ozzy Osbourne. Celebrating a 50th year in music in 2023 AC/DC, haven’t played live for 7 years.

Sadly, Ozzy pulls out on health grounds and is replaced by for me a totally suitable replacement, one of the UK’s pioneers in metal, Judas Priest.

Not finished yet, the Sunday brings us in openers Tool and the festival closes with one of the biggest rock acts currently on the planet, the mighty Metallica.

So it’s a decision time, apply for tickets or not. No brainer, go for it. Factor in travel etc it’s a hefty bill, but quote one of the bands ‘..in rock we trust, it’s rock or bust..’.

Get the tickets in the opening day sale, seating at floor level, do for us, a bit further back but judging by the comments about previous events run by organizers Goldenvoice, they deliver a top-class visual, light, and sound show that gives you the best wherever you are in the venue.

Arriving late on Wednesday evening at our apartment in LaQuinta after a long flight from London and then a long drive from LAX, it’s still a hot and balmy 25 degrees but a welcome increase in temperature from the UK climate.

So Friday arrives we start the trek of getting to the venue. The organizers lay on shuttle buses at key points within a 25-mile radius of the venue, saving you the hassle of driving and parking. Our pickup point is a short 10-minute walk away so on we go. The temperature is 105deg so it’s a searing walk. It’s a bus journey to the polo fields of about 20 minutes. This is the first thing that strikes you that these guys know what they’re doing, it’s a slick well-oiled machine. Huge venue awaits, long merch queues which isn’t unusual, but short bar queues which is unusual. Further security checks to get to our seating area and there we are ready to rock n roll. [...]

Enter the Friday headliners Guns N Roses.

Starting their set about 30 minutes later than billed, which wasn’t unexpected, they stormed into ’ It’s so easy’. First things first though, for me all the criticism of Axel’s recent vocal ability was quickly thrown out from the first few lines of the opener. He came over clear and well-toned on this first track of a huge 29-song setlist.

‘Bad Obsession’, ‘Chinese Democracy’, and the superb ‘Slither’ fill the Indio air, and Slash is on fire. His guitar work is genius. ‘Pretty Tied Up ’, ‘Mr. Brownstone’, bring us into their signature rouser ‘Welcome to the jungle’, which goes down well not unexpectedly with the crowd. Things did flatten out a bit over the following tracks ‘Hard Skool’, ‘Absurd’, ‘Double Talking Jive’, and ‘Reckless Life’. It changed though when the opening bars of ‘You Could Be Mine’ from ‘Use Your Illusion II’ blasted out. Awesome solos from Slash supported by Richard Fortus.

‘Estranged’ follows then Axel introduces that it’s the 50th anniversary of the release of Wings ‘Live and Let Die’, this track for me is one of the best in the set. The third cover of the night was ‘Down On The Farm’ by the UK Subs then ‘Rocket Queen’ and then The Stooges ‘TV Eye’.

‘Better’, ‘Anything Goes’, and ‘Civil War’ lead us into Slash’s epic guitar solo before ‘Sweet Child o’ Mine’.

There’s something very special about ‘November Rain’ not sure if it’s the images of the church in their epic video that follows the track that springs to mind or just that it’s a superb legendary tune. This is the highlight of the set for me, has everything, big vocals, big guitars, and solid rhythm work from Duff and Frank Ferrer.

Two further covers follow up with ‘Wichita Lineman’ and Dylans’ Knockin’ On Heavens Door’.

Set closers ‘Patience’, ‘Coma’, ‘Nightrain’, and final track, no surprise ‘Paradise City’ close off the first night of Powertrip 2023.

There was a contrast in the atmosphere between the two bands, Maiden pretty much had the crowd in their grip from the word go, GnR though had lulls across the set, probably due to their choice of set list which contained a core of songs that don’t have the exposure as some of their better air-played tunes.

All good though across the whole night, a short shuttle bus journey back from site to digs.

Looking forward to Saturday night already. [...]

https://allabouttherock.co.uk/powertrip-festival-empire-polo-grounds-indio-california-usa-6th-7th-8th-october-2023-review/