KEY POINTS:
The Vector Arena team took a punt on their first gig. How many would show up to see Rockstar: Supernova, a band formed on a US reality show, with a singer not everyone voted for and few songs the majority knew?
About half of its 12,000 capacity, as
it turned out. That made Supernova, if a little lacklustre of an opening act, a decent test-run for the upcoming sell-out Red Hot Chili Peppers. Hopefully by then the venue will have ironed out a few kinks.
Although the acoustics and layout were a grand success, a simple mix-up with the seating could not be solved by three managers, five security guards and three cops.
Vector's virginity didn't deter a grunty start from the band, made up of frontman Lukas Rossi, ex-Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee, ex-Guns'n'Roses guitarist Gilby Clarke and the Black Crowes' bass player Johnny Colt as a competent replacement for an injured Jason Newsted.
It was Supernova's final gig on a worldwide tour, and the band were determined to break this baby in.
But it was a gig that relied more on cult of personality than music, which isn't surprising given the album has only spawned a couple of hits. Besides the post-grunge bluster of songs like It's All Love, it was padded out by covers: Don Henley's Boys of Summer, the Verve's Bittersweet Symphony and in the encore, Prince's Purple Rain.
Rossi, resplendent in black rock star uniform complete with chain, heavy eye make-up and a half-bleached rooster, barely paused from the minute he walked on stage.
If he wasn't screeching into the mic, he was frequently thanking the crowd for "putting me here" or aggressively whacking his guitar strings as Clarke ventured suspiciously into the shadows.
Although much of Rossi's performance felt overblown, he proved he can rely on his gravelly rock voice during Headspin, Be Yourself and an eerie falsetto number with Lee on keys, where Rossi seemed to channel Jeff Buckley.
Despite promises Supernova would be Rossi's gig, Lee was as much a focal point of the night. He's as visceral on the skins as they come, those lanky arms the centre of the band's firepower, even if, to Crue fans' disappointment, his drumkit remained upright for the entire gig. Several times he came out from behind his kit to parade around the stage or donate a bottle of Jagermeister to the crowd, his charisma as much a part of his skin as those tattoos. Hopefully his humour will rub off on Rossi's I'm-cooler-than-thou approach.
Clarke's turn on the mic, however, brought things right back to the TV show. As did the string quartet.
It was a nice touch but it was hard to shake the feeling Supernova's reality show was better than reality.
