Gavin Rossdale preview

Gavin Rossdale
House of Blues, Chicago
Sunday, July 13, 2008

Bush never pretended to be everyone’s cup of tea, but the Gavin Rossdale-led foursome enjoyed more than a modicum of success during grunge and alternative rock’s heyday. While often considered a second- or third-tier act on a scale defined by Nirvana, the band made the cover of Rolling Stone (no doubt in part to Rossdale’s movie-star looks) and sold out the Allstate Arena back when it was still the Rosemont Horizon.

Rossdale struggled to keep up the momentum with Bush and later with the forgettable Institute. Now Gwen Stefani’s husband goes it alone on Wanderlust (Interscope). The word schlock comes to mind by the fifth of 12 songs. Rossdale tries to go the way of adult contemporary radio stalwart Rob Thomas, yet the former Matchbox 20 frontman bests him on the memorable-hook-laden front. “Love Remains The Same” drips with overproduction while “The Trouble I’m In” wastes Garbage’s Shirley Manson’s talents.

Never boasting a pristine voice, at least Rossdale injected some grit and raw energy into Sixteen Stone and Razorblade Suitcase. “Glycerine” still smolders a decade later. Maybe guitarist Nigel Pulsford really was the puppet master behind Bush?

One would think being married to the mother of reinvention would have rubbed off. The hits, Gavin . . . just play the hits.

The Empires open.

— Janine Schaults

Category: Stage Buzz, Weekly