Written by GrungeReport.net reader Ty Stalnaker

An intimate show met an eager crowd in a small south Florida bar. Scott Weiland and his newly-named solo band, the Wildabouts, entertained a packed venue that was little more than a lounge in Miami’s midtown area.

At about 10:15 the band took the stage and went into an opening jam. Dressed neatly in a suit, Weiland seemed in good spirits and joked about the size of the venue, “you booked us into a closet!” The setlist took equal parts Stone Temple Pilots and Weiland solo material, with some Velvet Revolver and cover material for good measure.

Following an early version of Crackerman and some Happy In Galoshes songs, some rare Stone Temple Pilots songs were played, including First Kiss on Mars. Most didn’t seem to recognize the rare songs, but the band performed them briskly, with crisp vocals and tight playing. The range of the material demanded the crowd’s attention, as styles were shifting seemingly every few minutes. The energy level flagged a bit as the band went off on a few musically adventurous jams, but returned when the material was more familiar, most notably on the STP songs.

Weiland’s vocals were strong the entire show, hitting nearly every note. Despite this, he asked for some tea a few songs into the show. He also played musical instruments like the harmonica and a theremin synthesizer. He seemed gleeful and amused at the synthesizer, his new “toy,” that works by emitting sounds when hands are nearby.

When the Wildabouts launched into the California Jam and segued into Mountain Song, the energy picked up, as people began standing on whatever furniture was around them amidst the tight environment of the bar.

The show finished with a strong all-STP encore of Vasoline and Unglued, and this took the crowd to its loudest mood of the show. Eclectic was the name of the night, with Weiland and the Wildabouts playing unpredictable yet able, giving a little something for everyone.