Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.A.

Venue: The E Center

Reviewer: Michael

Band Website: www.sixxammusic.com - www.myspace.com/sixxam

Wow, when I heard that Sixx:A.M. was going to play for the first and possibly last time live here in Salt Lake City I knew I had to be there.

They have announced no plans to tour or play again anytime soon. Given the opportunity to see three songwriters, producers, and musicians each prolific in their own right, on the stage at the same time, I knew I had to be there. I was curious with them being just the threesome, (Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba, and James Michael) how they were going to sound, and further more how they would reproduce the album with backing vocals and rich keyboards throughout, especially with just the three of them. More on that later.

When the lights went down they started with a recording of the first track off of the Heroin Diaries Soundtrack, "X-mas In Hell", it was like Nikki knew what he was doing as the lights remained off and the recording played as the crowd was whipped into a frenzy anticipating a trio that could blow the balls off of a charging rhino at fifty paces. When the lights came up they went into the song "Pray For Me" as the crowd went nuts.

You knew immediately the immense talent that was gathered on this stage just by the mix they had. You could hear James' vocals crisp and clear and not buried by guitar or Nikki's bass. Whoever was working the sound board nailed it, because I could equally hear Nikki's bass, DJ's guitar, and the drummer in a tight mix. These guys were so polished you would have thought they were winding up a nine month tour.

Next they broke into the song "Van Nuys", which if you've heard the album know that Nikki assaults his bass, as the song's bass line makes that song. For saying that this was Sixx:A.M.'s first album the audience familiarity and reception was killer as we all sang along. As they played "Van Nuys" I noticed that at stage left DJ was playing the keyboards to the beginning of the song. He played them throughout the night as well as giving Salt Lake a guitar clinic while he was at it.

Next song they went into was "Accidents Can Happen" as James slid over to the keyboard and played them for that song. Just a reminder that I was witnessing three guys who are so talented and known throughout the industry as sought after collaborators. As the show wore on they played "Heart Failure", but not before Nikki, who was drinking bottled water (it is so good to see him happy and healthy), stepped up to the mic and said..."This is the first time we have played live anywhere....and I am sure glad it is here in Salt Lake". Well obviously the crowd went ballistic.

On a side note at stage right there was a black dress blonde back up singer (name unknown) who sang in perfect harmony all night with James. James Michael can SING! Holy shit, it is rare that you hear a vocalist on an album and they are able to capture all of that range and same sound live, but James left no stone unturned as he displayed a talent and strength only appreciated by a trained ear.

They then went into the song on the album called "Intermission" which is unique but the way they played it gave DJ a chance to show Salt Lake what six strings should sound like. He tore it up all the while making it look effortless.

Being as they were playing before KORN, at this point they had to wrap things up. James thanked 94.9 the Blaze, a local radio station, as being one of the first stations to play the song that was coming next. He said, "Here's a song that you all have made a big hit", as they went into "Life Is Beautiful". Once again if you were to close your eyes you would not know that this was live as they sounded just like the CD.

That unfortunately ended the show for them. As I sat there for a minute I realized that I had just witnessed history. Their first and possibly, but hopefully not, last show. For those of you who were not able to be there Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Michael wrote their own piece of history that night. If there was one negative thing to this show it would simply be that it had to end. As a matter of fact I got up and left. Nothing against KORN, but when you have seen the wizards and magic of SIXX AM it is okay to go home. You have just seen the best!

All in all, Christmas came early in Salt Lake.