SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DUFF MCKAGAN – LIGHTHOUSE: LIVE FROM LONDON

DUFF MCKAGAN
LIGHTHOUSE: LIVE FROM LONDON
EARMUSIC

In 2023, Guns ‘N’ Roses’ bassist Duff McKagan released Lighthouse, his second solo album among his recent singer-songwriter inspired era, which kicked off with 2019’s Tenderness. Building off of this, McKagan has released Lighthouse: Live from London. The album and its companion film were recorded during his sold-out Lighthouse Tour ’24 on October 5th at London’s Islington Assembly Hall.

The album opens with “Forgiveness,” a jangly, mid-tempo rock song built around acoustic guitar and an electric run directly through a clean channel. The ‘70s tone of the track is elevated through McKagan’s snarl of a voice, reminding you of his eternal status as a bona fide punk. Between these juxtaposing elements, as heard on the funky strut of “Chip Away” and the uplifting organ on “This Is the Song,” McKagan has crafted a sound that rests somewhere between the folk of The Band and the proto-punk of The New York Dolls, ultimately landing himself somewhere close to The Stones, circa 1972.

Throughout the 19 tracks on Lighthouse: Live from London, McKagan and his band are in fine form as they execute the intention behind his current creative direction effectively. From the melancholic longing of “I Just Don’t Know” to the reassuring “Tenderness,” McKagan’s reflective musings capture a level of uncertainty among our day and age, combating this with conviction and hope. Musically, there are many gems among this record, such as the winding passages of “Holy Water” (which features The Stooges’ “I Wanna Be Your Dog” tagged on to the end), the crunching rock of “Longfeather” and “Just Another Shakedown,” and a series of covers, including Guns ‘N’ Roses’ “Crazy,” Johnny Thunders’ “Can’t Put Your Arms Around A Memory,” and David Bowie’s “Heroes,” the latter two featuring The Sex Pistols’ guitarist, Steve Jones.

I have long said that, for all their spectacle and grit, the soul of Guns ‘N’ Roses stems from the songwriting and sensibilities of Izzy Stradlin and Duff McKagan. McKagan’s recent solo revival supports this idea with Lighthouse: Live from London, demonstrating the gentler nature of his previous two studio albums in a live context. There is a commitment to both classic rock and punk, as seen not only in the choices of covers, but how the set ebbs and flows between differing dynamics, each performed with an equal degree of intention. As such, Lighthouse: Live from London speaks to his voice as a songwriter and, most importantly, the conviction of McKagan’s artistic vision in the latest chapter of his illustrious career.

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