4 years ago, the reuniting of the Stone Temple Pilots was a major draw for the first of only 2 Virgin Festivals to play in Calgary. Thousands packed Fort Calgary to see the band back together after 6 years. Fast forward to 2012 and the band's current tour, moving from the Big 4 building to the smaller MacEwan Hall and, boosted by a groupon deal, it's clear that STP isn't the same draw it was just 4 years ago.

Why?  That's a hard one. Perhaps it is the current summer-fall touring schedule which recently saw Metallica play Edmonton, and sees fellow 90's stalwarts The Smashing Pumpkins and Red Hot Chili Peppers visiting in the next few months. Maybe singer Scott Weiland's shaky performances in the past deterred people. Whatever the reason, Stone Temple Pilot fans who skipped this go round missed out on a tight show from a band that was clearly having a blast.

Kicking the show off with Sin and Vasoline, Weiland, looking healthy and sharp in a suit and drastically different from some of the crazier looks of the past, writhed around stage with his trademark energy and movement. Whether with STP or former supergroup Velvet Revolver, his reputation as a charismatic, if not unique, frontman proved true. Brothers Robert DeLeo (bass) and Dean DeLeo (guitar) sported huge grins, as Eric Kretz pounded away at the drums. Over the course of 90 minutes the near capacity crowd was taken through a greatest hits package along with two songs from their 2010 self-titled album.

The show had it's issues – the band didn't take the stage until 10:00 and the sound at the time was muddy, with Weiland's vocals being lost in the music. When things clicked, as it did on Interstate Love Song and Big Empty it was as good as seeing them during the 90's at the height of the Core and Plush albums. Show-ender Sex Type Thing wrapped things up nicely.

2012 STP is a new STP, a healthier STP, and a very good STP. Although it is unlikely that they will headline a packed Saddledome, fans that gave the band a chance seemed satisfied, and that will bring other fans back in the future.

Setlist:

Sin
Vasoline
Crackerman
Hickory Dichotomy
Meatplow
Still Remains
Big Empty
Black Again
Between The Lines
Interstate Love Song
Plush
Tumble in the Rough
Big Bang Baby
Trippin On A Hole In A Paper Heart

Encore:

Unglued
Sex Type Thing