Rival Sons: The Frequency Gig Review
Rival Sons have a good thing going in Europe. The band is playing in front of thousands of people, sold out crowds, and continue to grow their fan base in the region. The Los Angeles based blues rockers are still giving it a go in the United States though. The band just concluded a mini tour of the Midwestern United States, which included a stop at The Frequency in Madison, WI for an intimate performance.
Rival Sons packed The Frequency as fans stood shoulder to shoulder. It was hot, sweaty, and the atmosphere was electric, perfect for the Rival Sons, whose dirty brand of rock ‘n roll set the house on fire.
After an exciting performance from the opening act, The Family Business, Rival Sons kicked off their set with “You Want To,” a song from their latest album, Head Down, which was followed by fan favorite “Get What’s Coming.” The set list featured a nice mix of songs from all the Rival Sons albums.
One thing that was clear was the enjoyment the band has for performing. They fed off the energy from the jazzed up crowd and the dynamics between the members of the band are excellent. Lead vocalist Jay Buchanan became one with the microphone and gave one of the best vocal performances you will ever hear at a live show. Guitarist Scott Holiday led the charge with his crunchy riffs and the outstanding rhythm section of Robin Everhart on bass and Michael Miley on drums provided the perfect backbone for the performance.
Highlights included the hits “Keep on Swinging” and “Pressure and Time,” as the crowd went absolutely bonkers. Jay Buchanan dedicated “Face of Light” to his son, and the encore concluded the show with “Burn Down Los Angeles” and “Soul.”
Fans looking to catch the Rival Sons in the United States are encouraged to request the band on their local radio stations. Following the show, guitarist Scott Holiday let Blues Rock Review know the band is willing to go to whichever cities that give them radio play.
“Rock ‘n roll doesn’t need to be saved, it just needs to be played on the radio,” says Holiday.
– Pete Francis
