Photo by Joe Maier
Rockabilly isn’t meant for everyone. Yet, somehow, there are some musicians that can fuse the genre quite well with other styles and make something unique despite sounding classic. Reverend Horton Heat is just such a man, capable of blending rockabilly with old-school country, punk, rock and even surf music. Seeing them at Denver Riot Fest, there’s no surprise as to why this band has a loyal following. Even the crowd that had collected for L7 on the neighboring stage was enthralled with the stage presence and energy of the Rev. That’s exactly what’s in store for those who catch Reverend Horton Heat.
Photo by Joe Maier
Kicking off the show was L.A.’s The Lords of Altamont, a rock band heavy in roots music, rhythm & blues and garage punk. The first thing that made them stand out was their intense energy as lead singer Jake Cavaliere leaped atop his keyboard, mic stand and all, while the band rocked out. If there’s one thing these cats can do, it’s maintaining their dynamic power and audience interest throughout their invigorating performance.
Photo by Joe Maier
Next up was Riverside’s soul punk combo The Bellrays. Anyone who’s heard them before, or been lucky enough to see them play, can certainly see how a band like this has been able to wow anyone and everyone over the past 25 some-odd years of their existence. Vocal frontwoman Lisa Kekaula alone riles up crowds like it’s nobody’s business. Her soul powered voice and parlance make her stand out among many of the vocalists of today. Equally tantalizing, however, is the rest of the band. Guitarist Robert Vennum doesn’t just shred but also entices fans when he solos. And that’s when he’s not harmonizing or singing an entire song. Bassist Justin Andres, as well, got the crowd shaking with his superb bass playing abilities. Even drummer Stefan Litrownik really threw down hard at the kit.
Photo by Joe Maier
Closing out the show was the incredible Reverend Horton Heat. Straight out of the gate, it was absolutely noticeable how much the size of the crowd increased just before their set. And there was no end in sight to the vitality being thrown right back at the audience by the band. Early on, a small pit broke out but don’t mistake that for lacking venom, as security broke up a fight. This didn’t sway the band one bit, though. The Reverend himself, Jim Heath, serenaded fans on guitar while crooning into the microphone. After 30 years of performing, the man’s talent for entertaining is certainly noticeable. Accompanying him was upright bassist Jimbo Wallace who seems to have a fan base all on his own. He got the crowd moving with his fierce slap bass technique. At one point, Jimbo laid his bass on its side and continued playing while the Rev prance up onto it, rockin’ out for the audience. If their unique friendship and stage presence wasn’t enough, drummer Scott Churilla showed off his amazing skills, going so far as to play a song length solo that only so many drummers could keep up with. This was one helluva killer show to catch throughout.
~ Garyn Klasek
No comments:
Post a Comment