Hunnypot has been bringing music and culture together for 25 years, and over the years, we've thrown some unforgettable parties. …
Read more
Hunnypot Live has produced over 500 shows, bringing incredible artists to the stage for a quarter century. As part of…
Read more
Hunnypot Live has produced over 500 shows, bringing incredible artists to the stage for a quarter century. As part of…
Read more
Hunnypot has been bringing music and culture together for 25 years, and over the years, we've thrown some unforgettable parties.…
Read more
Hunnypot has been bringing music and culture together for 25 years, and over the years, we've thrown some unforgettable parties.…
Read more
Mystical Joyride releases a new remix of their single "Gotta Do Me" featuring rapper Sri Kala.
The band has been featured within the Ecstatic Dance community and played at such Festivals as Lightning in Bottle, Soulplay, and Love Long Beach, as well as featured vocalists like superstar Aloe Blacc and Ghanaian reggae/afro beats artist Rocky Dawuni. They just released their new afro/Indian-house-tinged album House Magic featuring more amazing global artists like QVLN, Evan Hatfield, and Gingee. They provide an unforgettable live experience with positive messaging and dancy vibes.
Mystical Joyride is the genre-fluid Psychedelic World Pop band flying their spaceship between the spiritual and the ratchet; formed in 2015 by married couple Leah and Joel Van Dijk, the band sought to explore Leah’s existential questions with the Wizardry of Joel’s production skills. Leah, born of the musical legacy of The Commodores, and Joel (guitarist for Aloe Blacc and producer for many) put their sounds together to form this new identity.
After their first EP, they added the sensational Bengali singer Arzeen to the band after having him feature on a few of their records and loving the results. Their live set combines electronic music with live instrumentation, sometimes as a duo and sometimes as an ensemble of Joyriders. Mystical Joyride is an experience of contemplation, meditation, and straight-up shaking that ass.
Focus tracks: "Gonna Be Alright", "Get This Fire Started" & "Superpowers"
What’s up Hunnypotheads! March is coming to a close and that means spring has arrived and the race for the song of the summer is just about to begin. As the weather changes along with our listening tastes, I thought it would be fun to ride an indie wave with a round-up of artists that I’ve been digging this month. We got a global lineup for y’all with all roads going nowhere in particular.
There’s some rainy day romance from Above Velvet Air just ahead of monsoon season in the Philippines, and Eghoza is gearing up for a laid back ‘Holiday’ out in the UK. Of course, we couldn’t fully escape winter without a wee spot of ennui from Paris brought to you by CVANTEZ and After Berlin. Le Pain is bringing that same Franco-style stateside while DJ Zapper is turning self-doubt into a warehouse rave. Molly Kruse is crusading to make country emo again and The Wildwoods are wandering among the plains. From the L.A. heartland we’re flying into Six Foot Pigeons territory and honoring one of the true greats with a posthumous release from CHARLES AKA.
So if you’re sick of the same ol’ sweetener and are ready to go vegan after all this beef, take a song from this sampler and see how it tastes.
-Robyn DeLossa
Mac Montgomery, better known to us as DENM, brings his Southern-Cali reggae rock (with a little bit of hip-hop) on his new album Hot N Glassy. DENM has been making music since 2015, and while it took some time for him to start getting noticed, he is off to a huge start with his previous album Slum Beach Denny and now this latest jam.
I had never heard of him until I traveled out west to photograph Cali Vibes in 2022. My first thought when I saw the lineup for Cali Vibes was, “Who is DENM?” My first thought once he started performing at Cali Vibes was, “This dude has a pretty cool vibe and sound; I have to check his music out.”
The memory I took away from that performance was a little strange, but during his set (early afternoon in the California sun), his guitar overheated and stopped playing mid-set. He told the crowd what was happening, but as a true entertainer, he just kept on singing while the band kept playing. After grabbing another guitar, he finished off the set with no other issues. It was a great performance.
I started checking out his music and liked what I heard, especially when he released Slum Beach Party Vol. 1 with Landon McNamara. He has mentioned his influences are the Marley's, Chris Cornell, Bradley Nowell, Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz, and Kendrick Lamar. While listening to Hot N Glassy, you can really hear and feel these influences. It’s some good stuff.
The album starts off with two dope hip-hop-influenced tunes: “Califas2” and “Little Love.” They are more than just hip-hop, but that West Coast vibe and beat hit hard on both. “Califas2” features B-Real, who delivers a sweet rhyme, and that G-Funk groove flowing through is so nice. “Little Love” is a little slower but hits with a nice beat and a sweet flow from DENM. I’m already loving this album, and we’re only two songs in.
Benny Ranks joins DENM on “Cool Down,” which features a great guitar throughout the jam. DENM sounds great lyrically on this track, and Benny has a dope flow.
“Wild West” is next and is a really interesting track. It kind of takes me back to the early ’80s and a Cure sound. It may just be me, but that’s the vibe I get—which is not a bad thing. This upbeat song stands alone on this album, but I like it.
Next up is another good upbeat song, “Stoned Again.” I like his flow in this one, and you just can’t stop your head from grooving to it.
My buddy Heath’s favorite track is next: “Ride Slow.” This is a slow, chill track—the kind of song you just sit back and smoke a fat joint to (I wonder why Heath likes this one? LOL).
“I’ll Be Gone,” featuring Slightly Stoopid, comes at us next. This is a dope Southern Cali groove and beat. Great song, with DENM killing it on vocals and Kyle bringing that Stoopid flow to make this song a banger. The acoustic guitars on this one hit!
Jesse James Pariah joins DENM on “Wandering Soul.” They first hooked up over the pandemic for an impromptu session with Landon McNamara that blossomed into Slum Beach Party Vol. 1. The two of them work really well together, and hopefully, they will continue their collaborations.
Another track I really love is next: “OK Not Alright.” This one brings a nice beat and groove throughout, but it’s all about DENM and his flow and lyrics. This song is about doing your best to keep it together and trying to stay positive. It hits for me personally. This is a captivating alternative pop-punk anthem, but you still get those reggae elements.
Pepper and Kaleo Wassman join DENM on the next track, “Where I’m Goin.” Another great upbeat tune, it’s a song that keeps you going—and keeps DENM going:
“No one said that growing up would be this hard/Yeah, life’s a gamble and I got some shitty cards/I don’t know where I’m going/But I think I’ll get there soon/Hard times keep me growing/But I think they’ll be done soon.”
Kaleo hits with a dope lyrical flow that takes this song to another level. I really like the DENM/Pepper vibe.
My favorite track is up next: “Be Mine.” The song starts off with the “Don’t Worry Be Happy” whistling and then comes in hard with a nice beat and a slowed-down whistle floating through the song. I love DENM’s flow in this song, and the lyrics are perfect. This song has been on repeat, and my head won’t stop bopping up and down:
“When you talk about your problems, I default to want to fix them/It’s probably best to hug and just shut my mouth and listen/Baby, all you wanted was to tell me about your day/It wasn’t till the morning I knew what I should say.”
DENM slows it down a bit for us on “Fool,” a ballad with a sweet little groove. Great acoustic guitar in this one, and DENM once again sounds great.
The album finishes off with “Swimming Lessons,” another slow tune about keeping your head above water and doing what you need to do to persevere for your loved ones:
“Cuz life’s got good times with a little bit of pain/Hard times but you see through the rain so/I’m takin’ swimming lessons/So I can see the blessings/When the waves come crashing on down I can.”
This may be the best song vocally for DENM and really shows a different side—a good side—to him.
What can I say about this album? When I heard DENM was coming out with a new album, I was intrigued and interested in listening. But after listening to it a few times through, I think it’s a really good collection of dope songs. DENM hit on this album; these tracks and the lyrics hit.
He is a rising star in that American-reggae-rock-punk-hip-hop genre that takes us in many different listening directions. He fits right into that huge genre, and with this album, bigger, more seasoned bands (in different genres) should be all over DENM and asking him to tour with them. He’s got a great following that is only going to get larger and larger.
This album has a little something for everyone, no matter what your music genre go-to is. I thought about the album title, Hot N Glassy, and wondered if it describes the album or DENM. I think it’s a little of both—and in a good way. The lyrics give us an insight into who DENM really is, and I think the title fits perfectly. He is learning, growing, and staying positive about the future. A bright future.
26-year-old Peaches Adaba, whose real name is Sherese Chisolm, hails from Morant Bay, Saint Thomas, Jamaica, and has been listening to music her whole life. “I knew from a tender age I wanted to make music, but nobody had the time to listen and actually push me to make music. I grew up in Morant Bay surrounded by parties every other night and people who love to just play music as the sunrise,” she recently told Kaboom Magazine.
The fast-rising artist’s sound blends dancehall, reggae, and R&B—almost the perfect mix of all three throughout her album. Her musical influences include Tarrus Riley, Chronixx, and Usher, and you can hear these influences throughout her work.
The album starts off with “Sidem,” a rare dancehall love song. With a nice, sweet beat and her beautiful vocals, the song is based on Vybz Kartel and Sidem Ozturk's love story. The dancehall power couple met in 2015 while Kartel was serving time following a murder conviction. In January, the song entered the New York reggae charts at #30.
She follows up with “Reminisce,” a typical dancehall song about sex, but with the chill riddim and her stunning voice, it becomes so much more.
“Deal Breaker” is next and features Busy Signal. This may be my favorite track; Peaches has such a nice flow, and Busy Signal just kills it. They work very well together with their styles. While it is a fairly simple beat and riddim, it really hits nicely.
She takes us to “Like a River,” another nice chill riddim where Peaches flows over the music with a sweet drift until she speeds up her cadence, taking us down her wet river.
“Bet” hits with a slightly faster beat and more amazing vocals from Peaches. Another one of my favorites, this one keeps the head bobbing.
Peaches brings another standout track with “Oh Please.” A magnificent flow takes us along the song with a gorgeous sound. With a great chill beat, this track makes you want to grab that special someone and dance the night away.
The album finishes off with “Take Me Away.” I keep saying this is one of my favorites, but as I listen, I find myself loving each song more than the last, and “Take Me Away” is no different. This one hits differently with her vocal flow, mixing up styles and cadence. It leaves me wanting more.
Peaches Adaba is destined for greatness. She has a beautiful voice and great flow over some excellent production. She may just be getting started, but the sky is the limit. She has said, “My style is culture with a creative twist.” Her flow is very calming—something we don’t often see in dancehall—but she has an edge to go with that calmness.
This is what makes her unique: the blending of styles and music genres. And it doesn’t hurt that she has a magnificent voice—a voice that just pulls you in and keeps you focused. With her stage name being devised from her grandmother nicknaming her “Peachy,” she added the African term “Adaba” as a creative way to showcase her personality.
One Love,
Todd M. Judd
Anberlin’s In Motion / Never Take Friendship Personal tour hit Varsity Theater in Minneapolis this Tuesday, delivering a powerful and unforgettable night of nostalgic alt-rock energy. Their new touring lineup brought Matty Mullins on vocals, offering a renewed take on their sound while keeping their pulse-pounding, rock-forward instrumentation intact. Joined by The Dangerous Summer and Copeland, the show balanced anthemic hooks with emotional depth in an intimate yet high-energy setting.
The Dangerous Summer opened the night with their nostalgic pop-rock sound. Their style hasn’t changed much over the years, with Andrew Perdomo becoming more confident as a songwriter while keeping their signature identity intact. Their inclusion on the tour with Copeland and Anberlin was a geographic one (as Copeland’s singer would mention later), and Perdomo couldn’t wait to express how excited they were to be part of the lineup.
While they interacted with the crowd throughout, their focus remained on the music. The Dangerous Summer’s performance was tight, with strong vocals and dynamic instrumentals that carried well in the venue. They closed with “Gravity,” a highlight off their 2024 album of the same name—a perfect way to end a short but memorable set.
Copeland took the stage next, bringing a change of pace with their atmospheric and introspective sound. Their set was carefully crafted, leaning into the band’s signature blend of delicate melodies and layered instrumentation. Aaron Marsh bemoaned his aging body, joking that the anthems they’d be playing might have to be a bit subdued due to some nagging back issues. That kind of levity meshed well with their more reserved style, switching it up as they played the hits off of In Motion.
The contrast saw Marsh swapping between lead guitar and lead piano, but no matter the instrument, his intimate, delicate vocals arrested the audience, bringing them back to a simpler time of ripped jeans and shopping at Hot Topic. The crowd responded with quiet attentiveness, drawn into the emotional depth of each song. Though their energy was more subdued compared to The Dangerous Summer, Copeland’s performance was immersive, creating a reflective mood that contrasted well with the night’s lineup. It felt a lot like spending time with an old friend—one you were really happy to see again, as if no time had passed.
Anberlin closed the night out, and the setlist was exactly what you’d expect for the Never Take Friendship Personal 20-year celebration. Matty Mullins and company played the material all the way from the leading, eponymous song through “Dance, Dance, Christa Paffgen.” Watching these pros play this material that has meant so much to so many—including Copeland’s Aaron Marsh, who specifically mentioned it as an influence and talked about what a difference it made for them all being in Florida around the same time—with what appeared to be effortless grace really showcased what a powerful collective this band is.
Despite the absence of Stephen Christian, they sounded more or less exactly the same, but renewed and refreshed. Mullins brought a metal-tinged intensity that perfectly paired with Anberlin’s instrumentation, which has always leaned toward the heavier side of rock’s spectrum (at least for their rock hits).
After closing out Never Take Friendship Personal, they dipped into their discography for some great encores—including a sensational rendition of “Godspeed” off of Cities. It was an incredible show, and it was so great to see this band still kicking!
When you think of Nattali Rize or listen to her music, you instantly get pulled into her work, her beliefs, and her conscious rebellion. Nattali Rize is a conscious rebel who exquisitely combines the ideas of positivity, freedom, unity, and love. She shares the same beliefs as reggae icons Bob Marley, Burning Spear, Dennis Brown, and Black Uhuru. With her latest album, she ties these beliefs with her music to make Liberate an inspiring and empowering album.
The album starts off with “This Sound” and features the late Jo Mersa Marley and Stu Brooks. This song comes in so strong and hits so hard. Nattali flows with excellent lyrics, and Jo Mersa sounds wonderful and strong. A great start to this journey.
The title track, “Liberate,” is next up, featuring Judy Mowatt. This song is fantastic. It is a conscious roots reggae vibration with a great riddim, and the lyrics from both Judy and Nattali are so powerful. Nattali said she has listened to Judy since she was a little girl, and you can feel the power and love they both bring to this song.
Nattali slows it down with the next track, “Freedom.” She sings over the piano, showcasing her stunning voice. She really turns it up a notch with this song:
“The freedom in you/Is the freedom in me/One sweet liberation/That’s how it’s gonna be/The fire in you, is the fire in me/I and I will keep fighting/Until we all are free.”
Next up is one of my favorite tracks, “Brave Heart,” featuring Kabaka Pyramid. With an upbeat riddim, Kabaka kills it on the mic right from the start. They have worked together over the years on various songs, and I think each time they get better and better. They complement each other so well and should think about doing an album together. They share the same love of music and positive messages.
“Fear & Dread” follows, with a nice reggae riddim flowing through. Nattali sounds great with more incredible lyrics, urging us not to get lost in this world of fear and dread:
“Don’t get pulled and swayed/By the woes inside your head/Don’t get lost out there/In a world of fear and dread/There inside your heart is/A light that will light the way.”
“Roads” is next, with Nattali urging her partner to show her love and make her believe in it. A sweet, slower song that shows a different, more vulnerable side to Nattali.
Kabaka Pyramid and Stu Brooks return on another great song, “This World.” Kabaka destroys it again on the mic while Nattali keeps right up with his flow. Both sound amazing together yet again.
“Believer,” featuring Mike Love, comes next. This is such a positive, uplifting song, telling us to never give up and to believe in ourselves. Nattali sings:
“So give it one shot, give it all you got, in everything you do make sure it run hot./ Keep up the flow don't let the ting stop, the energy you give will always come back./ Even when your heart is racing, the world is caving, your mind’s about to explode, remember it's not a race, you're still going places so drop the fear and let’s go!”
Mike Love’s voice and cadence are amazing in this song:
“I won't hesitate, I know that it′s never too late/ It'd be a crime to decline time to illuminate/ Light it up, believe in yourself, sight it up, achieve it/ Write it up in the stars, make your mark/ There's nothing in your way, yeah it′s your day/ The pathway is clear, your family is here/ The answer is near, so wipe your tears.”
This song can’t help but uplift you.
Kumar joins Nattali on “Indestructible.” With great lyrical flow, Nattali delivers a song about resilience. Kumar brings a different sound than we are used to hearing from him, and it takes the song to another level.
“Tomorrow” is up next, with a sweet roots reggae flow. Nattali sounds wonderful once again. I don’t think I ever sat back and really listened to her sing before like I have with this album—she is absolutely remarkable.
The album finishes off with “Fear & Dread Reprize,” a slower version of the earlier track that really showcases her magnificent voice.
I absolutely love her vibe, voice, lyrics, and flow throughout the album. Her creativity and originality shine through with a great production of the riddims and music. Nattali set out to produce an album about upliftment, unity, positivity, freedom, and love.
“With this new album, we are fulfilling our mission and purpose as musicians to bring sound, word, power, and frequencies to uplift and connect to our human family across borders and waters. We are in a time where music is a healer with the ability to unify us in the moment, sending ripples of positivity into our collective reality,” she recently told the Jamaican Observer.
With Liberate, Nattali Rize has more than accomplished her mission. You can’t help but walk away from listening to this album feeling good, feeling powerful, feeling positive, and feeling inspired to do more.
One Love,
Todd M. Judd
FOZZY, the high-voltage rock powerhouse fronted by wrestling icon Chris Jericho and guitar virtuoso Rich "The Duke" Ward of STUCK MOJO, is cranking the amps to 11 for the 2025 leg of their 2025th Anniversary Tour!
Get ready, because FOZZY is bringing the thunder to 20 of the most iconic venues across the nation, delivering the kind of electrifying, adrenaline-soaked performances guaranteed to blow the roof off every stop on this epic run.
With support from rising rock prodigies LILIAC and dark rockers THE NOCTURNAL AFFAIR, this tour is a hard-rocking trifecta fans don’t want to miss. Kicking off in Springfield, Missouri, on April 17, this explosive trek wraps up in Wyandotte, Michigan, on May 12. From the heart-pounding energy of “Judas” to the searing intensity of “I Still Burn,” expect a set filled with fan-favorite anthems and deep cuts every die-hard needs to experience live.
FOZZY isn’t just a band; it’s a live rock 'n' roll event like no other, and the 2025th Anniversary Tour is your chance to see the legends in action up close. Tickets are flying off the shelves, so grab yours NOW through www.fozzyrock.com.
This tour is set to leave a trail of ringing ears and unforgettable memories. Do you dare to miss it? FOZZY awaits you!
Hip-Hop has been around for just over 50 years now, and 40 of those years have seen LL Cool J as one of the most prominent Hip-Hop artists ever. Think about that—he’s been doing his thing for 80% of the life of a music genre. And doing it well!
With LL’s 40-year anniversary in Hip-Hop this year, he reimagines his legacy with a vinyl reissue series. A 40-year journey resurfaces in a new era, kicking off with All World: Greatest Hits and Phenomenon, set to be released on April 11th.
But first, he debuts his first-ever “Rock the Bells” music video, bridging generations. Strange to think that he never made a music video for this classic when he released his debut hit album Radio. Released on February 21st, the black-and-white video, filmed in a classical style, goes back to the streets of the city that made him, with a cast of subway dancers, local MCs, young kids, and street performers rapping the lyrics to the track.
It gives a youthful excitement of mid-80s Hip-Hop in the modern age through the fresh and spirited performances of the cast. It's a brilliant tribute to the music, to LL Cool J, to New York, and to “Rock the Bells.”
The video's director, Gregory Brunkalla, tells The FADER in an exclusive statement:
"I pitched LL this idea of having real [New Yorkers] rap lyrics all over the city, and he thought it would be perfect to celebrate the 40th anniversary of 'Rock the Bells,' which came out in 1985. I think it works so well because it’s a song so many people already know. On the day we were filming the shot in the basketball court, we showed up to the location, and a random Jeep drove by with the windows down blasting 'Rock the Bells'—that’s some crazy synchronicity. Makes you feel like things are truly lining up!"
“Rock the Bells” is a classic, but it is not just a classic—it’s power and force in motion, feeding the next wave of artists and fans who will carry Hip-Hop forward.
LL Cool J not only changed Hip-Hop—the way we hear it, view it, and think about it—he took it and himself to a different level. James Todd Smith was one of the first to achieve commercial success in Hip-Hop. It took a long time for Hip-Hop to be recognized, and LL was the one to do it.
Along the way, he became a Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, NAACP Image Award winner, two-time Grammy Award winner, and a Kennedy Center Honoree. So naturally, he released a greatest hits album only 11 years after entering the game. But when you have so many hits, it’s not a surprise.
Released on November 5, 1996, All World: Greatest Hits brings together LL Cool J’s era-defining anthems, including “Rock the Bells,” “I Can’t Live Without My Radio,” “Mama Said Knock You Out,” “I’m Bad,” “Around the Way Girl,” “The Boomin’ System,” “Doin’ It,” and “I Need Love.” There are not many greatest hits albums that have a better line-up than this, in any music genre.
A year after releasing his greatest hits album, he released Phenomenon on October 14, 1997, showcasing LL’s ability to reinvent Hip-Hop storytelling with tracks like “Phenomenon,” “Candy” (feat. Ricky Bell & Ralph Tresvant), “4, 3, 2, 1” (feat. Canibus, DMX, Master P, Method Man & Redman), “Don’t Be Late, Don’t Come Too Soon” (feat. Tamia), and “Hot, Hot, Hot.”
After the success of his previous studio release Mr. Smith, the same philosophies ring true with Phenomenon—some sweet R&B-influenced tracks and a few more hard rap tracks, while adding a more personal song in “Father.” While the production (executively produced by Sean “Puffy” Combs) may not be as solid as on his past albums, LL kills it on his lyrics and flow, taking us back to what made him such an amazing rapper from the start.
The video is a must-watch. It is produced and directed perfectly—so much feeling, so much love, so much New York, so much LL. Videos are not made like this anymore. While there was never a video made for “Rock the Bells” back in the day, this certainly could have been created 40 years ago, which makes it an instant classic.
As for the vinyl reissue series, if you are a classic Hip-Hop fan—especially a fan of vinyl like I am—you will need to pick these up quickly. Both albums will be available as limited-edition color variant 2LP pressings and standard black 2LP pressings, allowing fans to own a piece of history while celebrating LL Cool J’s ongoing influence.
Is LL Cool J the G.O.A.T? I don’t know the answer to that, but I do know that he has done his thing well for most of Hip-Hop’s life. Not many have been able to maintain an amazing career like he has.
One Love,
Todd M. Judd
The Signal in Chattanooga was alive and well with Divorced Dad Rock on Saturday, March 8th.
What is that, you ask? I recently learned it’s a term for early 2000s rock music. Not sure if there’s a female equivalent, but I’d imagine it would be Lower Back Tattoo Rock or Low-Rise Jeans Rock.
At any rate, it was a solid night of rock, both old and new.
San Antonio rock band Kingdom Collapse kicked things off. I recently discovered them, and as a fan of radio-friendly rock infused with metal, I was an instant convert. I also have a soft spot for bands that have built their success independently, as Kingdom Collapse has. It’s always great to see a group with the work ethic to grow a following without a major label. That said, these guys aren’t strangers to major radio play—songs like their opener (and current single) “Elevate” have already found chart success.
They also performed tracks from previous releases, including “Save Me From Myself,” “Uprise” (their breakout 2020 single that charted on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock chart), and “Suffer.” A surprise highlight? Their rocking rendition of Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten”—not gonna lie, I loved that one. They closed their set with “Unbreakable,” a powerful anthem of resilience that’s become a fan favorite and one of their most-streamed tracks.
Next up was Saliva, fronted by Bobby Amaru. It had been a long time since I’d seen them live—and my first time with Bobby on vocals. I wasn’t just impressed; I was blown away. This lineup of Saliva is powerful and brought the Scenic City crowd to life.
They opened with “Superstar,” followed closely by my personal favorite, “Ladies and Gentlemen.” Next up was their current single, “Timebomb,” from their latest album Revelation: Retold. One of the night’s standout moments came when Amaru brought his daughter onstage to sing with him on “High on Me.” Her vocals were so impressive that a friend later told me to check out his Instagram, where they post a lot of videos singing together. Let me tell you—the apple does not fall far from the tree. If she chooses, that young lady could have an incredible future as a rock frontwoman!
Another killer moment was a mash-up of “They Don’t Care About Us / Lose Yourself / One Step Closer,” which had the crowd completely fired up. They closed with “Click Click Boom,” and not only was it a crowd-pleaser, but Amaru showed his #GirlDad side one more time—bringing a 10-year-old fan named Adelaine onstage to throw up the rock horns. It was her first Saliva concert, and judging by her reaction, it won’t be her last.
Hinder closed out the night, hitting the stage full throttle with “Get Stoned.” Frontman Marshal Dutton commanded the crowd with gritty vocals, leading a setlist that blended early 2000s hits with a solid representation of the band’s newer material. Like other bands from this era, it’s refreshing to see they don’t just rely on nostalgia—they’re still evolving their sound.
The set included “How Long,” “Without You,” “By the Way,” “Better Than Me,” “King of the Letdown,” and of course, “Lips of an Angel.” While some might wrongly dismiss them as a one-hit wonder, this performance proved otherwise. They haven’t missed a beat, bringing the energy and leaving us all satisfied with a dose of nostalgia mixed with the present.
DOROTHY, the band, absolutely took over the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on Friday, March 21st. DOROTHY is fronted by its namesake, Hungarian-born Dorothy Martin. DOROTHY (the band and the singer) are Los Angeles-based, and this was the opening show for the Redemption Tour in support of the new album, The Way.
Formed in 2014 and with four albums under her (their) belt, DOROTHY’s sound has evolved into a blues-rocker vibe. As good as the music is, Dorothy Martin’s voice is a gift—powerful when it needs to be, subtle when it has to be. She is right up there with any lead vocalist, male or female.
When Dorothy (the singer) came out on stage in a black leather jacket with fringed sleeves, she was ready to show the packed audience of DOROTHY faithful that their faith in her talent was well-placed. They tore into the 2017 single, “Down to the Bottom,” which set the stomping tone for the entire evening.
The four-piece band featured bassist Eliot Lorango (fresh off a tour with Jerry Cantrell). While Lorango is a mainstay and band director of DOROTHY, drummer Jake Hayden and guitarist Sam Bam Koltun were not playing that evening. They were ably filled in by Nick Annis on guitar and Chris Reeve on drums.
The show was a 12-song set, with four coming from The Way. This also meant they were the live debuts of the tunes. While the songs might have a slightly different tone to them when Hayden and Koltun return to action, nothing at all seemed amiss. That, in and of itself, is talent and professionalism.
If you saw the ads and social media posts for this opening night show, you knew there was a guest player that was going to make a “special appearance.” The Gibson-wielding man in the hat, known as Slash, came out for the final three songs of the evening, starting with the Charles Segar classic, “Key to the Highway,” followed by the title track from DOROTHY’s last album, Gifts from the Holy Ghost, and finishing with an encore of the burner “Tombstone Town.” (Slash plays on that cut on the album.) It’s always a treat to see a legend like Slash tear it up in a venue of the El Rey’s size.
It was pretty obvious the audience didn’t want the evening to end. Comments like, “Oh my God” and “She’s amazing” could be heard as people exited onto Wilshire Blvd. DOROTHY now heads off on a tour that has them bouncing back and forth across the country. See them whenever and wherever you can. This band, this singer, rocks.
The opening act was Pistols at Dawn, who have toured with Fozzy and Alter Bridge, so they know how to get an audience going from minute one. From Atlanta, the band features Adam Jaffe on drums, Will James on guitar, Gabriel Cuevas on bass, and Jonathan Sookdewsing on lead vocals. They packed a lot into a short set with a guitar solo, a bass solo, and debuted some music that they have been recording in Los Angeles.