CONCERT REVIEW - FOZZY @ GARDEN GROVE AMPITHEATER, GARDEN GROVE, CA (05.06.22)

Written by Daniel Gray

Fozzy didn’t play the Garden Grove Amphitheater on May 6th. No, play is far too soft and squishy of a word.

Fozzy stormed the GGA and essentially invaded Orange County. Maybe it was because they just came off a night at the legendary, but cramped and confining Whisky a Go Go, but this show felt like Fozzy unleashed. Fozzy unchained. Fozzy unstoppable.

Fozzy is fronted by lead singer Chris Jericho. He’s a pro wrestling superstar, so Jericho knows how to play to a crowd. His presence is undeniable and his voice is powerful and perfect for the heavy metal that Fozzy puts out. When he commandeered the smoke machine, he turned it into a smoke machine gun and it was a mash-up of heavy metal and WWE in the absolute best way imaginable.

The founder of Fozzy is lead guitarist, Rich Ward. Besides having an obvious mastery of his Les Paul, Ward without a doubt holds his own performing with Jericho. The guitar slinger never stops moving. Spins, jumps, twirls. All done with passion augmented by a gigantic smile that fills the entire amphitheater. (Can’t imagine moving like that on the Whisky stage.) As an aside, he’s also a gentle and humble guy, sticking around to talk to the crowd, specifically taking time to interact with the younger members of the audience.

Rounding out the five-piece band is guitarist Billy Grey, bassist PJ Farley and drummer Grant Brooks. Grey and Farley provide backing vocals giving Fozzy a full metal blanket of harmony or to paraphrase Jericho, "Fozzy is the bastard child of Metallica and Journey".

Fozzy is on the road for their Saving The World 2022 Tour in support of the Boombox album. Much of the set came from the new album and 2017’s monster Judas. (Of course, a Fozzy-ized version of Frankie Goes to Hollywood’s “Relax” has to been seen as well as heard.)

Fozzy is out to save the world through heavy metal. And while that is a huge goal, they just might have saved the city of Garden Grove in Orange County, California for at least one more night.

Setlist