The world is in a chaotic time right now, and sometimes celebrities are lambasted for speaking out on things, because they shouldn’t be concerned with these topics as they are just actors and musicians. One musician that has made it his life’s priority to put his political beliefs up front and in your face is Tom Morello. Ever since stepping into the spotlight with his band Rage Against the Machine, Morello has been a very outspoken person with his beliefs. Making his points both through his writing in his music and being a public persona. Tom Morello wanted to bring his protests to the stage with two special shows taking place at the House of Blues in Anaheim, CA and The Fonda Theare in Los Angeles. Night one kicked off with the new supergroup Seven Hours After Violet, and fans packed in the House of Blues ready to march to the drums of Morello’s music.

Opening the show was the newest supergroup known as Seven Hours After Violet featuring Shavo Odadjian of System of a Down and Taylor Barber of Left to Suffer. Seven Hours kicked off their set with the song “Gloom,” and right off the bat they were here to create a mood. Lighting the stage with dark moody lights, and flooding it with heavy greens and purples, there was an energy created in the room. Vocalist Taylor Barber has a powerful voice that can carry the beauty of a serene melody while singing cleanly and then switch to the nastiest guttural screams with little effort. Guitarist Alejandro Aranda backs Barber on vocals, creating an orchestral harmony to the bands music. With a bassist like Shavo Odadjian his instrument is put right in front of the mix to help drive to feeling of each song. Fellow guitarist Michael Montoya adds the distorted edge to the sound, while drummer Josh Johnson is blasting away behind the kit. Musically, Seven House After Violet was on top of their game and sounded amazing. Though, at times, the band could be seen surrounding the drummer with their backs to the audience. Turning around to play for us would have heightened their performance immensely. Regardless, Seven Hours had us rocking out with songs like “Cry…,” “Paradise,” “Radiance,” “Abandon,” “Go!,” “Float,” “Alive,” and ending with “Sunrise.” Seven House After Violet can only go up from here.

Then it was time for Tom Morello to begin his guitar sermon for the people of Anaheim. Tom wears a classic mechanic’s uniform with name tag, helping to show he is just an everyman. But it’s when his hands get a hold of his Fender Telecaster that his true potential comes out and we all see what a master in his craft is capable of. Not just strumming, picking, or tapping his guitar, but using it as a sandbox to create any variation of noise he can pull out of the instrument. Tom even pulls double duty, singing for many of his songs while letting his hands be the shining star. Behind him on a giant 20ft LCD screen, Tom would display images of ethnic cultures, minorities, pride, and political statements changing with every song. Tom wanted to share the stage with his son Roman Morello, having his kid come out to perform on guitar for a couple songs. With the song “One Last Dance” Roman took the solo for himself, maneuvering the guitar behind his head and ripping that solo blind. All the while Tom could be seen with the biggest proud dad smile on his face watching his son excel like this.

Tom Morello even brought out a couple more special guest stars like Thomas Raggi of Maneskin, Luke Spiller of The Struts, and even Shavo Odadjian came back out one more time. Tom Morello managed to give the fans a blend of his solo music, Rage medlies, and even a couple covers with songs like “Soldier in the Army of Love,” “GOSSIP,” “Lightning Over Mexico,” “One Man Revolution,” “Union Power,” “Hold the Line,” “Let’s Get the Party Started,” “Secretariat,” “Cato Stedman & Neptune Frost,” “Keep Going,” “This Land Is Your Land,” “Kick Out the Jams,” “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap,” “Cochise/Like a Stone,” “Killing in the Name,” and ending with “Power to the People.” All his music and cover selections are songs that speak to the average person and make a statement of overcoming adversity and loving each other. Flipping over his guitar, he had “FUCK ICE” written on the back of his axe just to make sure people understood what he was trying to say.

People are sometimes shocked to find out that Rage Against the Machine and Tom Morello are very politically driven entities. I don’t know how you miss these aspects of their songs, but when you go to one of their shows, their stances are right there in your face. Sometimes celebrities are talking about topics and ideas because they have a platform to be heard. But Tom Morello is someone who lives those beliefs every day. He isn’t just talking about things because he has a platform, he is doing everything in his power to help better the world, and his music is one of the biggest ways people have been able to hear his voice for change. A Tom Morello concert isn’t just a musical event, but this was a protest for the people, by the people, and preaches change and love.