3 minute read
Carry The Day, Against The Sun, Anson, Chasing Desolation, State Five
Carry The Day, Against The Sun,
Anson, Chasing Desolation, State Five
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Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA., April 24, 2022
Carry The Day
Review by Ken Morton - Photos by Vivian Ortega of So Finch Photography
Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood Blvd hosted The Rock
Collective’s “Rock For Life” Benefit Concert to Benefit Sweet Relief Musician’s Fund and Check Your Head
Podcast on Sunday, April 24, 2022. The concert featuring popular Los Angeles based bands paying tribute to artists the industry has lost too soon including Taylor Hawkins, Chester Bennington, Elliott Smith, Paul Gray and Amy Winehouse.
Against The Sun
Anson, performing his heart out on vocals and guitar, accompanied by Nico Triumphant on an improvised cajón drum. Anson was paying tribute to the late, great Elliott Smith, and presented a super impassioned rendition of the classic Say Yes. Although Anson and Nico played acoustic, on display was a lot of power, memorable tunes and good times to be found in their set. Of their own original songs, highlights included the supremely catchy Runaway, his off the charts Spotify megahit Hailey, and a brand new selection entitled Fall Into My Arms.
Opening the show was Los Angeles based solo artist State Five from Long Beach was up next, and what a
stunning tribute this amazing post hardcore band performed in honor of Amy Winehouse - their version of Back To Black was nothing short of stratospheric. Other brilliant tunes from their segment of the show included What’s Killing Me, Hysteria, and Dance In The Raim. Definitely a band to seek out and rediscover in future days ahead.
Chasing Desolation was performing in memory of the legendary Chester Bennington of Linkin Park, and their unveiling of The Messenger was absolutely epic! The band also presented songs from their recently issued The Moth Collection full length manifesto, with selections such as Back From The Grave, Maze Of White, and Night Things sounding absolutely tremendous within a live setting. You can bet Highwire Daze will be checking out this band again soon and so should you!
Against The Sun was vibrant and energetic, unleasing an outstanding live show! Opening their set with a rousing rendition of Left Behind by Slipknot as a tribute to Paul Gray, Against The Sun did this classic song and brilliant musician proud. Another cover performed was Dead Man’s Party by Oingo Boingo, with Against The Sun rocking this ditty out with a glorious sense of conviction. Vocalist Brad West introduced It Should’ve Been Raining as a tribute to his late mother, and there was not a dry eye to be found in the house. Another selection Falling Apart featured a guest appearance from their friend Joshua Gomez. Their last song and latest single Chelsea Said rocked and raged hard, leaving quite a lasting impression on the crowd. Against The Sun are truly inspirational live with the dynamic tunes to back it all up, and they are not to be missed!
Carry The Day headlined The Rock For Life Benefit, and their set had everyone on their feet singing along and doing circle pits in a venue maybe not so well known for that kind of activity. The band’s tribute would be for Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, and their cover of All My Life was both grand and blistering. Their own original songs were through the roof, with Backup Plan, Better Days, Outcast, and State Of Emergency (their latest single) leaving quite an impact. A brand new tune Picture Perfect was well received by the audience. And for a very well deserved encore, Carry The Day performed The Ones We Hate, leaving The Rock For Life Benefit with an absolutely rapturous grand finale. With an audience response this passionate, we will definitely see Carry The Day headlining venues above and beyond the City Of Angels in no time at all!
Congrats to David Swanson of The Los Angeles Rock Collective and the five amazing bands for a very memorable night in the wilds of Tinseltown! Mental health is so important. It was an honor to cover this show.
