 Magnetizing Rock!
It was a crisp spring evening in the city of Spokavegeas. The buzzing of my cell phone awoke me from a quick power nap while watching family guy re runs. I looked at my phone to check what it was waking me for, across the top it read TESLA 8pm The Knitting Factory. I rubbed my eyes and quickly arose to grab my camera and let my girlfriend know we had a show to go to.
First up was “The Leo Project” This band is no stranger to success, having won many awards including the 2008 Los Angeles Music Awards Album of the Year. While I may have thought at first that the group was a little out of the demo for the crowd in Spokane, the 4 piece was able to capture the entire room with some great metal riffs and hard hitting drum beats. At first listen I would compare them to a cross between very early Stained with a touch of Coheed and Cambria.
The band was full of energy the entire performance. At one point Sayra said that Creighton the guitarist was doing more of a workout on stage than that P90x one we are trying to do!
The Leo Project only slowed it down once and then really got the room excited when they covered “Broken Wings” by Mr. Mister. This of course got the “Ladies of The 80’s” really excited. A few more than others. The couple next to us looked like Ronnie James Dio and Lita Ford and they were doing what I believe School District 81 refers to as “freaking.” With that the band said goodnight and to get ready for Tesla!
 Tesla [tes-luh]1: A unit of magnetic induction equal to one weber per square meter. 2:1856–1943, U.S. physicist, electrical engineer, and inventor, born in Croatia. 3: A kickass rock and roll band from Sacramento, California.
I had never seen Tesla before this experience, but was aware that they had a rather large following here in Spokane. So large that they frequently stop here to perform 2 or 3 times a year, and the crowds always come out to show their support!
The band took the stage and the floor of the Knitting Factory instantly became full of screaming fans throwing the sign on their fingers for rock n roll.
My first impression of Tesla? Bright lights, screaming guitars and ear blistering vocals.
Three songs into the set the lead guitarist stepped up to mic and asked the crowd “ Are you ready to go back to 1986?” Personally I thought we were already there, but the crowd went absolutely ape shit! And like Doc Brown with his Delorean, the magical riffs of “Modern Day Cowboy” took us back in time.
While many people in the world have forgotten about the 80’s, (or wish they never happened) Tesla is embracing that period of music and not afraid to admit it. They continue to tour and perform night after night in venue after venue to mullet after mullet.
Check out all the photos from the show HERE!
Jason@checkitoutmusic.com |
