Ever since catching Rival Sons set as the opening act for Alter Bridge back in 2012, we knew the band had a special gift that was unlike any other artist. Though there might be other blues rock bands (i.e. The Black Crowes, now Greta Van Fleet), there are few modern rock backs with memorable musical personalities like that of lead singer Jay Buchanan and guitarist Scott Holiday. Buchanan is gifted with a powerful and soulful voice that distinguishes him from other singers within the genre, and Holiday is known for his precise, innovative, bluesy solos; together they form a perfect duo that has allowed Rival Sons to prevail regardless of the bumps along their 10 year career.
Their latest tour comes as the support for their sixth full-length album titled Feral Roots, released under Low Country Sound/Elektra records. Feral Roots is the bands first release since departing from Earache Records. Though the band is no longer with Earache, this tour has brought out an impressive amount of fans, with most shows on this tour being sold out. One of these shows was played at Brooklyn Steel in New York City on April 21st 2019, which while not sold out, still drew a massive crowd for the band. Before Rival Sons’ set, The Sheepdogs from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada treated the audience to some southern rock. The Sheepdogs left a memorable impression on everyone in the audience who was unfamiliar with the band, including myself. Just about every song had people in the crowd dancing and showing respect for the guitar solos played by Shamus Currie. The Sheepdogs latest album, Changing Colours, is available via their main website and for free streaming on Spotify.
Rival Sons stepped out to a near full Brooklyn Steel that erupted with excitement as soon as Scott Holiday approached his mic. Most of the songs played were tracks off of their latest, Feral Roots, which feels more personal than any other album the band has recorded before. During their stop at Paste Studios in New York City, Jay Buchanan discussed the need to isolate himself in order to record the record, and was drawn to the Natchez Trace in Nashville, Tennessee. When discussing the process of writing songs together, Jay noted that he has worked more closely with guitarist Scott Holiday on this album than on any other record before. This is evident in the growth of their musical arrangement, having the vocals sections and guitar solos play along with each other very nicely on this album. It is also noted that their lyrics match their personal growth both as individuals and as a band altogether. While the band’s “Feral Roots Tour” is now over, they have just been announced as the direct support for Stone Temple Pilots on their upcoming summer tour, for which you can purchase tickets here.
The Sheepdogs:
Rival Sons:
