Words and Photos: Screaming Digital Productions – DJ
The evening kicked off with Family Dinner, delivering raw, old-school punk and hardcore with genuine gratitude for their touring slot. Their set featured aggressive riffs and thunderous drums that set an explosive tone for the night. Following them, James and the Cold Gun – fresh from my recollection of their performance Hyde Park ’23 appearance opening for Guns N’ Roses – made a striking impact. The Welsh outfit’s unapologetic punk/hard rock was led by frontman James Joseph, sporting a Manic Street Preachers shirt, while Myles Ulrich (son of Metallica’s Lars) commanded the drums with savage precision. Their dynamic stage presence and tight musicianship showed why they earned that coveted Hyde Park slot. Is not everyday we get to enjoy bands from overseas on a tour run in the South, so truly was enjoyable, and later James was hanging out with fans in the pit area, showing a little more down to earth side of some of your Rock bands, that we don’t get to see at a live show often.
Formed in Cape Cod in 2009, Highly Suspect blends raw garage rock with progressive elements and grunge-inspired grit. The trio, led by Johnny Stevens’ distinctive vocals, earned Grammy nods for their breakthrough singles “Lydia” and “My Name Is Human.” After humble beginnings doing cover songs in local bars, they’ve evolved into a powerhouse alt-rock outfit known for explosive live performances and unflinching lyrics that tackle themes of addiction, relationships, and personal demons.
Making their second appearance at Mars Music Hall on Friday, February 7th, the band delivered another memorable performance. Stevens, sporting a BB King t-shirt that telegraphed the blues influences prevalent in their latest album “As Above, So Below,” commanded the stage with his signature vocal prowess. Rich Meyer’s thunderous basslines and Ryan Meyer’s precise drumming provided a rock-solid foundation throughout the night. The set balanced classic cuts like “Bath Salts” with newer material including “Mexico” and “Summertime Voodoo.” The latter showcased their evolution toward a more mature, blues-heavy sound, with Stevens’ gritty vocals soaring over hypnotic rhythms. Fan favorites “Lydia” and “My Name Is Human” punctuated the high-energy show, with Stevens’ masterful guitar work echoing his blues heroes throughout the night. The crowd’s energy peaked during these hits, with the entire venue singing along to every word.
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