Red Sun Rising hit the rock and roll world hard with their 2015 debut album “Polyster Zeal” and hit singles “The Otherside” and “Emotionless.” The band toured relentlessly and their success earned them spots with major festivals. Rock fans everywhere seemed to embrace the band and their fan base quickly grew by leaps and bounds. In the spring of 2018, the momentum kept going with their follow up album “Thread.” This year Red Sun Rising has embarked on their own headlining tour in support of their most recent effort, the four song EP “Peel.” The record features three songs from their prior albums, reworked into melodic acoustic numbers with a focus on the pure vocals of frontman Mike Protich. as well as a very nicely done cover of the Beach Boys’ classic “Wouldn’t It Be Nice.” This past Wednesday, the band made a stop here in Charlotte, bringing their energetic show to the Underground.
At 10 P.M. sharp, the venue lights dimmed and drummer Pat Gerasia made his way on stage taking his spot behind his drum kit. The lights flashed as the rest of the band came out with lead vocalist and guitarist Mike Protich grabbing his mic stand as they kicked things off with “Imitation.” The band sounded great as the sounds enveloped the venue washing over the auidence. The fans were energetic and eager to hear all their favorite tunes, exploding with excitement during “Emotionless.” Frontman Mike Protich was putting on a master class with his vocals soaring and his showmanship top notch, leaning into his mic stand and standing on top of the riser next to Gerasia’s drums. Ricky Miller always seem to go the extra mile, connecting with the audience and even took a seat on one of the loud speakers to get closer to the fans up front. Williams and McGarry’s guitars were on fire as they traded licks and leads throughout the performance. The set list included an acoustic performance of “Blister and “Left For Dead”, redone for the recently released “Peel” EP and it was nice to hear those songs in a different light. The band is fun to watch but also has songs that carry deep meanings as they shed light on suicide and mental health with “Stealing Life.” Closing out the night in rousing fashion was the fan favorite “Deathwish” which had the crowd on their feet, fists in the air and singing along.
There’s a reason why Red Sun Rising has taken the rock world by storm. With top notch musicianship, superb songwriting, and an ability to emotionally connect with fans, they are truly at the top of their game. Don’t miss your chance to see them when they make a stop in a city near you.
Set List:
Imitation
Amnesia
Veins
Emotionless
Bliss
Push
Clarity
Muse
El Lazo
Blister
Left For Dead
The Otherside
Evil
Stealing Life
Deathwish
We would like to thank Amy Sciarretto from Atom Splitter PR for the credentials to review the show.
