Photos and review by Nicole Sepulveda
@__nik__pics

Rival Sons brought their Domestic Bliss Tour to Sacramento’s Ace of Spades on November 4, recruiting some amazing opening acts to kick off the show.

One of my favorite bands, and one I’ve been following since they opened for The Black Keys, The Velveteers kicked things off with their two-drummer, single-guitar alternative garage rock sound, filling the venue pretty early in the evening. Canadian duo The Blue Stones followed, adding a heavier blues-rock element to the lineup. This combination of artists really set the tone for Rival Sons’ performance, as all three bands share a similar appreciation for gritty, guitar-driven rock, each bringing their own style to the stage.

Once Rival Sons hit the stage, the floor was packed with an ecstatic audience of longtime fans singing along to all the hits. The band wasted no time getting into their set, carrying an incredible amount of energy throughout the night.

If you’re familiar with Rival Sons, you’ve probably heard the comparisons to Led Zeppelin. It’s not difficult to understand why, especially when hearing them live. Between Scott Holiday’s blues-heavy guitar riffs, Jay Buchanan’s powerful vocals, and Michael Miley’s hard-hitting drumming, there’s definitely some inspiration drawn from the classic rock era. Miley, in particular, has a playing style heavily influenced by John Bonham, with those big, thunderous drum fills and grooves that give the music so much of its power. But while the Zeppelin comparisons are understandable, Rival Sons have developed a sound that is very much their own.

One thing that really impressed me was Buchanan’s ability to belt out song after song without losing any of his vocal strength. His range is pretty incredible, and somehow, even towards the end of the set, he was still hitting some of the highest notes of the night. You’d think after an entire evening of singing at that level, he’d start showing some signs of vocal fatigue, but that certainly wasn’t the case. If anything, some of his strongest moments came during the last few songs.

Another interesting detail about this tour is that longtime bassist Dave Beste had to temporarily step away for personal matters, leaving Darwin Johnson of Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals to fill in on bass. With only about a week to learn the material before hitting the road, Johnson had quite a bit to take on. Watching the band perform, though, you wouldn’t have guessed there had been such a last-minute change. He fit right in, keeping up with the rest of the group and helping maintain that full, heavy sound throughout the set.

It’s always refreshing to see a band that can deliver this much energy without relying on an elaborate stage production. Rival Sons are one of those groups where the musicianship really speaks for itself. Between Holiday’s guitar work, Miley’s drumming, and Buchanan’s seemingly endless vocal range, there was plenty to keep the audience entertained.

There’s a reason Rival Sons have earned such a loyal following over the years. They’ve managed to bring that classic blues-rock sound into a modern era without making it feel like they’re simply trying to recreate the past. After seeing them perform in a venue as intimate as Ace of Spades, it’s easy to understand why fans keep coming back.