The House of Blues in Anaheim vibrated with raw energy on a frosty night as guitar legend, activist, and father Tom Morello took the stage for a gripping 21-song set in front of a near capacity crowd on the Gardenwalk in Anaheim. The packed venue raged with anticipation and were all drawn together for an evening of fiery riffs, thunderous percussion, and unapologetic passion. It wasn’t just a concert; it was a seismic experience, a sweaty, joyous communion between performers and crowd that turned the intimate venue into ground zero for pure musical resistance.
Seven Hours After Violet kicked off the night with a bang, their haunting yet hard-hitting sound laying the foundation for what was to come. This up-and-coming band (led by legendary System of a Down Bassist Shavo Odadjian) brought a fascinating mix of dreamy, reverb-soaked melodies intertwined with grittier, alt-rock rhythms.
Lead singer Taylor Barber held the crowd’s attention with soaring vocals and raw emotion, while the tight rhythm section brought songs like “Sunrise” and “Radiance” to life. Especially memorable was their closing track, an anthemic “Feel” that crescendoed into a wall of sound, leaving the crowd begging for more. The band’s chemistry was palpable, and their energy super contagious, making them the perfect warm-up for what was about to come.
The roar that greeted Tom Morello as he stepped onto the stage was deafening, and for good reason. The living legend wasted no time, launching into “Soldier in the Army of Love” with the kind of precision and power that only years of mastery can bring. More incredible was watching his son Roman playing alongside his pops for what can only be described as memorable and jaw-dropping. This guy is amazing, and well on his way to his own incredible success in the family business as his career takes off. It was so fun watching him play with a reckless abandon that and reminded me of Tom’s start 30+ years ago here in So Cal. Watch out for Roman Morello, this young man is definitely going places!