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!
As his son took a break from the madness, Morello turned the venue into his personal playground, coaxing sounds from his guitar that defied logic—one minute wailing, the next, snarling. A mashup of RATM classics like “Testify,” “Take the Power Back,” “Freedom,” and “Snakecharmer” immediately whipped the now packed floor into a complete frenzy. Thomas Raggi of Maneskin joined Morello on stage for “Gossip,” while Luke Spiller of The Struts joined him for an unbelievable cover of AC/DC’s “Dirty Deeds Done Dirt Cheap.” One of my favorites from the night was Morello’s blistering cover of Woody Guthrie’s “This Land is Your Land.” Wow.
After another RATM medley, Morello covered classic Audioslave standards “Cochise” and “Like a Stone.” Fans of all ages were screaming, crying, and shouting every word as he demonstrated what but 30+ years of guitar mastery actually looks like live and in person. Then son Roman once again joined him on stage for the timeless Rage Against the Machine anthem, “Killing in the Name,” that turned the room into absolute chaos. No one escaped unscathed by the sheer force of the Morellos (X2) and their unrelenting passion. The show wrapped with John Lennon’s “Power to the People” which capped off an incredible night of music in Anaheim.
What made the night unforgettable wasn’t just Morello’s technical prowess but his humility and interaction with fans. Between shredding solos, he spoke about the unifying power of music, sparking cheers of solidarity. His ability to connect so deeply with the audience proved he’s not just a rock star; he’s a voice for the people. And in this day and age, this is a rare commodity that many in an industry where many choose to follow the company line, sit on their hands, and fail to use their platform for good. Tom Morello is just the opposite—he’s a blazing force for much needed change in our world.
SEVEN HOURS AFTER VIOLET
