Burn Halo
The Last Vegas
Webster Theatre
Hartford, Connecticut
January 9, 2010
Tony Pijar
The Last Vegas and Burn Halo are two bands that will be making headlines in the near future. It’s interesting that these guys are touring together given that each possesses a sound distinct from the other. Nonetheless, both bands pack a wallop and deserve to be heard.
The Last Vegas is a band out of California and their debut, “Whatever gets you Off”, was produced by Marti Frederiksen and Nikki Sixx, and fits that Sunset blast perfectly. Their sound is early Guns and Roses, Jetboy, and vintage AC/DC with the attitude of the Georgia Satellites thrown in the mix. They’re a veritable glam, sleaze, and classic rock Molotov cocktail! Vocalist Chad Cherry is a damn fine vocalist and front man who reminds me of the New York Dolls’ David Johansen. They plucked songs from their debut and simply kicked ass!
Burn Halo is from California as well. After recording their debut for Island Records in 2008, it sat on the shelves because Island inexplicably did not want to release it. The band’s manager created his own label and put the album out several months ago, and thank God he did – it rocks! They’re sound is more varied than The Last Vegas, but moves, grooves and shakes just the same. Many, no doubt, will have already heard the band’s single, “Dirty Little Girl”, and suffice to say the other compositions are in that vein. The easiest musical comparison would be to The Cult (“Born into this” era) – Heavy, but with diversity. Their single long with “Save Me” and the ferocious “So Addicted” were the highlights of the evening.
It’s a shame that the crowd was a bit sparse. When these bands hit the big-time, a lot of people who had the chance to see these guys in the genesis of their careers will be kicking themselves.