Crash Kings Kill it at The Bootleg — Concert Review

In what can only be described as epic, Crash Kings visited The Bootleg last night for an unforgettable event. The high-energy band is led by lead singer Tony Beliveau, who’s joined by his brother, Mike Beliveau, on bass and Tommy Roslak on drums . The power-trio’s unique sound is largely a result of Tony’s very cool vintage clavinet, which the modern rockers use in place of a traditional guitar. According to Tony, “There’s quite a learning curve to playing it and bending all the notes correctly,” but that’s [his] baby and [his] go-to keyboard.” As one of the only rock bands to forgo a lead guitar, their unrivaled style is equally matched by their live performance. Tony is a mesmerizing lead, often changing his style to accommodate the venue, the crowd, and his dedicated devotees who will always get a fresh, live show.

While waiting for the concert to start, I ran into a loyal fan who commuted from Fresno to see her “favorite band” whom she discovered after a friend sent her a link for “Mountain Man,” a number one song off their successful debut album. It’s not surprising that she’d be unfazed by such a long commute. To see that two hour show again, I’d drive double the distance.

Crash Kings is currently working on their third album, and judging from the live material they played last night, it’s going to be good. Visit the Crash Kings website for more information on the band, and listen to “Mountain Man” below.

Crash Kings at the Troubador — Killed it!!

When you’re friends with the band performing, it can be either a complete disaster or a complete success. In the case of Crash Kings at the Troubador, it was not only a success — it was magical. The sold-out venue was filled with die-hard fans, who bobbed their heads and sang along to every word. In fact, I spotted an A-list celebrity beside me (whose name I won’t mention due to my Dishmaster integrity), and I overheard him say, “This band is fu*king incredible!” And he’s right. They blew me away. Tony Beliveau (lead vocals, keys) has the kind of on-stage energy that gets talked about years later in those hip music circles when one person says to another, “Dude! Have you seen Crash Kings live? They are insane!” He was joined by his brother, Mike Beliveau (bass), who doesn’t just dominate the stage, he’s also easy on the eyes. Their third member, Jason Morris (drums), also has an incredible stage presence (I have to admit my bias toward drummers — they’re just so damn cool — and Jason is no exception). They played music from their new record, which judging from what I heard live last night — will be a chart-topping success. It’s difficult to articulate what makes music good. But I know it when I hear it. And I heard it last night.