Rock and roll came alive Tuesday night at The Ottobar with The Blue Stones, Des Rocs, and special guest Clay Melton.
If you enjoy gritty, in-your-face rock and roll, with no frills, The Ottobar in Baltimore, MD is just the spot for you. Located on the northern edge of the city, the venue has hosted notable acts such as Maroon 5, Paramore, and Twenty One Pilots, and Tuesday night they packed a one-two punch with co-headliners The Blue Stones and Des Rocs, with special guest Clay Melton, for their Once In a Lifetime Tour.
Starting off the night was Louisiana-born, Texas-raised, blues-rocker Clay Melton. Described as having a “fiery swagger of electric guitars and irresistible allure of rhythm-soaked sounds,” Clay has been performing live since he was a teenager. Thriving off the success of his critically acclaimed 2017 full-length album Burn the Ships, and 2021 EP Back to Blue which graced several independent and blues charts, Clay warmed up the crowd with his powerful growl, quick guitar licks, and southern rock charm that captivated everyone in attendance who, if they didn’t know before, now knows that Clay Melton is one to watch!
Next to take the stage were the dynamic blues/alt-rock duo -The Blue Stones, featuring Tarek Jafar and Justin Tessier. Hailing from Ontario, Canada these northern gems aren’t hidden anymore with their recent Juno nomination for Breakthrough Group of the Year, and second studio album – Hidden Gems. Hidden Gems features singles like “Let It Ride” which reached #2 on the Canadian Rock charts and #36 on the US Mainstream Rock charts and “Shakin’ Off the Rust” which hit #1 on the Canadian Rock charts, and #5 on the US Mainstream Rock charts – a true feat for a Canadian band.Ready to follow up on the success of their recent singles, The Blue Stones released the pumped-up single “Don’t Miss” in early June which was very well received by the energetic crowd. Tarek and Justin said, “We wanted every listener to feel just as confident as we did while recording this song, and give them a theme to revel in their own accomplishments with. This song is the smirk you give to anyone who thinks you aren’t worth the hype.” However, Tuesday night’s crowd will argue that The Blue Stones are worth all the hype!
Taking the stage most fans are shocked when they hear the sound and energy these two can produce which fills any size venue, and Ottobar was no different! From the floor to the balcony, from the bar to the bathrooms, The Blue Stones had the walls shaking and the crowd quaking. From their high energy in your face songs like “Rolling with the Punches” and “Black Holes (Solid Ground)” to their more laid-back songs like “One by One” and “Lay” the crowd was all in and Tarek and Justin were very appreciative, letting them know they were the best city of the tour so far (but I bet they say that to all the pretty cities).
Finishing out the night were the Filthy Animals themselves, Des Rocs. Featuring power-house frontman Danny Rocco, with bandmates and long-time friends, Eric “Doc” Mendelsohn and William “Bang Bang” Tully. Hailing from New York City, Danny has been performing since the age of 13, previously in the band Secret Weapons which opened for bands like Panic! At the Disco, Fall Out Boy, and Weezer, then moving on to solo-produced Des Rocs which have opened for bands like Muse, The Glorious Sons, and most notably, The Rolling Stones.After successful EPs Let The Vultures In, Marty Parade and This is Our Life, Des Rocs released a studio album (self-recorded in a homemade studio) A Real Good Person in a Real Bad Place in September 2021 promoting the album on a headline tour across the US. Danny threatens to “drag rock and roll into the 21st-century kicking and screaming if I have to.” And Tuesday night there was no need to drag, or fight, the crowd was ready to rock the moment the band hit the stage!
With the perfect mix of energy, sweat, and heart Des Rocs captivated the audience with pumped-up scream-along songs like “HVY MTL DRMR,” “Wayne,” and “Ruby with the Sharpest Lies,” and slowing it down a bit for a stripped-back version of “Suicide Romantics.” During their set, they also welcomed Clay, Tarek, and Justin for an incredible collaborative cover of Queen’s “We Will Rock You,” a fun highlight of the night for all three bands.
If you showed up a fan, you left a true filthy, because as Danny told you…”He’s Des Rocs, and he’s not f*cking around!”
Make sure to catch The Blue Stones and Des Rocs as they continue on the Once In a Lifetime Tour rolling through the US until July 23rd.DES ROCS
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