Highly Suspect powers through sickness to deliver an inspired and impassioned performance supported by the voices of a thousand fans.
One thousand passionate fans came together at The Ritz in Raleigh, NC, to welcome Highly Suspect back to town. The majority of the extremely enthusiastic audience wore a hat, t-shirt, or some form of Highly Suspect band gear as if it were a pledge of unwavering loyalty to the band they love. From start to finish, the venue was electric and alive.
A new band from Long Beach, NY, named Family Dinner opened the show. Family Dinner released their debut album, God Looks Out For Fools in 2024 and their energetic show got the audience warmed up nicely. Their vibe was like they were of a bunch of friends who started a band and were now playing a summertime show in someone’s backyard. Their energy was sourced by pure fun, everyone on stage was having a great time and loving every minute. After explaining the last time they played Raleigh, it was in a record store to about seven people, it made total sense why Family Dinner was playing it so hard. The setlist included opener “M.P.D.G.” and “God Looks Out For Fools” which set the fast pace for the majority of their set. Even for slower songs, such as “Helianthus,” Family Dinner kept the energy high, the bass and drums in front of the sound, and continually raised the audience’s energy rapidly filling the venue for the headliner soon to come.
Traveling all the way from the UK with only five days’ notice, James and the Cold Gun filled the supporting slot. Very few in the audience were familiar with the band in advance, but at the end of their set every single person in The Ritz was going nuts for a pounding, high-octane show no one saw coming. Sexy, sweaty, and expertly disheveled as if coming straight out of an Abercrombie & Fitch advertisement, the band started with the song “Face In The Mirror” and left no question their performance was going to rock hard.Replacement drummer Myles Ulrich from the band Taipei Houston, became drenched in sweat and huffing for breath just two songs into the set. Myles joined the band for this tour because due to the short notice, regular drummer Jack Wrench was unable to make the trek. The band plus Myles sounded like they had been performing together for years; tight, furious, and loud. The nine-song set riled up the audience and generated a reaction suitable for a headlining band. An unknown band supporting an artist as beloved as Highly Suspect shouldn’t expect to receive such a loud and raucous audience reaction as James and the Cold Gun received. Perhaps that’s why founder and vocalist James Joseph choked up a bit when he claimed tonight was the best show of his life.
Arriving on stage almost perfectly on time, Highly Suspect was welcomed by one thousand adoring fans screaming their welcomes to Raleigh. Vocalist Johnny Stevens strode out onto the stage in a wool cap and heavy sweatshirt. As he greeted the audience, he apologized for being on the backside of a cold that was making it difficult to sing. Johnny received a resounding “yes” when he asked the audience to help him and sing loudly when he needed a break. Johnny may have been ill but the band was vibrant and alive. As if electrified by James and the Cold Gun, who have a similar garage band-ish version of Highly Suspect’s sound, Highly Suspect opened their set with “Bath Salts” and the energy from the stage was massive.Heavily featuring songs from albums As Above, So Below and Mister Asylum, audience favorites “Lydia” and “Summertime Voodoo” mixed in with space-age groovy “The Reset” and hard-rocking “Suicide Machine.” Every song was filled with emotion, fueled primarily by Johnny’s soulful and intricate guitar playing, but everyone on stage was working to give the performance of their lives. Highly Suspect delivered an impassioned performance that exceeded expectations in every way.
The As Above, So Below Tour 2025 continues through February 16, ending in Mobile, AL. There is no weak link in this bill of bands so show up early!HIGHLY SUSPECT
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JAMES AND THE COLD GUN
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