Review & Photography by Manny Manson for MPM
Rock City once again welcomes another new comer to its hallowed boards. Tonight, we have the Mexican trio of the Villareal Vélez sisters, Daniela, Paulina and Alejandra, otherwise known as ‘THE WARNING’. Hailing from Monterrey, Mexico, the sisters went viral after they posted a cover of Metallica’s Enter Sandman on social media. The YouTube video was posted just over 10years ago (8 July 2024) and to date, has had nearly 26m views, the girls were 14, 12, and 9 respectively.
All three started on the piano before getting the rock bug from playing the videogame, Rock band. The rest is history so they say.
Up first we have a new Scottish band called DEAD PONY. Formed pre covid by singer Anna Shields and guitarist Blair Crichton. Glasgow based, the pair got down to song writing and releasing material whilst we all had to stay indoors. They released the Mad Max inspired E.P. in 2022 called ‘War Boys,’ which came about after watching ‘Furiosa’. Earlier this year they released their second EP entitled ‘Rainbows’ in February, before releasing their debut album with the catchy title ‘IGNORE THIS’ in April. Tonight’s show includes dep bassist Lizzie Reid who is filling in for Liam Adams who broke his arm whilst the band were on tour with Mother Mother in Europe. The drums, tonight, are handled by Evan Lyons.
There’s a great crowd in as ‘DEAD PONY’ take to the Smokey stage. The crowd are up for it as they kick their set off with the short ‘Voodoo People’ (Pendulum Remix) from the Prodigy, released back in 2005. Fuzzed guitars and a thundering back beat set the scene as a bouncing Anna Shields joins the band on stage screaming “What the f@*k’s up Rock City”.
This energy filled intro gets the crowd light in their loafers ready as the band into ‘Ignore This’ the single from the self-titled debut album. As the smoke swirls around the stage, the back lights strobe manically as Anna dances around, she has new batteries in for sure as she bounds across the stage, animated as they come. Her voice is clear and cuts through the cacophony of bedlam being thrust forward slamming into the partisan crowd who are loving this young bands output.
Another hit for them is the single ‘MK Nothing’, this has appeared on the ‘Rainbows EP and the new album. It’s another catchy tune which has the crowd jumping along at Anna’s command, as she jumps onto the bouncer step on the barrier and leans into the crowd. This diminutive front person has the crowd in the palm of her hand, as she goes through various Tai-Chi moves during the breakdown. Evan, on drums is stage left behind a couple of cymbal sound reflectors. He’s pummelling the kit as dep bassist Lizzie locks in deep and hits the anchor rope thick bass strings, the combination are sending seismic waves around the venue.
‘23, Never Me’ keeps the high-octane energy flowing like a breached dam. This is one from the Mad Max inspired ‘War Boys’ EP from 2022. Blair on guitar is cutting some shapes as he gives his Firebird guitar a good seeing too. A bit of trivia but Anna had the song title tattooed on her left upper arm after they first played the song live. The set continues with the powerful ‘About Love’, the tempo for this one starts a little bit more subdued as Anna laments the story. The brooding melody cut and thrusts with thundering bass and fuzzed guitars. It’s a great example of the band’s song-writing dexterity, showing that they’re not just a 100mph balls out band, although that is where they spend the majority of the set.
The drums slam away, a keyboard, 80’s electronic sound is playing from a click track as the band launch into ‘Rainbows’ another from the Feb ’24 EP of the same name. The catchy drum and guitar riff is full of eastern promise. The guitar is nasty and distorted as crouching down, Blair rocks out to this one. The industrial, Nu-Metal vibe that’s weaved its way through out the set has gone down well with the fans. There is a great mix of ages in tonight and it would seem that this new band to me anyways has nailed the opening slot.
The heat in the room jumps another level, Anna bounces around as we get the opening riffs to the penultimate song ‘Cobra’ another from the Rainbows EP and the new album. Another polished song slams out hard, the breakdown once again has Anna dancing across the stage, much to the delight of those on the barrier. With one more song left she once again asks for a mosh pit saying she’s not going to be happy until it happens. Kicking her feet, clad in walk tall shoes, the song gets underway. The band are bouncing, giving it 100% as the crowd respond as Anna says she’s not leaving until everyone joins, she commands them to get down on the floor and after a count of 3 jump up and pogo, as those of a certain age would call it. The industrial riffs are slamming into the crowd, the energy is intense as DEAD PONY nail their final song!
What a set, quite how this band have slipped under my radar is beyond me, but it’s another example of getting to the venue for early doors as this is a band I will be looking to catch again, in fact I think they’re playing Nottingham in December, go check them out!
With the usual efficiency the Rock City crew swiftly clear Dead Pony’s kit from the stage and before long the roadies are sound checking the gear ready for The Warning. Sound check has obviously been done earlier in the day but now the venue is full of people and the temperature in the room has risen considerably its good practice to make sure everything is still good to go.
The lights dim and the roar of the crowd starts, the “OLAY’ “OLAY” chants ease as first Pau is led on stage and behind her giant drum kit, and then Alejandra and Daniela join their sister on stage and get themselves settled behind their microphones, It’s a dark stage with a hint of neon blue, the girl’s silhouettes are ready to go. Intro 404 has played out and now the girls kick their set off with ‘S!CK’ from their new album. The spots strobe as the heads start to fly. The set is heavily back lit as the dirty riffs play out.
‘Z’ from 2022’s ERROR album, keeps the thundering sound going, the crowd are chanting along as this one builds. This is a great crowd of all ages. Daniela shows she’s not just a pretty face as she shreds up front and centre before taking up the microphone and disappearing as some bright spots turn her into a shadow. The thundering bass line and concussive drums thunder across the venue, slamming hard into your chest as the screaming guitar attempts to split you open. Dani’s voice is on point as she drives the lyrics home, her face is full of ‘looks’ as she emphasises the words.
‘Choke’ from the same album, continues the theme. For this one the girls have the crowd singing along as Dani strums the guitar intro before it kicks off proper. The stage is awash with blue and red strobes. The breakdown has Alejandra and Dani meeting up in the middle for a quick nod to each other. Pau is pumping away at the drums and singing along. It’s evident that Pau is not 100% but it’s not effecting her playing, her fills are on point, but I’ve noticed that she doesn’t seem to be her usual buoyant self. The haunting sound of ‘Escapism’ is up next. Dani yet again delivers an emotive performance; the bass is rumbling like an earthquake as Alejandra hits the shapes whilst patrolling her side of the stage, the guitar strings rattling beneath her finger tips. The breakdown is something from an animated horror film, deep and menacing, it has a decidedly dark and disturbing edge. As it finishes the cheers erupt, it’s obvious, in the crowd’s eyes, the band can do now wrong.
Qué Más Quieres’ or ‘What Else Do You Want’ is sung in their native Spanish from their new album. Dani asks if the crowd are up for a bit of Spanish before setting off into this romp of a song. Pau is giving song solid tom work as the sisters sing this potential Euro-vision entry. The crowd are equally happy bouncing along, as the song progresses the lights strobe around the stage in different hues of red and orange, the blinders occasionally flashing delivering green spots to everyone’s vision. The dirty guitar riff of ‘Six Feet Deep’ flies from the blue lit stage. Dani has a white Strat for this one, it looks very Jake E Lee. Her Latino blood is coursing through her veins as she delivers this one with animated hand gestures and snarls galore. The girls have a polished show as this one finishes with a nice distorted breakdown.
The whoah’s and hand claps start as soon as Dani trikes the first notes of ‘Satisfied’, Pau’s open hi hat rings through as she hammers out a great groove that the other sisters hook into this, another from ‘Get Me Fed.’ Dani asks the crowd if we’re ready for ‘More’, the reply lifts the roof off. Yet another from the new album has the crowd enthralled. The band are drenched in blue and magenta lighting, the spots pulse along not quite in time to the kick drum. Fuzzed guitar and Cowbell (now we’re talking), bring the middle 8 alive, the crowd are clearly enjoying the song as it’s just a sea of nodding heads which erupt into cheers and applause when it finishes.
“HEEEEEY” and a walking kickdrum leads us into ‘Money’ from 2022’s ERROR album. The crowd are once again, singing along to this simpler song from a couple of years ago. With arms raised the crowd are jumping along, the hand clapping stakes over as Dani takes to the middle of the stage screaming the lyrics at the fans. The band have lifted the energy and temperature in the venue and are keeping it there, song after song. Thundering drums and redlights erupt and we’re into ‘Burnout’ another anthem and another banger from the new album. The song finishes with a “Hey’ from Dani and the crowd cheer as the band start with the slower deliberate drum beat of ‘Consume’, Pau is singing away as she pounds the skins. Alejandra’s statuesque form is wandering the stage hitting the poses as she rumbles out a solid bass line, so solid you can feel it at the back of the venue. The solo from Dani has a great edge to it, simple but fitting, sometimes less is more!
Mark gets a happy 50th Birthday shout out as the band rev up into ‘Disciple’. The opening riff has Dani bent over, her blonde hair flowing as she rocks back n forth. The crowd join in with the “Whoah’s” on cue. The stage is a flood of strobing lights as we get a bit of a breakdown before red lights flood the place. The crowd are hammering the vocals as they get on board with this, another earlier one from 2022. It sounds like it could have been written to get the crowd singing along as they fill the place with their “Whoah’s.”
‘Hell, You Call A Dream’ another new one is another anthemic brooder. Full of dark riffs and darker lyrics, the stage is full of green and purple lighting as this slams into the crowd who are very animated, their arms are raised as they join in. Dani leads the crowd in a bit of a sing along before winding the song up bathed in more green light. ‘Automatic Sun’ rips your head off with its down tuned snarling guitar riff, The bass and drums are still trying to flatten your chest to your spine as this one crashes out from a pulsing strobe lit stage. The de rigour hand clapping is encouraged by the band as the venue throbs to the beat of this soon to be fan favourite.
‘Martitio’ finishes the set off. Dani thanks the crowd and DEAD PONY (watch out for them). This is a great song sung in Spanish which is apparently translates as Martyrdom in English. A great song with probably my favourite solo of the night, played right down in the dirty end of a PRS. The lights are another level for this as we have lasers beaming across the heads of the crowd whilst coloured Mysteron circles play around the stage that is now bathed in magenta and red. The drums are slamming hard as Pau grooves around the toms pushing the song along with the subtlety of a stampeding herd of wildebeest. There’s a show of arms and repeated “Whoah’s” as the set comes to a crashing end. With a wave the girls exit the stage
The ’Olay’s’ start, along with heavy hand clapping. The empty stage is bathed in magenta light, which turns red and the blinders flash as a bass line is played, slowly at first, a guitar joins in as the girls come back on for an Encore. This is the lead into ‘Narcisista’. This was a response from the band after being accused of being ‘Malinchista’ or cultural traitors, choosing to sing in English instead of their native Spanish. It was released in 2019 and played live for the first time at the Monterrey Mx. It has since become a staple of the set and goes down well globally. Strobing lights and heavy red floods don’t deter the crowd from enjoying the night, Dani rips the stage apart as she takes the lead vocals from Pau and then she darts around the stage with yet another nasty solo which ends in a crowd responded chant of “Na” “Na” Na’s”, Dani finishes with a “Mucho Gracias.”
Pau now takes to the microphone and thanks the crowd and apologises for not being able to sing the last song, she has a fever, but didn’t want to pull the show. Dani asks the crowd to fill in the part where Pau screams, as the night concludes with ‘Evolve’, another from 2022. The song hammers out all the time building for the breakdown as it builds it winds the crowd up for the scream, however, when it erupts it’s more a manly roar than a girly scream such is the crowds make up tonight. This song is full of distorted guitars and thumping drums and as it concludes the girls line up and bow to the cheering, clapping crowd. They quickly sit for a crowd photo before saying thanks once more and leave the stage, promising to return.
A hot and happy crowd exit the venue after another great show; despite the lighting, the photographer in me is a moaning mini when you struggle in the pit. However musically they girls are on point, the partisan crowd, who are now excitedly leaving, are a testament to how much of an impact this band is having in the world of rock. With a tour and festivals in the offering this band has a great future.
With three albums now under their belt there is a decent amount of material to enjoy, pick one up and if you can go see a show, do so, they’re really pretty damn good.
