The first thing everyone noticed Monday at The Rock was that the wall separating the stage area from the bar had been removed, a much needed improvement that allows patrons to see and hear the bands throughout a greater portion of the venue. The night was all about guitars, absolutely no question about it.
Opener bronson plugged its hot-off-the-presses EP while throwing down the heaviest grooves of the evening. Oakland's rather scraggly looking Drunk Horse followed with some early '70s-influenced riff-heavy rock (but thankfully less reminiscence of Lynyrd Skynyrd than its new CD Adult Situations) along with a cover of the well-known Allman Brothers' song "Whipping Post."
Nebula was forced to play a shorter set than usual, as bassist Mark Abshire is currently recovering from appendicitis. Guitarist Eddie Glass' former roommate, Dennis Wilson, filled in for him at the last minute. They did, however, preview "Seize the Day," a song from the new album they will begin recording at the end of this month, and included "Do It Now," the opening track on their second album, "Charged," as well as the blues standard "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl." Following the show, drummer Ruben Romano didn't seem disappointed that they only played to about 50 fans, and mentioned the band considered this to be their first Vegas gig, since the Double Down Saloon show in October was technically a chaotic motorcross private party (complete with mics getting knocked over and people stepping on the guitar effects).
