Review and Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana
Promoter: Atom Splitter (https://atomsplitterpr.com/)
Venue: The Crescent Ballroom (https://www.crescentphx.com/)
Date: Sunday July 9, 2023
Tour: Summer Storm Tour
Walking up to the Crescent Ballroom in Phoenix, there was a small line. Most of the people had entered the venue. Everyone was buzzing with excitement to see the legendary Nita Strauss.
The first band to go on stage was a local band called Arsenic Kitchen. I first discovered them when I moved to Phoenix. They were a fun band to see and gave off old school emo bands. It’s great to see them advancing to opening up for bigger acts at bigger venues. This was their first time playing at The Crescent Ballroom. Arsenic Kitchen has changed their lineup since I last saw them. Their current lineup consists of Blake Miller-guitar, Lucas-vocals, Leaf Schemelia-bass and Jonathan Bresar-drums. They started out their set strong and full of energy. Miller jumped onto the drum set while he was playing and after a few chords he jumped off and when landing he ended up falling down. He was a trooper and laughed it off as he got up while still playing! This band puts so much into their music and stage presence that it’s noticeable and truly pays off. This is one of my favorite local bands.
Arsenic Kitchen
Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana, All Rights Reserved
More people began to filter into the room. The next band to perform was another local heavy metal band, Zherra. This heavy metal came out with all the stops. They instantly captured everyone’s attention with their fast beats and lyrics that hit. Everyone in the audience could be seen bobbing their head to the beat. The band interacted with the audience, talking to them in between songs. The band just came off of a mini tour. The band was full of energy especially their guitarist who was head banging 95 percent of the time. At the end of their set, the band thanked everyone for being there
Zherra
Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana, All Rights Reserved
Lions At the Gate was the third band of the night to hit the stage. As the stage hands set up their instruments someone in the audience could be heard saying “now that’s a real metal drum set”. Lions At the Gate is an American metal band that formed in 2021. The band was formed with three former members of Ill Niño; the former members are Cristian Machado-vocals, Diego Verduzco-guitar and Ahrue Luster-guitar. The band is rounded out by Stephen Brewer-bass and Fern Luster-drums. Machado mentioned that all the songs from the night’s set were off their new album The Excuses We Cannot Make that is set to release in August. The energy this band came out with was hard hitting and amazing. Everyone moved to different points on the stage. Machado addressed the audience a lot, talking to them and thanking them in between each song. He mentioned one of the next songs they were going to play was “Scapegoat”. Machado mentioned that everyone had a scapegoat and that even he had things he needed to fix about himself. Overall this set was amazing! It brought me so much joy! The last time I saw Machado, Verduzco and Luster perform was in 2014 at the Mayhem Festival at Shoreline Amphitheater in Mountain View, California. Being able to watch them again in a new band and evolving their sounds and skills was amazing! Their new album is about to be the heavy hitter everyone has been looking for and I cannot wait until it’s released!
Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana, All Rights Reserved
The final artist of the night was Nita Straus. Nita Strauss is a guitarist for Alice Cooper and Demi Lovato. She also has an amazing solo career and was named the number one guitarist on the Guitar World‘s list of “10 Female Guitar Players You Should Know”.
The house lights and stage lights had dimmed, allowing each band member to come onto the stage in the cover of darkness. Once on stage the band opened up their set with “Summer Storm”. In between songs Strauss would talk to the audience. She then announced their third song of the nigh “Mariana Trench”. The audience clapped and cheered along. Everyone was captivated by her music and skill. Strauss then said “Make noise for my man on the drums! That is my fiancé James!” James had proposed to Strauss two days earlier at her album release party for her newest album, The Call of the Void! Strauss then continued “on they keys scarlet, ok! The bass Dean and to my right my partner in shredding crime Johnny!“
She then mentioned how she always has a local band open up for them and that the two bands this evening , Arsenic Kitchen and Zherra, were the best they had all tour! Strauss also talked about how she watched both of their sets from the merch table. She said that having local bands is important because that is how she got her start in the industry and she wants smaller to have the same opportunities. She then mentioned to the audience that the bands have merch and to buy merch to support them. The band then then played ”Pandemonium”, the first song she ever released as a solo artist.
As the night wore on fans were enjoying the show and energy Strauss and the rest of the band brought out but little did they know Strauss had one more surprise. She brought out Kasey Karlsen of Deadlands. The audience clapped in happiness for the new addition to the nights show. The band gave off energy and excitement throughout the night. You could see how much they loved what they do. They needed the night with Pantera’s “Cowboys From Hell”. Overall the show was amazing and packed full of energy. Strauss is an amazing guitarist that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime!
Nita Strauss
Photos by Megan Juarez-Fontana, All Rights Reserved
