Raven and Vicious Rumors Storm the Whisky a Go Go [Photos]

Raven. Vicious Rumors. Two respected bands that have influenced many heavy metal acts over the years.

Raven, an English band formed by the Gallagher brothers (nope, not those Oasis guys) with singer/bassist John and guitarist Mark in 1974, is celebrating its 50th anniversary on the road playing shows. San Francisco Bay Area metal vets Vicious Rumors have hit a milestone as well, as they’re enjoying 45 years in the heavy music biz.

It’s always great when opening acts at The Whisky a Go Go play so well that they win the crowd’s approval just as the evening is getting started. The first band was Wicked, a hard rock band from Rochester, New York, bringing the hard-hitting, guitar-driven rock of the ’70s and ’80s.

Lutharo, from Canada, provided a contrast to the glam-ish, “Ain’t looking for nothin’ but a good time” performance of Wicked. Singer Krista Shipperbottom’s range and power are top-notch, right there with her contemporaries. Screams, death growls, and clean singing are part and parcel of melodic metal. With her power and stage persona emboldened by the appreciative audience and flanked by remarkable musicians, there was a considerable boost to the room’s energy.

Vicious Rumors played Soldiers of the Night (their first album) in its entirety, along with a few setlist staples. Guitarists Geoff Thorpe and Gunnar Dugray are an exceptional duo, and were certainly fun to watch. Singer Byron Allen was spectacular as well, giving every member of the Whisky audience the hairy eyeball and a big smile at least once during the set. They brought their A-game to Hollywood; the set was heavy metal voodoo and the crowd loved it.

The main act, heavy metal stalwarts Raven, performed with a fervour that really pumped up the already-animated audience. The Gallagher brothers kept to their “athletic rock” tradition—they never stopped working the stage as drummer Mike Heller blasted away. The brothers took the piss out of it all, not taking themselves too seriously, as the sweat flew and the Whisky crowd went wild.

Raven and Vicious Rumors (w/ Lutharo, Wicked) @ Whisky A Go Go (West Hollywood, CA) on April 2, 2024

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