Josh Todd & The Conflict Tear Through Kingston, MA 11-17-17

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November 22, 2017

It is not often that four great bands go out on the road together. We are talking four headliners, all on the same bill. Well, doing just that, Hinder team up with Josh Todd & The Conflict for a co-headlining tour with support from Adelitas Way and Wayland now through December 3rd. A killer lineup of Rock-n-Roll, the package is taking America by storm one city at a time.

As stated, Hinder, the co-headliner with Josh Todd & The Conflict, the hit making rockers have settled in nicely with Marshal Dutton as their vocalist. Dutton, taking over vocal duties for Austin Winkler back in 2015, has made his own way and the band continues to impress with their latest album, 2017’s The Reign. That said, they were scheduled to join forces with Josh Todd, Adelitas Way, and Wayland on Friday, November 17th at The Strand Theatre in Providence, Rhode Island, but there was one problem, it did not happen.

Unfortunately due to scheduling conflicts, the venue was changed last minute, relocating the show from Providence to Kingston, Massachusetts. As a result, Hinder was unable to make the show, resuming with the tour the very next night. Fortunately eager to play, Todd and his team scrambled to re-book the show at a new venue with the remaining bands. Not disappointing, everyone shuffled an hour east of the original venue to Pinz. Those wondering what Pinz is, well, it is a bowling alley, but more of a full entertainment center with an arcade, laser tag, bar, full restaurant, and a place for concerts!

With the craziness of relocating complete, the show was on the way and opening up was local favorites, Rockstar Posers, performing everyone’s favorite cover tunes from Cheap Trick, Van Halen, Aerosmith, and The Beatles. Thereafter, it was time for Wayland. Named after their hometown of Wayland, MI, a city of nearly five thousand residents, the band consisting of Mitch Arnold (vocals/guitar), Phillip Vilenski (guitar/vocals), Dean Pizzazz (bass/vocals), and Nigel Dupree (drums/vocals) were ready to roll.

Signed to Kiefer Sutherland’s Iron Works Records and managed by Jesse James Dupree, Wayland is an incredibly diverse Rock-n-Roll band. Formed in 2010, Wayland has had success on the charts as well as going viral on Youtube. With their recently released Rinse & Repeat in hand, Wayland put on a performance full of old school flair. Playing songs including “Ghost,” “Bloody Sunrise,” and the heavy-hitting rocker “Welcome to My Head,” they proved to be seasoned live performers. Playing on, every single member of the band connected to the audience, bringing them into the Wayland family. Even Nigel Dupree got into the action, often standing up from behind the kit! Definitely a band to keep an eye out for, Wayland has a Hard Rock sound worth listening to.

Next up was the working class band known by their fans as Adelitas Way. Recently touring with Buckcherry, Adelitas Way are no strangers to the stage, making a living off bringing it each and every night. Hailing from Las Vegas, NV and formed in 2006, Adelitas Way has attained success over the course of the past decade with four consecutively charted albums. Really breaking into the mainstream after the release of Home School Valedictorian back in 2011, the band returned with their fifth studio album, Notorious, on October 15th.

An edgy make of songs, Notorious was on display in full force at Pinz. A band which pride themselves on getting better each time they perform, their musical prowess is only matched by their on stage presence. Led by Vocalist Rick Dejesus, he and Robert Zakaryan on guitar, Andrew Cushing on bass, as well as Trevor Stafford on drums, the band had a look of determination in their eyes. Literally letting his hair down, Dejesus started whipping the microphone cord around and the game was on as they kicked into “Bad Reputation.”

Showing a ton of flair in their presentation, Stafford’s antics behind the drums was stunning as he tossed his sticks around. Going into songs like “Ready for War (Pray for Peace),” “Notorious,” mixed in with older favorites including “Alive,” the band did not let down the audience, especially diehard fans who have been following them show to show. Also offering crowd pleaser “Sick,” Adelitas Way show that they are still a force to be reckoned with as they blaze their own path without major label support.

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With plans changed, the lone headliner for the night was the fiery new project Josh Todd & The Conflict. Even for those living under a rock, the name Josh Todd should sound familiar, he is the unmistakable frontman of Buckcherry. Looking for something fresh, hard, and true to who he is, Todd formed his new band The Conflict.

Not turning his back on Buckcherry, but merely spreading his creative wings, with him in The Conflict are two current Buckcherry members Stevie Dacanay – aka Stevie D. – on guitar and Sean Winchester on drums. Rounding off the four piece is Gregg Cash and his super low slung bass. Together they bring a heavier more unhinged brand of Rock as heard on their debut album, Year of the Tiger. Different than a Buckcherry album, it has a much more modern feel, perhaps even Punk at times, but certainly heavier.

Armed with the new album, Todd and the band took to the Pinz stage, ready to go. Sure, the crowd was certainly smaller than anyone had hoped, but that is to be expected with a last minute venue change in a different state and city. Regardless, that did not affect the performance, and, like any great performer, Todd brought his A-game. As they say, it does not matter if there are 10 or 10,000 people watching, when it is time to rock, it is time to rock!

Feeling the energy, the crowd responded positively as the band kicked off the set with the title-track off their new album. Where did it go from there? Well, the band blasted through the entire record giving everyone a good presentation of the highs, lows, and everything in between. Doing a damn good job putting together the new album, Todd and company were proud to perform the new music, and the best part about it all, the songs sounded just as good, if not better, live.

Todd’s voice cut through the mix even as Stevie D.’s guitar unleashed a relentless barrage. This is especially prevalent in songs such as “Fucked up” and the aforementioned title-track. In addition, they also reworked a few Spraygun War songs for the set including “Turn out the Lights” and “OMG.” Now, those wondering, Spraygun War is a hard-hitting Electronic project put together by Todd and Stevie D, with an EP out called Into The Darkness, so check it out. Working together nicely with Todd and Stevie D., Cash as well as Winchester’s hard-hitting style fit incredible well on these less electronic, more Rock live versions.

When it was all said and done, everyone at Pinz apparently had Year of the Tiger. Judging by their reaction of plenty of singing along, they not only had it, but listened to it many times since it dropped on September 15th. That, with Todd at the front; still being one of most charismatic and mesmerizing frontmen in Rock today, it was a show to remember.

Overall, this bill is for any kind of Rock fan because not only are all the bands great, but they offer a good amount of variety. Each band has a unique sound that does not replicate the other. Now on course toward the midwest after the Thanksgiving holiday, everyone in its path should check out this tour before it is too late.