RED SUN RISING rises to the call for WEBN’s 10/27 day

RED SUN RISING rises to the call for WEBN’s 10/27 day

Words by Cathy Moore of Moore Rock Shots & Reviews

Photos by Shawn Wiseman

When local radio station WEBN called RED SUN RISING to join the efforts to help raise money for Susan G. Komen Southwest Ohio, they didn’t hesitate to say yes. Even though they weren’t even on tour yet, they packed up their gear and hit the road for the Thompson House in Newport, KY to rock the night away with opening bands Lift The Medium, The Orphan The Poet, and Smallpools.

Mike Protich (vocals, guitar), Ryan Williams (guitar), Ricky Miller (bass, vocals), Dave McGarry (guitar, vocals), and Pat Gerasia (drums) made a dramatic entrance in a shadowy darkness with a slowed-down introduction to “Veins” from their latest album Thread. Then they exploded into the full power of the song and the energy didn’t stop for the rest of the show.

Fans (old and new) got to hear a perfect mix of hits from both RED SUN RISING albums, Polyester Zeal (2015) and Thread (2018). Protich and McGarry played a spine-tingling acoustic version of “Blister” from Polyester Zeal and the full band closed the main set with “Evil Like You” from Thread. It was the first time I had heard that song live (and I’ve been to A LOT of RED SUN RISING shows) and it was awesome.

In brilliant encore, RED SUN RISING played “Stealing Life”, which is their most recent release from Thread and is a song with very special meaning to the band. “Stealing Life” is about the aftermath of someone taking their own life, which is a topic that impacts the band so deeply that they have used the song and video to spread awareness and raise money for mental health awareness and suicide prevention. Protich commented last night that at first the song was a sad song, but now it is a song about hope and awareness. It was deeply touching to hear it live and know the impact this song and this band will have on the world.

The night ended on an upbeat and fast-paced note as the band closed the show with their hit “Deathwish”. The crowd left pumped, entertained, and ready to see RED SUN RISING again.

On November 2, RED SUN RISING kicks off their “Together We Are Thread” US headlining tour which is not only an opportunity for the band to entertain fans across the country, but also help raise awareness about mental health and suicide prevention. Proceeds from this tour will be donated to MusiCares, which is an organization that provides “resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community.”

Please PLEASE go out to a show or two (I’m going to 4 of them!) and let the power of great music impact your life and the lives of others.

CHECK OUT PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW HERE!

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