The Sword ignited Saint Andrew’s Hall in Detroit for Warp Riders: 15th Anniversary Tour, joined by Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol and Pink Fuzz.
Pink Fuzz opened the show with a powerful and electrifying performance that pulsed with raw emotion and unrelenting energy. Guitarist John Demitro commanded the stage with fiery riffs, while bassist LuLu Demitro anchored the sound with thick, rumbling tones that shook the floor. The siblings’ harmonized vocals carried a fierce intensity that blended power and melody, creating a sound both hypnotic and relentless. Drummer Will Trafas drove each song forward with precision and passion, his rhythms thunderous and tight.
“Long Gone” opened the set with searing momentum, setting the tone for the night. “Coming for Me” surged with pounding drums and thick, distorted bass, while John’s guitar work carved through the mix with precision. “Decline” created a moody, hypnotic groove that drew everyone into its slow-burning intensity. When they hit “So Sad,” LuLu’s voice took center stage—powerful, aching, and impossible to ignore. Pink Fuzz proved themselves a force of sound and spirit, blending grit, melody, and emotion into an unforgettable start to the night.
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol erupted onto the stage with a sound that fused heaviness, groove, and humor into a single unstoppable wave. Guitarist and vocalist Leo Lydon led the charge with thick, fuzz-drenched riffs that rippled through the crowd. Bassist Aaron Metzdorf locked in perfectly, his low-end rumble shaking the floor and giving every riff an enormous weight. Drummer Sean St. Germain kept the momentum relentless, his explosive timing driving the band’s massive energy from start to finish.“The Cincinnati Tilt” kicked off the night with sludgy swagger, immediately igniting the crowd. “Peanut Butter Snack Sticks” turned the room into a frenzy of grinning faces and raised fists, while “Sugarman” shimmered with a strangely addictive sweetness beneath its grit. “Jesus Was an Alien” and “Johnny Boy Tell ’Em” showcased the band’s playful storytelling streak, twisting the heavy tones into surreal narratives. The finale,a double-whammy of “1-800-EAT-SHIT” and “Gravedigger,” brought every head banging in unison as the trio poured out their last burst of thunder.
Their sound blended humor, heaviness, and pure musicianship into a performance that felt larger than the venue itself. Their set was full of grit, volume, and unfiltered fun that no one wanted to end.
The Sword’s celebration of the fifteenth anniversary of Warp Riders felt like a journey through the band’s cosmic frontier. The lights dimmed as a recording of “State of the Nation” by Deltron 3030 filled the room, setting a cinematic mood before the band launched into “Empty Temples” and “High Country.” John D. Cronise’s vocals cut through the haze of distortion with commanding presence, while his guitar grounded each song in rich, melodic force. Bryan Richie’s bass lines thundered beneath everything, a deep rumble that gave each track weight. Kyle Shutt’s guitar soared through the venue, each solo crackling with fire and fluidity. Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III’s drumming propelled the band with relentless force.
“Maiden, Mother & Crone” brought mythic themes and soaring melodies, reminding everyone why it remains one of the band’s most beloved tracks. A surprise highlight was a cover of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity,” transforming the classic into a heavy, even more dreamlike voyage.
When the band began the Warp Riders portion of the set, the crowd erupted. “Acheron/Unearthing the Orb” flowed into “Tres Brujas,” igniting the audience into a sea of raised fists. “Arrows in the Dark” and “The Chronomancer I: Hubris” showcased the band’s narrative strength, each riff delivered with conviction and weight. “Lawless Lands” and “Astraea’s Dream” drew listeners deep into the album’s mythic world, while “The Warp Riders” and “Night City” shimmered with melodic brilliance. The band culminated the set with “Tears of Fire,” a triumphant closer to the album segment.
The encore featured a heavier “Daughter of Dawn” and the thunderous “Winter’s Wolves.” The Sword played with precision, heart, and purpose, transforming Warp Riders into a living force that resonated long after the last note faded.
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