11.09.26 - Austin, TX
Rock and roll has never belonged to just one generation. It is a sound that gets passed down, picked up, reinvented, and carried forward by those who refuse to let it fade. On Monday night, that sentiment was alive inside the venue as The Velveteers, The Blue Stones, and Rival Sons brought three distinct approaches to modern rock and roll to the stage. What unfolded was more than a night of live music. It was a meeting point between generations, a reminder of where the genre has been and an exciting glimpse of where it is going.
The evidence was there before the first band even took the stage. Conversations between strangers filled the room, with names like Aerosmith, The Band Feel, Greta Van Fleet, Dirty Honey, and other familiar sounds finding their way into discussions about shared musical experiences. There was an unmistakable sense of community among people who have arrived as strangers but already had something in common. Some had grown up with the records that helped define rock and roll, while others, myself included, were among the younger crowd eager to experience the music of our own era in a live setting.
There was something particularly special about watching an older generation embrace the newer wave of rock music with open arms. The baton wasn’t being handed off begrudgingly. It was being received with excitement, curiosity, and an eagerness to see what the next generation could do with it. And with three bands ready to make their case, the night was off to a promising start.
Photo by DeAnna Garza - @shotbydeanna
Hailing from Boulder, Colorado, The Velveteers wasted little time establishing themselves as a force to be reckoned with. The trio, consisting of a lead guitarist as also main vocals alongside two drummers, brought an explosive energy that demanded the attention of every person in the room.
Their hard-hitting sound was matched by an equally commanding stage presence. At one point, Baby Pottersmith, one of the dual drummers, made their way to barricade. Having the crowd hold a tom above their heads for them to play; as if the stage itself wasn’t enough space to contain the band’s energy. A guitar solo brought another wave of screams and raised hands, while the band continued finding ways to pull the audience further into the performance.
Photo by DeAnna Garza - @shotbydeanna
The Blue Stones, hailing from Ontario, Canada, picked up right where The Velveteers left off. From the first notes, the audience was already screaming and singing along, with younger fans at the front giving the duo every ounce of energy they had.
The connection between the two musicians was immediately apparent. They played off one another throughout the set, sharing moments of musical chemistry that made it easy to forget anyone else was in the room. Whether trading riffs, building toward a guitar solo or simply enjoying the moment together, their enthusiasm was contagious.
The audience was happy to play along, echoing lyrics to the band and growing increasingly involved with every passing song. The drummer even stood up to lip-sync and dance alongside the crowd, blurring the line between performer and audience.
When the opening notes of “Out of Time” rang out, the room responded with one of its loudest reactions yet, immediately singing. It was one of those moments that demonstrated just how much of the performance belonged to the audience, too. There was no question that these two musicians were having fun. More importantly, the crowd was having just as much of it.
By the time Rival Sons took the stage, the room was more than ready. The moment the lights dimmed, the audience responded, and the opening moments quickly turned into a full-room singalong. Beers were raised, hands clapped, and bodies moved as the headliners took ownership of the stage.
Photo by DeAnna Garza - @shotbydeanna
There is something impressive about a band that can bring the blues influence of rock and roll to life night after night without losing its impact. Rivals Sons have mastered that balance. Jay Buchanan’s vocal ability and musical technique are among the most impressive I’ve experienced live, delivering high notes with a precision and power that consistently brought the audience to its feet. Meanwhile, the guitarist, Scott Holiday, approached every note with an almost physical connection to the instrument, feeling each phrase entirely and shredding with the kind of ease that makes it look as natural as breathing.
Every high note and guitar solo was met with an equally enthusiastic response from the crowd, particularly during “Sweet Life.” The band allowed the music to breathe, stretching instrumental passages into minutes-long displays of musicianship while the audience cheered throughout. It wasn’t a crowd simply waiting for the next recognizable lyric. They were taking in every moment.
“Too Bad” quickly became one of the crowd’s favorites, drawing some of the loudest cheers of the night and providing another opportunity for the guitarist to showcase his ability. The audience remained just as engaged when the band slowed things down for “Only One,” allowing the conversation between the lead singer’s riffs and the guitar to carry the room.
That quieter moment didn’t last long. The transition into “Pressure and Time” brought hands back into the air, with the band eventually handing the chorus over to the audience. The crowd took the lead, singing on its own while the lead singer held a hand to his ear, making sure to take in every bit of response. It was a moment that captured the relationship between the band and the people standing in front of them: neither side was there without the other.
The evening took an unexpected turn before “Shooting Stars.” Preparing to shift into something more intimate before a medical emergency involving one for the members changed the atmosphere entirely. Jay Buchanan dedicated the song to his bandmate, and what could have become a moment defined entirely by uncertainty instead became an extraordinary display of community.
The crowd responded with applause, raised hands, and people offering prayers. Through the uncertainty and understandable concern of the moment, Buchanan continued performing, delivering the song while the audience stayed to encourage him and echo the words back. There was a noticeable shift in the room, but the connection never disappeared. If anything, it became more apparent.
Photo by DeAnna Garza - @shotbydeanna
Looking around the room throughout the evening, it was difficult to recognize what made this lineup so special. There were longtime rock fans who had grown up listening to the sounds that shaped the genre, younger fans discovering their own place within it, and everyone in between. Different generations, different musical histories, and different reasons for being there, all finding common ground in the same room.
From The Velveteers’ explosive introduction to The Blue Stones undeniable chemistry and Rival Sons’ masterful command of the blues-rock sound, each band contributed something different to the same larger story.
Perhaps that is the beauty of rock and roll. It doesn’t ask generations to agree on everything. It simply gives them something to share.
The baton is being passed, but it isn’t being dropped. It is being picked up by musicians willing to carry it, audiences willing to embrace it, and a community that continues to show up for it.
And if Monday night in Austin was any indication, rock and roll is in very good hands.
