By Michael Dinger, Rock At Night NYC
Venue: The Stone Pony-Asbury Park, New Jersey-October 25, 2019
The conquering heroes returned home to close out their run of multi-city, headlining US tour dates in support of their latest offering, their fifth album titled Dark Hour (Brittania Row Recordings/BMG). The zealous audience, which packed the iconic venue to capacity, was treated to a blistering performance from the retro-rock revivalists.
The Parlor Mob, a name derived from the notorious 19th century New York City gang, is a quintet lineup comprised of Mark Melicia (vocals), Sam Bey (drums), Paul Ritchie (guitar), Gianni Scalise (bass) and Erik Rudic (guitar). Although there have been many praiseworthy, critical comparisons to one of the forefathers of rock, Led Zeppelin, as well as noted influential artists The White Stripes, Wolfmother and the Kings Of Leon, The Parlor Mob represent a modern ‘take’ on the classic, blues rock vibe. Their sound is highlighted by frontman Melicia’s raw and passionate vocals, extraordinary dual–guitar arrangements between Ritchie and Rudic, and rock-solid rhythms from Bey – all of which were on full display at The Stone Pony this past Friday night.
The Jersey natives tore through the sixteen-song set that included crowd-pleasing staples from their entire catalogue, including eight songs from Dark Hour. The first offering was the emotionally charged “All I’m Holding Onto,” followed by the hard-driving rocker “Into The Sun,” the lead single from their previous album, Dogs (2011). The intimate gathering of family, friends and fans, having already been sent into a frenzy at the start of the show, was euphoric during the mid-set performance of the Mob’s fast-paced “American Dream,” featuring the incendiary guitar of Rudic.
The Parlor Mob closed out the celebratory night with an encore of two classics from their 2008 debut studio album, And You Were a Crow. The feedback-laden guitars and wailing vocals of the penultimate “Hard Times,” reminiscent of Zach de la Rocha (Rage Against The Machine), was followed by “Can’t Keep No Good Boy Down.” In the show’s final moments, with the captivated audience chanting the chorus in unison, “Ain’t no turnin‘ back,“ many fans must have asked themselves what will come next for our Garden State boys? We can hardly wait to find out!
SET LIST
All I’m Holding Onto
Into The Sun
Gun In My Hand
The Kids
Someday
So Low
Setting With The Sun
No Harm
Tide Of Tears
American Dream
House Of Cards
Cry Wolf
Intro / Dark Hour
Everything You’re Breathing For
Hard Times
Can’t Keep No Good Boy Down
PHOTO GALLERY
The Parlor Mob Links
- George Winston, solo pianist, brings his “Winter Show” back to New York City - December 5, 2019
- Steel Panther in New York City: heavy metal, hair, and lots of attitude - November 30, 2019
- The BRKN – What’s the buzz all about? - November 23, 2019
