Jericho Hill CD Release Launches Full Frontal Audio Assault

A heavy night of local rock descended on the High Dive in Fremont on September 8th.

Jericho Hill performed songs from their new CD “The Suicide Jack;” three other bands came out to help celebrate with them. All four groups were well matched in their music style and stage presence. Many of them have been friends for years therefore, in a way, the High Dive was like a big reunion party!

Crossing Crusades opened the show with their powerful vocals and signature animated performance.

The band quickly connected to the audience, and held their attention throughout the set. The music was high octane with Chris Hopkins on vocals. Retten Steincipher and Aaron Lee played off each other, in a way that only longtime friends can do.

Sam Thompson swapped between hot licks and facial expressions all night, as he sailed through firey guitar solos. And Kevin Ross brought the big sticks, hitting hard and lighting up his drum kit with the glow of green halo.

Woodshed followed and brought their heavy trio sound in at full volume.

Hunter Venturo’s booming vocals are fortified by Nathan Reno’s whirlwind bass and Jake Turner’s tight drum sound.

The most noteworthy thing about a musical trio – to me – is that the players are usually very dialed into each other. It’s clear that Woodshed has been playing together for a while because of each man’s ability to reach the nuances of the other musicians. Super Van (video above), is a fine example of Woodshed’s dedication to the Desert Scene / Stoner Rock sound – deep bass, tuned-down chords, hard snare hits, and lyrics dealing with everyday life.

Jericho Hill was third in line.

The crowd pressed closer to the stage as Malcolm Williams began singing “Undress My Bones:”

Jericho Hill consists of Malcolm on Vocals, Mac Potter on Guitar, The Mysterious Esteban on Guitar, Nick Skinnell on Bass, Adam Birchman on Drums, and Steve Schneider on Guitar. Their mid-tempo metal sound was an immediate hit with the crowd, and as the band continued they used a blend of animated antics and crowd interaction to bring the fans an experience not soon forgotten. I caught up with Malcolm recently and asked him how he felt about the show.

“The night left us incredibly grateful,” he said. “The amount of love shared by everyone there was unreal! I mean, you couldn’t walk from one end of the venue to the other without being engulfed in it.”

Some shows go beyond the band/stage/audience dynamic and become something far better. For Jericho Hill, this party was much more. “More than a gig,” Malcolm said. “It was about watching our friends Wyatt Olney And The Wreckage, Woodshed, and Crossing Crusades absolutely ignite and set that stage on fire. More than a concert, it was a night where every face you saw was family.

And more then an album release, it was the ink drying on the first chapter… now there are new pages to fill.”

Malcolm and the guys had a huge feeling of gratitude for the venue, support staff, and all those who helped them record the album. “I also want to extend a huge thank you to Sean Walker & Jason Shavey from Synergy Studios, as well as Rachel Fields from Resonant Mastering.”

The night finished up with Wyatt Olney and The Wreckage.

The band went on near midnight; if anyone was falling asleep, that slumber didn’t last long – as they launched into the frantic chords of “Hell & Back.” Wyatt Olney plays Rhythm Guitar, Kyle Gibboney plays Lead Guitar, William Nelson plays Bass, and Rob Brennan is on Drums.

The energy that launched their set maintained its level throughout their entire stage show. Clearly a crowd favorite, the band managed to hold many tried-and-true Seattle music fans until the dark hours of the morning.

When the final sweaty drops of music were done, the crowd got one encore and left highly satisfied.

To hear such intensive rock, with other excited fans in a smaller venue, is an experience that must be explored. The music, the motion, and the vibration are right there – as close as the musician is to you on a stage just four feet off the ground. It was the perfect venue for the Jericho Hill CD Release, because it gave the listening experience something tactile and personal. And the line up of bands only made it better.

Look for all four of these bands playing shows around The Sound!