It has been a while since I've seen U.S. Royalty live so, I made it a point to make it out to see them last Friday at Mercury Lounge. I even dragged my hip-hop lovin' cousin along for the ride.
U.S. Royalty play rock 'n' roll and they do it exceptionally well. Why aren't these guys massively huge? Friday, we got a mix of old and new songs in a set that was precise and shake your ass fun. Based on what they played, the new record is going to be a good one. I was happy to hear their new single "Blue Sunshine". I'm already fond of that track. And, I was thrilled that old favorite, "The Desert Won't Save You", is still in the set; I've been listening to that track a lot lately.
The last time I saw them they set the bar high. They were raw in a intensely wild, hot, sweaty, leave all on the floor sort of way. This time, they met the bar and dare I say, surpassed it. They still left it all on the floor, they were just more subtle about it this time. Well, maybe not frontman John Thornley, he's still delightfully unrestrained. His vocals were clear and spirited. The steady force of bassist Jacob Michael and drummer Luke Adams provided a tight driving rhythm that refused to let you stand still. Guitarist Paul Thornley played with a cool, unassuming confidence yet maintained enough swagger and bite to say the non-verbal equivalent of, we're 'U.S. Bloody Royalty, That's Who'!
Their set left me thoroughly entertained and exhausted; damn I really love rock 'n' roll.
This is what it looked like.
More photos HERE
