The revolution started with a whisper, exploded in a bang, and then was almost obliterated in the blink of an eye. But, on August 13, 2008, the fight of local, independent radio against the corporate beast continued when The Hard Rockin’ Johnsons and 12 Stones took the stage for the second of four free shows at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City. Hosted by the newly minted 97.5 The Blaze (the new frequency of the old 94.9 The Blaze), the show proved that the audience might be on that infamous highway to hell, but damned if they aren’t going to enjoy the trip.

There was worry about turnout. Exactly one week before, The Blaze had nearly disappeared from the airwaves. Through sheer blood, sweat, and the dedication of listeners who flooded the internet and phone lines with support, the station survived to prove to the world that they weren’t going anywhere.

Nestled among the office buildings and hotels of downtown Salt Lake, under fresh new banners and a near-full moon, the fans, the DJs, the Hard Rockin’ Johnsons, and 12 Stones lit up a party to be proud of.

Introduced as “The Sexiest Tribute Band in the State of Utah,” the Hard Rockin’ Johnsons emerged on the stage to devoted cheers. Focusing on covers of many of the harder bands of the 1980’s, the band melted the faces off of the throngs of listeners with tunes from Mötley Crüe, AC/DC, Def Leppard, Guns N Roses, and Metallica. Giving nearly note-by-note covers of the old favorites, The Hard Rockin’ Johnsons were able to balance reverence for the songs they covered with the ability to just have fun with the music. A lighthearted cover of Poison’s “Talk Dirty to Me,” accompanied by 97.5’s Marcus, was proof of that.

Though the set ran a little long for an opening band, and was plagued with technical problems that included unintended mic feedback, a sense of ease and partying pervaded as band and audience let loose and let the music lead the way.

A little before 9:00, 12 Stones took the stage. The New Orleans band has spent the last seven years building a passionate and dedicated following with their nu-metal-meets-pop-punk style. Radio friendly, but with a harder edge, the band has the potential to speak to many different genres.

Lead singer Paul McCoy has a tenor voice cut from the cloth of the pop-punks currently blanketing the airwaves. His voice is built for the melodic style which dominates many of 12 Stones’ songs, and he performed them with a maturity that belied the ultra-hyper energy he brought to the stage. Guttural, metal screamo style is not his forte, yet he is able to rise to the occasion if the song demands it. Aaron Gainer on drums and Shawn Wade on bass are definitely the duo underpinning the band, and the twin guitars of Justin Rimer and Eric Weaver race to keep up with the pounding bass and drums. I am not sure if any of them can keep up with McCoy.

Bringing to the stage more energy than I’ve ever seen, it wasn’t hard to understand why the band has a host of fans. The tribal surge that took over the Gallivan Center was as much about music as it was about partying and coming together as a unit. Raw energy was palpable, radiating from an audience who had spent much of the last week fighting against corporate radio. 12 Stones fed off of that energy – pumping up the audience and thanking them often, not only for listening to the band, but for being devoted listeners in support of a local, independent station.

Leading the night off with “Adrenaline,” the current single from the new album, Anthem for the Underdog, 12 Stones got the crowd going early. McCoy’s boundless energy ran the risk of taking away from the band’s musical qualities, but as he found a rhythm and settled into his own performance, his true entertaining style took command and a veteran lead singer emerged. As the set continued with songs that spanned all seven years of the band’s career, they jelled on stage, turning potential chaos into a powerful performance that climaxed in a 12 Stones tradition. With fists and drinks in the air, the audience toasted lost friends to the song “This Dark Day.” New songs such as “ World So Cold” were as powerful as favorites “My Life,” “Lie to Me,” and “The Last Song.” As the too-short set wound to a close, McCoy introduced the final song much as he’d introduced many of them that night, referencing the passion for a small radio station and the unrest often felt by rock and metal fans. “I want you to take your anger, the raw energy, and then turn it into something beautiful,” he said in farewell. As the final song, “Broken,” ripped through downtown Salt Lake, ending a powerful and revolutionary night, I found myself realizing just how much I’d enjoyed the show. I had started the evening only vaguely aware of 12 Stones and their rising popularity, but by the time the show was over, I had discovered a band with power, passion, and potential. I look forward to seeing where they go from here.

For more photos and more information about the Wednesday Rocks! Concert series, visit www.theblazeonline.com

Please visit these bands at:
www.12stones.com or www.myspace.com/12stones
www.myspace.com/hardrockinjohnsons

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