PHOTOS: The Warning gives a little ‘More’ at Fillmore tour stop
SAN FRANCISCO — The Fillmore has played host to a who’s who of rock and roll legends over the years. Thursday, the venue welcomed a trio of the next rock wave. Led by Mexican sisters The Warning, the bill also featured sets from Plush and Holy Wars.
For The Warning, it’s a continuation of an upward trajectory. The trio is set to beginning releasing new songs soon, starting with “More,” which the band rolled out to a near-capacity room.
The evolution of The Warning’s performance also continues to grow. After touring with some of the biggest names in rock, the trio’s confidence has grown. Vocalist-guitarist Daniela Villarreal, bassist Alejandra Villarreal and drummer Paulina Villarreal exude chops and play with more power than bands with twice their pedigree.
The band drew heavily from its latest album, Error, playing about 10 songs from the record. In a fun twist, the trio has introduced “The Jar” as a way to pick additional deep cuts for the setlist. On this night that track would be “Ugh.” After powering through “Dust To Dust,” “Choke” and their cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman,” the sisters moved on to a pair of Spanish-language tracks in “Narcisista” and “Martirio.” The band returned to the stage for a thunderous closer of “Evolve.”
New York rockers Plush precede the headliners, dialing in a powerful set. Singer-guitarist Moriah Formica had a powerful voice and guitar skills to match. Mixing KISS and Heart covers with originals, the band tipped its collective cap to generations of rock. The band’s sound was raw and heavy, but also flush with melody thanks to Formica’s impressive pipes. Plush closed with original track “Hate” before debuting a new one, “Left Behind.”
SoCal heavy alt-rock duo Holy Wars opened the show. Vocalist Kat Leon and guitarist Nicolas Perez were fiery and strong. Leon, in particular, took no prisoners from the opening notes, storming the stage, threatening to crowd-surf and even jumping in the crowd to get up close with attendees. Playing punk-like tunes like “21st Century Bitch” and “1% Milk,” Leon displayed a strong voice and style that fused metal, punk and pop. Perez’ guitar skills were also something to behold.
Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald. Follow Chloe Catajan at Instagram.com/riannachloe.