The Warning performs at Cornerstone in Berkeley on April 19, 2022.

BERKELEY — If there was any question where the future of rock is heading, The Warning‘s Tuesday night performance at Cornerstone suggests it’s in very good hands. The sister trio from Monterrey, Mexico pulled out all the stops at its sold-out performance, providing just over an hour of high-octane rock and roll. The band, composed of guitarist Daniela Villarreal, drummer Paulina Villarreal and bassist Alejandra Villarreal, packed an arena-sized performance into the intimate East Bay venue.

The Warning performs at Cornerstone in Berkeley on April 19, 2022.

The band dialed in on its heaviest and most energetic material spanning two albums and the new Mayday EP, releasing half the songs last year with the second half expected in the months ahead. The night got off to a bouncy start, with the fierce “Z” and “Animosity.” The sisters showed surprising musical maturity for musicians so young, They showed the dynamics and a tightness that some bands twice their age don’t achieve.

“This is our first time ever playing, or even visiting Berkeley,” guitarist Daniela Villarreal said early in the set. “Thank you so much for having us in your city.”

The band ripped through the upbeat “Queen of the Murder Scene” and the heavy grunge of “Choke” before rolling out swagger-laden new track “Money.” The trio’s joy was instantly noticeable, which is something for which the genre is desperate. If you were there, it was impossible to not be drawn in and feel apart of the whole thing. The crowd included younger fans to older metalheads and even families. The band provided a sound that was easy to rally around. To sell out a rock show on a Tuesday night in the Bay Area is a feat itself these days.

The key to the group’s success on stage was its synergy, and each musician brought something to the table. For guitarist Daniela Villarreal, it’s a charismatic magnetism; like Lzzy Hale crossed with a little bit of Angus Young. Drummer Paulina Villarreal pounded out the rhythms while singing. Bassist Alejandra Villarreal held down the low end with a controlled but forceful power. No more was this evident than on “Dust to Dust,” which shined in Berkeley. On the song, The Warning mixed a brooding bass-heavy energy that grew into an anthemic heaviness before crescendoing into a metal-tinged finale.

The band rolled through older tracks like “Dull Knives (Cut Better)” and “Red Hands Never Fade” before bringing the crowd to life with the call and response chorus of “Disciple.” The sisters even mixed in both of their Spanish-language tracks, the riff-heavy bounce of “Narcisista” and the soaring and anthemic “Martirio.” Both songs got a big response.

The Warning performs at Cornerstone in Berkeley on April 19, 2022.

The Warning’s comparatively lighter song was, ironically, its cover of Metallica’s “Enter Sandman.” While the viral YouTube cover launched the sisters were still kids, the current rendition appeared on The Metallica Blacklist cover album as a collaboration with Alessia Cara, which transformed it into a dramatic power ballad with the iconic guitar riff. At Cornerstone, the sisters used the opportunity to show off their stellar three-part harmonies.

The band wound down with older track “Survive” and somewhat stripped-down version of “When I’m Alone” before bringing things home with the aforementioned “Martirio” and spirted Mayday cut “Evolve.”

Devora performs at Cornerstone in Berkeley on April 19, 2022.

SoCal rocker Devora opened the concert with an impressive set of her own. She fused country, pop and rock on songs like “Not Dead Yet,” which immediately set the tone for the roughly 30-minute performance.

“I wrote this next song when I was pretty pissed off,” Devora said before launching into “Body Bag.”

Flanked by a drummer and guitarist, Devora delivered more production than one might expect from an opening act. On stage, Devora’s country leanings shifted a little more to the rock and roll side of the pendulum, though tracks live “Elvis” still showcased the singer’s Southern influences. The songs were tight and memorable, providing enough of a sample to make listeners (me) interested in coming back for more.

Follow writer Mike DeWald at Twitter.com/mike_dewald. Follow photographer Nathan McKinley at Instagram.com/memories.by.mckinley.