PLUSH/ULTRAVIOLET – LIVE AT THE JAMESON PUB
By Ralph Beauchamp
Plush has embarked on their first ever headline tour. On 5/9/2024, they brought their dynamic music to the Jameson Pub in Watertown, Ct. with Ultraviolet for direct support.
Scott Weaver and the crew of the Jameson Pub always seem to be able to pull in some amazing national touring acts. The club is becoming a fixture in the the Ct. music scene. In the past, they have hosted such luminaries as George Lynch and Mike Tramp from White Lion. The staff is friendly and Weaver is the perfect host.
Opener Ultraviolet hail mostly from New Jersey. We are slightly biased towards the band as their bass player is Shannon Wilk who happens to be on the AMP creative staff as a writer and photographer. Shannon is one of the most amazing and hard working musicians we know. Besides her journalism assignments, she performs in a multitude of musical endeavors. She is pretty much a human dynamo.
The rest of Ultraviolet is comprised of Ashley Silva (Guitar), Cooper Hughes (Drums) and newly minted Miranda Taylor (Vocals). The band plays both original and compelling cover songs. This evening Ultraviolet powered through a six song set. Included were original songs “Rust” and “Slap In The Face”. On the covers side, Audioslave’s “Show Me How To Live” and Gary Glitter’s “Do You Want To Touch Me” (Joan Jett version) were fan favorites.
Ultraviolet’s sound is a cool mix of old school rock and roll and new age intonations. Taylor’s vocals are strong and carry a ferocious timbre. Silva’s guitar is imposing for such a young musician. Hughes’ drums slam with ambitious dexterity. Wilk’s bass always has an aggressive righteousness. The band’s stage demeanor was vibrant and full of life. This is a band to watch.
Plush is plainly astonishing. Their musicianship is flawless. Plush‘s songs rock with divine addiction and they handle the stage liked seasoned pros. Their music carries a supersized edge and delivers an avalanche of adrenalized propulsion.
The band is made up of Moriah Formica (Vocals/Guitar), Bella Perron (Guitar), Ashley Suppa (Bass) and Faith Powell (Drums). Plush‘s self titled debut album (2021) featured the Billboard Top 40 charting singles “Hate” and “Better Off Alone.” Plush has been electrifying audiences during recent live performances across the United States supporting Kiss, Alice In Chains, Evanescence, Daughtry, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators, among others, as well as the big festival stages of Welcome to Rockville, Louder Than Life, Rocklahoma, and more.
Their new release, Find The Beautiful (2023), is an EP that features six songs, five original and one classic cover that rock fans know and love. Plush pays homage to Heart by releasing “Barracuda” as an instant grat track.
On this night, Plush opened with “Athena” from their debut album. Immediately the crowd lovingly devoured the barrage of galvanic potency Plush let loose. “Champion” and Find The Beautiful’s “Run” followed and the audience was mesmerized. Formica’s vocals were formidable with spicy accents. Perron’s guitar flared with fierceness. Suppa’s bass pounded with a decisive fury while Powell’s percussions were explosive.
“Kill The Noise” off Find The Beautiful was next. “Sober” and “Walk Away” succeeded. All the while Formica drew in the room. She mentioned that this was their first ever headlining tour and she was so happy to see everyone there. In fact, it was sold out. Plush definitely draws them in. Their music is ruthlessly sweeping.
Of the remaining eight songs in their set, Heart’s Barracuda drew the loudest cheer. Plush completely destroys this song. Their rendition is kick ass. Other big hits were “Tidal Wave”, “Hope It Hurts” and the dramatic final song “Left Behind” which emits a pummeling groove. Plush encored with their monster track “Hate”. Everyone in the house was feeling Plush‘s sonic bursts of pure enchantment.
Plush is still on tour. They are playing many intimate venues and clubs. Please don’t miss them because before long they will be headlining arenas. Plush is that incendiary.
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