🖤 Vegas Won’t Stop 🖤

In the aftermath of the tragic events that occurred at the Route 91 Harvest Festival, the Las Vegas local rock scene definitely came together in a big way. Over the last week our community pulled together and proved what a great family we really are…

Kicking it off on Thursday, October 5 with the Otherwise show at Rocks Lounge in Red Rock Casino. This show was originally supposed to be a tour kick off concert, but quickly morphed into a full blown tribute concert for the victims of the Las Vegas massacre. With the guys of Otherwise being from Vegas, I’m sure this was a no brainer. All of the donations went to the victims and their families via the Go Fund Me account started by Clark County Commission Chair, Steve Sisolak. This special show also included local new favorites Honor Amongst Thieves and all-star country line-up Elvis Monroe.

But first up the fan favorites the guys from Honor Amongst Thieves!! They took the stage for a touching, stripped and all acoustic few songs. Honor Amongst Thieves has definitely stolen the hearts of the local Las Vegas rock scene and this set was no exception. The sultry voice of Jonathan Salas sent chills down my spine. Starting off with a song appropriately titled, “Day Like This,” ——living for a day like this. As fans filtered into the lounge they brought the Love with them. These new songs that HAT put on display really reminded us why we were there in the first place. And as always Jonathan Salas (Lead Vocals/Acoustic Guitar), Adam Edwards (Guitar), Chris Iorio (Guitar/Backing Vocals) and Jonathan Hartman (Drums/Backing Vocals) definitely made Vegas proud. I can’t wait to hear the new music that they’ve been working on again very soon. Thanks guys!!!

Photo credit: Randy Udell

In between sets fellow Vegas rockers exchanged hugs and kind words. Many just plain giving thanks for being alive. Realizing that it could of been ANY of us, at ANY concert, or ANY event. But thankfully we were all there celebrating music and life.

Taking the stage next was the all-star country line-up Elvis Monroe. Consisting of singer Bryan Hopkins and guitarist Ben Carey who actually survived the shooting at Route 91 the previous Sunday. To start off Bryan and Ben both expressed how difficult it would even be to make it through the show. Bryan announcing, “so many faces in this audience right now that put a smile on my face….”

The trio on stage was definitely struggling to keep the vibe light and funny at first. Holy Water echoing through the lounge as many began to join in and sing along. Then the set took a very serious and heartfelt turn as they invited survivors and fellow musicians on stage for a song written in honor of Route 91. And it was beautiful!!! Hand in hand with the girl he survived with they sang the song. The name of the song was “The Fight”——#vegasstrong… The chorus rang through the crowd and you couldn’t help but sing along….

“stand up, stand up, stand up—

let’s fight!

shoulder to shoulder—

show our might

with one heartbeat—

beats strong tonight…

we are, we are

THE FIGHT!!!”

So much love in the air. Tears rolling down the faces on stage and in the crowd…and I was no exception. An insanely powerful and touching performance…and ultimately a beautiful tribute to those we lost.

Now enter the hometown boys who are making a huge name for themselves….none other than OTHERWISE!!! From the first chord played you knew it was gonna be one hell of a show. Adrian Patrick demands your full attention and in my opinion is one of the best frontmen out there today. And the whole crowd was picking up what they were throwing down. But most of you already know Otherwise puts on a hard hitting, in your face kind of performance. And fuel had been added to this fire. Covering a variety of songs from now all three of their full-length albums. Some of these songs include, from their very first album entitled “True Love Never Dies” from 2012——songs… “Heaven”, “I Don’t Apologize”, “Die For You” and “Vegas Girl” for fun…

Taken from the second “Peace At All Costs” from 2014——songs… “Coming for the Throne” and “Meet Me In The Dark.”

And lastly from their brand new third album that just dropped September 2017, the much anticipated “Sleeping Lions”——songs… “Angry Heart”, “Close To The Gods”, and of course “Won’t Stop!”

“Heaven” was definitely a crowd favorite for obvious reasons. Adrian proclaimed to the audience….

“What we do here in Sin City,

we embrace the darkness,

so we can appreciate the light!”

With the “Vegas Won’t Stop” sign in the background. Such a perfect compilation of songs for this tribute. If you’ve seen Otherwise live before…just times that by 20. And if you haven’t…well get it together. Ryan Patrick (Guitar/Vocals), Adrian Patrick (Lead Vocals), Tony Carboney (Bass/Vocals) and Brian Medeiros (Drums) poured there hearts out on that stage for Las Vegas!!

They invited Bryan Hopkins back on stage to help sing the song dedicated to all the first responders…and that song was SOLDIERS!!!! Everyone joined in to sing Vegas strong.

“We are the ones who will never be broken,

we fight till our death——

We are soldiers!!!

We stand shoulder to shoulder, we stand shoulder to shoulder,

We stand shoulder to shoulder….

You can’t erase us- you’ll just have to face us!!!

WE ARE SOLDIERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!