Rebel Queens Setlist

Ladies Night
Helter Skelter (The Beatles cover)
Ride on Thru
Hey Yeah
Hiss
Long Way to the Top
Rock Warrior
Rebel Yell (Billy Idol cover)
Shoot Me Up
Highway Star
Bad Bones
Highway Star (Deep Purple cover)
Mother Road

Sunflower Fox Setlist

Want Me
Naughty Little Girl
Tequila, Cash, & Cocaine
Gypsy Queen
Siren Song
Take Me Back
Mississippi Queen
Wild
Drum Solo
Breathe It In

It was a Thursday night of retro 70’s inspired rock & roll at the James Ballentine VFW with a full slate of local rock bands, including Electric Church, Sunflower Fox & the Chicken Leg and headlining were rock superstars Rebel Queens. With the pre-set music full of numbers like Bang a Gong, the vibe was appropriately set.

First up was Electric Church, a power rock trio (vocals/guitar, bass, and drums). This was solid & heavy rock, with long instrumental sections between the nearly glowering yell of the vocals. Moving through their set, the band was always at the power rock sound on guitars, but a good range of singing styles on top of it. Those break out musical solos let guitarist and bassist really lay into the performance side of things (they knew how to find each other for some very photographic moments), while never completely chewing scenery. It also helped that we got some truly thrashing guitar work and Electric Church was ripping it out. A quick tuning “because I care…a bit” was both succient and funny as they launched into the next number. Some intense drumming was a great foundation for a number that let the vocalist lean into some slightly gravelly singing that really fit the sound. After playing most of an upcoming EP (they hope to release before the end of the year), we got a change to the bassist on lead vocal duties, which also included a temporary change of tempo mid-song for the guitars, before speeding back up for the sung close. A big thumbs up for Electric Church who set the table extremely well for the other bands.

Up next was Sunflower Fox and the Chicken Leg. Calling themselves “unpasteurized rock and roll”, the sextet (vocals, guitar, guitar, bass, keyboards, and drums) came out swinging for the fences. A glorious alto front woman had soaring vocals, and the great backing work. Song two had a surprise (maybe most of all to her?) guest back up vocalist. With up to four singers at any one time, this was a complex chaos on stage, with people all over the stage. Similar to the opener, this was some heavier rock sound, though with a Joan Jett singing sound. The band had a fast flow between songs and that kept the energy running on high throughout. An extended screamed vocal brought a loud cheer from the audience and there was a palpable enjoyment running from band to audience.

Taking no break at all, the drummer set up the next song and Sunflower Fox & the Chicken Leg were off and running again. Gypsy Queen had a pair of singers and the best keyboard solo of the set. It also had the singer head off stage for the extended musical section, letting the band go completely nuts. Our first real banter from the band ended with “that’s enough talking”, and back into that mid 70’s rock feel. Siren Song had more of the formula of great vocals with layered guitar work. The band transitioned into a long keys solo that was outstanding. A cowbell entrance to a late set number was pretty great and the band was firing on all cylinders as they headed towards the close. A drum solo was the start to the final number and Sunflower Fox & the Chicken Leg finished up with Breathe It In, with a great extended vocal outro.

The headliner was the great Rebel Queens. I have a real soft spot for the band, having reviewed them for We❤️Music already. On this evening, they played as a sextet, with vocals, guitar, guitar, bass, keytar, and drums. Starting with the signature Ladies Night, the band was off with scorching vocals and guitar, synchronized choreo, and a ton of fun. A cover of Helter Skelter was a head banging bit of genius. With Tiffany Xtine riding her motorcycle style microphone, Rebel Queens had that late 70’s rock sound even with their original numbers. Pretty brilliant harmonies on Hey Yeah also had great bass work and our first keytar solo. Hiss was a newer number (released earlier this year) and had all of the best aspects of a Rebel Queens song and performance.

Although a lot of the crowd had started pretty far back, the sheer attitude and musical skill of Rebel Queens had them edging forward closer to the stage. Rock Warrior was a perfect number for Xtine to croon and let the backing instruments shine, with a killer guitar solo. We had some calisthenics at the front end of Shoot Me Up and more triple vocals, with guitarist and bassist in full throated support, and Xtine fully laid out on the stage floor while still crushing her vocals. Bad Bones was led with a great bass line and the inevitable megaphone appearance. A cover of Highway Star was a perfect set up for keytar work, that thrilling guitar solo, and was the sign of getting close to the end of the set and indeed, Road Warrior was the finale for Rebel Queens. All of the bands were brought on stage for audience photos, and it was a celebratory moment capping a great night of classic rock.