Quiet Riot brought the noize to the East Tennessee Distillery in Piney Flats, TN on October 1st. The band is celebrating 40 years of Metal Health, Quiet Riot’s third studio album. Metal Health is the first heavy metal album to make it to number one on the Billboard 200 chart and includes hits like the title track Metal Health (Bang Your Head) and their cover of Slade’s Cum on Feel the Noize.
Corey Snowden took to the stage first to an already excited crowd. Snowden is a Bristol TN native with a wide variety of musical influences spanning across different genres. His set was strictly acoustic but kept the tempo and engagement needed at a heavy metal show. He even had a few requests. Corey started his set with All Along The Watch Tower. Throughout the set, he peppered in some of his originals from his album Tennessee Line. Every rock show has that one person who yells “Play Free Bird” but Snowden did it without being asked. He perfectly blended a small part of Free Bird with his original song Brothers of the Road.
Next to hit the stage was Slick Cadillac, a heavy metal band whose set included a blend of covers and a few originals. The band consists of Jeremy Acito on guitar, Seth Cunningham on vocals, Jonathan Taylor on the keyboard, Chris Smith on drums, and GL Bortz on bass. Cunningham had such amazing control of his vocal range that during songs like Jump and It’s My Life he was able to hit the notes in such a way that almost sounded exactly like the original singers. Acito took to the stage like a true rock star and smoothly powered through a few technical difficulties before climbing onto the amps to get the crowd pumped. The crowd interaction was top notch as Bortz made his way off the stage and out to the fans. Slick Cadillac was defiantly a perfect match to play with Quiet Riot.
Finally it was time for Quiet Riot. Fans quickly got out of their seats and made their way to the stage. The energy was high as fans attempted to inch as close as they could through the line of security guards acting as a barricade. The roar of excitement was nearly deafening as the band took to the stage, but the band was louder. They opened the show with Run For Cover, a perfect way to get the crowd head banging early. Lead singer Jizzy Pearl has the attitude, stage presence and vocal capacity to keep the Quiet Riot spirit alive but with his own twist. He joked and engaged with fans as they transitioned into Slick Black Cadillac. The crowd was treated to a Quiet Riot song that was thought to be lost but was found again in 2021 and released earlier this year called I Can’t Hold On.
The Crowd continues to get crazier and by Condition Critical managed to push security as close as they could to the stage. As the song begins, the sound of Rudy Sarzo’s bass dominates the speakers. Fans not only hear his talent but can feel it as well. Sarzo plays with such ease and passion that the bass seems not like just an extension of him but a true part of him. It wouldn’t be Rudy Sarzo without his signature bass licks every once in awhile, which even after all these years still makes the girls (and guys) go crazy. Pearl then turned the mic over to Sarzo who introduced Thunderbird dedicating it to their fallen brothers, Randy Rhoads, Frankie Banali, and Kevin Dubrow.
Sarzo isn’t the only one who made his presences known with a bang. Drummer Johnny Kelly is an explosion behind the kit. He adds his own flair to the ends of their songs and perfectly grasps the crisp sound that Banali created. He played so hard that he busted one of his drumheads. He didn’t miss a single beat as the band started The Wild and the Young.
The members of the current lineup are known for rocking out in more than just Quiet Riot and they let that shine through in more ways than one. They played a perfect rendition of Blackout in the Red Room by Love/Hate, a band in which Pearl is well known. The song fit seamlessly into the set. The lights turned red as Pearl announced the song and the crowd’s reaction was just as impressive as every other song. Sarzo is a former member of Ozzy Osbourne’s solo band and treated the crowd to a small taste of a song every metalhead knows. The roar of fans fell over the venue as Sarzo beat (yes with his fist) out the intro to Crazy Train.
Guitarist, Alex Grossi’s presence is known before he even plays a note. Head to toe his appearance screams rock star but his playing says, “ I was born to do this”. Not a note was missed and, if it was, you would never have noticed. He shined during every song but was given the spot light for a spectacular guitar solo that left the crowd wanting more. From the guitar solo, Grossi transitioned the band into the beginning of Black No.1 by Type O Negative representing Kelly’s time with the band.
They ended the show the only appropriate way possible, with Metal Health (Bang Your Head). The crowd was singing the song back at them word for word basically fueling the intensity of the song. Sarzo even played his bass on a fans head. After years of performing, Quiet Riot has continued to build a fan base of all ages. Whether it’s celebrating 40 years of Metal Health or not, they are a band that should be on everyone’s bucket list.
– Tanis Enos
Metal Odyssey > Heavy Metal Music Blog 
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