When three siblings from Monterrey, Mexico, opened for Halestorm last Sept. 29 at the now renamed Boeing Center at Tech Port, frontwoman Lzzy Hale referred to them as “my sisters from another mister” (coverage here).
That evening, the Villareal sisters — singer/guitarist Daniela, drummer Paulina and 17-year-old bassist Alejanda “Ale” — served notice that headlining status for their group The Warning wouldn’t be far away.
As it relates to the Alamo City, that evening came this past Thursday at the Aztec Theatre. And much like the position they were in that rocking night, this bill’s support acts — Plush and Holy Wars — weren’t exactly slouches either, showcasing musicianship and/or personality that keeps them true to themselves and that should serve them well for years to come.
The Warning’s hour and 17-minute set thrilled many dedicated fans who sang practically every word to most of their songs, even in the balcony on a weeknight at a venue in which bands with bigger names have found the upper level closed off.
Making waves with last summer’s release of third full-length album Error, the Villareals dominated their set with 10 of their 17 tracks performed coming via that effort (see setlist in 50-photo gallery).
While Daniela fluidly orchestrates the audience with her banter and sheer focus on simultaneous guitar playing and vocals, Paulina — or Pau to her siblings and closest fans — delivers the infectious enthusiasm of woman-handling the kit with bubbly backup and sometimes lead vocals. Alejandra — or Ale — is easily the most laid back of the three, at least on stage, as she provides the low end of the rhythm section.
Watch the sisters in action via Alamo True Metal’s Facebook Live footage of Error tracks “Choke” and “Amour” and below on “Dull Knives (Cut Better)” and “Kool Aid Kids.”
It was The Warning’s unique take on Metallica’s “Enter Sandman” in 2014 that earned the attention of Kirk Hammett himself and garnered the band a spot on the Metallica Blacklist tribute album. Naturally, that monumental feat opened doors like no other for The Warning. Watch ATM’s footage of Thursday’s version below.
Continuing the entertaining set with the likes of the title track, Spanish-sung “Martirio,” new non-album single “More,” the story behind “Ugh” (ATM footage below) and finale “Evolve,” The Warning demonstrated how far they’ve come since 2017 independent full-length debut XXI Century Blood (which did not feature any songs played on this night).
Boasting musical maturity beyond their years, The Warning will undoubtedly be a major player in the rock and metal scene for as long as they choose. If they’re already headlining theaters now, think of the possibilities that lie ahead.
And speaking of maturity . . .
Middle band Plush showcased a heavy dose of lyrics serving as middle fingers to relationships gone sour led by the Ann Wilson-esque sound and vocals of singer/rhythm guitarist Moriah Formica.
Along with lead guitarist Bella Perron, bassist Ashley Suppa and drummer Faith Powell, the group ranges in age from 18-22.
Formica, however, was carving a niche long before, having shared the stage with Stryper’s Michael Sweet on his solo tour seven years ago when she was only 15. They performed Heart’s “Crazy On You” together — did we mention Formica’s resemblance in sound to Ann Wilson? — and Plush did the honors at the Aztec following Billboard Top 40 charting original “Better Off Alone” with Heart’s “Barracuda” (ATM footage of both here). Formica also guested on Sweet’s “Can’t Take This Life” from his 2016 solo effort One-Sided War.
Suppa is not to be outdone when it comes to her own solo material that can be checked out via YouTube and her socials.
Other standout tracks at the Aztec included “Sober” and a non-fanfare but riveting cover of KISS’ “Heaven’s On Fire” with Paul Stanley’s famous intro tailor-made for Formica’s chilling vocals.
Watch Plush shine below on “Hate” and new single “Left Behind.” The latter was “written for anyone who has ever felt like an outcast or a misfit,” Formica said in a press release. Plush is celebrating the new track with a limited edition “Left Behind” bundle that features a signed CD single and a T-shirt. It’s available for pre-order here and will begin shipping next month.
The evening began with Holy Wars from Los Angeles. Megadeth references and influence not included.
The three-pronged attack is actually a full-time duo featuring vocalist Kat Leon and her guitarist/boyfriend Nick Perez.
Bringing the heat and energy with her fiery redheaded 5-foot-1 frame, Leon and Co. played several songs from last year’s release Eat It Up, Spit It Out including “1% Milk” and “Suck It Up” with “Little Godz” (ATM footage of the latter two below).
Leon informed the audience that she got bullied a lot when younger and that she learned to combat it with “Invisible Dick Syndrome.”
What she didn’t reveal was the fact Holy Wars was birthed out of tragedy from 2015.
“The Holy Wars project was born out of my personal story of losing my parents,” Leon told “High Times” in 2021. “It was never even meant to be a band at that time.”
After her mother and father died six months apart eight years ago, reportedly from a heart attack and non-smoking lung disease, respectively, Leon carved a musical path prior to Holy Wars that is virtually completely opposite of what she exhibited at the Aztec.
Leon’s solo career includes emotional ballads and music that has been featured on Fox, Fox Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime and more as part of special-event theme songs, TV show trailers and commercials.
With Holy Wars, however, Leon turns her personal heartache into pent-up angst and metal excitement on stage. Watch her and the band in further action via ATM Facebook Live footage of new single “Deus Ex Machina.”
Females may have been the dominant factor on this night at the Aztec, but each band brought its unique style, personality and showmanship to the forefront. Whether you only liked one, two or all three wasn’t as significant as simply seeing them and knowing that if their performances were any indication, the hard rock and metal landscape will thrive so long as bands such as these stay together and continue to grace us with their sound — and vision for what the future of their groups may hold.
In the cases of Plush and Holy Wars, they are prime examples something major and positive can result from life-altering experiences and bad relationships.
And in the case of the headliners — a little sisterly love can go a long way when families stick together.
