Photos and review by Geoffrey Clowes – When you see Close Enemies live, you aren’t just watching a new band; you’re witnessing a masterclass in American rock and roll. While the group officially formed in 2024, the “DNA” on stage spans decades of legendary experience, anchored by the iconic Tom Hamilton of Aerosmith.
The first thing that hits you is the chemistry. Despite their “supergroup” status, Close Enemies feels like a blue-collar rock band that has been playing together for twenty years.
Tom Hamilton’s bass lines are the heartbeat of the show. Seeing him in intimate venues like The Whisky a Go Go or City Wineryprovides a rare chance to hear his fluid, melodic playing without the “stadium reverb.”
Drummer Tony Brock is a force of nature. His drumming is often described as “ferocious,” providing a thunderous foundation that keeps the energy high from the first note to the last.
Steven Tyler; instead, he settles into a range that feels more like Paul Rodgers—honest, powerful, and deeply connected to the lyrics.
Peter Stroud and Trace Foster trade solos with a classic dual-guitar swagger that evokes the golden era of 70s rock.
The band leans heavily into their original material, which sits somewhere between hard rock, blues, and a hint of country twang, but also includes some classic covers. The originals included “Sound of a Train”, “Inside Out”, and “Rain.” The covers featured “Sweet Emotion”, “Sick As A Dog”, and “Head First.”
A Close Enemies show is notably unpretentious. The band often interacts with the crowd, and Hamilton has been seen “smiling like a kid in a candy shop” throughout the sets. It is a loud, sweat-soaked celebration of guitar-driven music. Whether they are playing to a seated dinner crowd or a standing-room-only rock club, the energy usually ends in a standing ovation.
If you’re a fan of ’70s-era Aerosmith or The Babys, this is a must-see. It’s a rare opportunity to see rock royalty playing “new” music with the hunger of a band just starting out.
To start the evening, Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze provided a high-octane introduction that perfectly set the stage for the classic rock royalty to follow.
If Close Enemies represents the legacy of rock, Vern Daysel & The Burning Breeze represents its fiery, modern evolution. Led by South African-born frontman Vern Daysel, the five-piece band delivered a “no-frills, high-octane” set that blended the grit of Southern rock with the soul of the blues.
Their style is often described as “blues-soaked soulful rock ‘n’ roll.” There is a clear lineage to bands like AC/DC and Blackberry Smoke, but with a thicker, more modern production value.
