Taking Newport, KY to new highs, the Dirty Heads rolled into town on Friday for some good vibes and great times. It was a beautiful night for an outdoor show and a crowd was pumped to see the pending performance. This is now my third time seeing this Huntington Beach, California crew take the stage and each time I can see how much fun they seem to have on stage and how they translate that to the crowd.
Starting the show, this sizeable band of eight musicians, hit the stage and took their positions. Incorporating the sounds of reggae, rap, rock, and some hip-hop into their varied songs, it seems there is always one of the instruments taking control of the music and it would shift from side to side and middle with the drums and percussion (Matt Ochoa and Jon Olazbal) perched in the center. The horn section (Bush and Dorazo) takes their place stage left and the bass and keyboards (Floral and Gonzalez) stage right. Starting out the show, they hit the crowd early with a favorite “My Sweet Summer” from the Sound of Change album. Moving forward, Jared (Dirty J) Watson and Dustin (Duddy B) Bushnell share the vocals throughout getting the crowd singing along for “That’s All I Need” and incorporating newer songs like “Mad at It” and “Midnight Control”, the title track from their latest album. Bushnell plays guitar along with vocals and still finds a way to move around the stage as he and Watson move from side to side to keep the entire crowd in the mix throughout.
Some standouts tonight are the cover of Joe Walsh’s “Life’s Been Good” to which Dirty Heads have changed some of the lyrics to fit their own style. Not to mention some slower but equally powerful classics from these boys, “Oxygen” and “Island Glow.” On this tour, the light show was clearly a cut above. Well organized and fitting for each track meticulously, I could feel myself rolling “Franco Eyed” near the end of the set.
As the show progresses and I look through the crowd down in the pit with me, I realize that everyone is having a blast. I had the perfect mix of chill and excitement while watching these guys show us their craft. Jared Watson's distinctive voice makes the rap/hip-hop sections feel real and he can pull them off effortlessly. I see Bushnell as representing the rock side of this duo, but that could be just because he’s holding the guitar. The way they blend makes for a harmony that many can find enjoyable. In fact, I brought my friend Dave having never heard a single song before and he left a full-fledged fan!
Finishing the night with some encore performances of two classics, the Goonies-inspired “Sloth’s Revenge” and the one Dirty Heads song it seems everyone knows, “Vacation.” It was a fitting end to a memorable night. And back to the road they go.
Starting off the evening, we saw The Glorious Sons from Ontario, Canada keep the rock vibe alive. A six-man outfit that I have seen pack in on a small stage in the past, was able to use this larger stage to their advantage. A more traditional hard rock mixed with a southern rock set, vocalist Brett Emmons worked the crowd and put his heart into the performance from start to finish. Though these guys have been around since 2011, I first caught them in 2017. On tour supporting their 2023 release Glory, and also filling our ears with some trademark songs like “Josie,” “Mama” and “S.O.S. (Sawed Off Shotgun).” Another solid performance by this Canadian band. This rock show was contrasted by the more rap stylings of Ipcus Pinecone to kick off the night. Hailing from Louisville, KY and describes his musical work as it embodies a mixture of poetic lyricism and melodic flows with catchy hooks and up-tempo beats. He was clearly excited to perform for the Northern Kentucky crowd.
What more could anyone ask for on a perfect night in Newport? If you missed the Dirty Heads this time, put it on your list to catch the next one. You will not be disappointed!
