Adam and the Metal Hawks and Twist Off! Soar Into The Space LV!

Adam and the Metal Hawks played The Space LV on Friday, June 21, 2024, with support act Twist Off!.

The Space LV is one of the greatest places in Las Vegas to catch live music. Used for a variety of events in the Las Vegas Valley, it’s a fantastic spot that this rock and roll fan will hope continues to become a regular locale to celebrate all things rock. The earlier show start times here are a breath of fresh air as well. I’d previously seen Adam and the Metal Hawks play in Vegas in early 2023 at Dee Snider’s vodka signing, and definitely didn’t want to pass up a chance to see these guys live on stage in Sin City again!

Many concerts from national acts in Sin City have local acts opening the festivities, and it was no different for this gig at The Space. In this particular instance, we got a group called Twist Off! kicking things off. I’d heard their name around town a few times in recent months, but hadn’t had a chance to see them doing their thing on a live stage, so I was glad to finally rectify that. The trio rocks pretty hard, and it’s a bit difficult to stick them in just any one genre, though that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

Probably the best way I could describe the sound of Twist Off! would be something like if Nirvana stuck with the sound of their first album and never got a major label deal. However, there are certainly other pronounced elements on the table as well, including classic punk sounds and more modern harder edged riffs. And of course, the guys in the band encouraged the somewhat smaller crowd to come up front since it was a rock show (though I of course was up front from start to finish, as I so often am at rock gigs). These guys know how have a fantastic fun time on the stage, with a good sense of humor and a high-energy performance. I’ll definitely have these guys on my radar going forward!

And of course, the reason I came to The Space on this evening was to see Adam and the Metal Hawks. When I saw them at Dee Snider’s vodka signing last year, they definitely left me wanting more. The group features frontman Adam Ezegelain, drummer Griffin McCarthy, bassist Ryan D’Aversa, and guitarist Johnny Barry. The quartet continues to rise in popular in social media, and their sound is getting out there. It’s tough to make it in the music business these days, but I truly hope Adam and company do. They’re one of the acts that truly deserves it.

One of the best things about an Adam and the Metal Hawks show is what you’ll get in terms of content. The group serves up a wide array of cover songs, ranging from Queen classics to hard rock versions of disco tunes, and in the case of this show, even a classic rock medley that got the audience enthused. The show even started with a cover of “Time Warp” from “The Rocky Horror Picture Show!” But the band isn’t content to be another cover or tribute act, having put out several original songs that stand on their own quite well. I don’t ever need to hear a band perform the overplayed “Sweet Child O’ Mine” again, as long as I live, but Adam and the Metal Hawks can even take an overdone number like that and put their own spin on it.

And no discussion of this band is complete without discussing the band members themselves. Adam is most definitely NOT the image that pops into one’s mind when one pictures a rock/metal frontman. But this guy defies conventions, and perhaps most importantly, is one hell of a performer. The guy is charismatic, likable, has undeniable stage presence, and an incredible singing voice. Guitarist Johnny Barry barely looks old enough to be out of high school, but shreds better than many men twice his age. Drummer Griffin McCarthy is an absolute powerhouse, even getting a spot to showcase his talents in the form of a drum solo. Rounding out the lineup is bassist Ryan D’Aversa. This guy bares more than a passing resemblance to the bad guy from THE WARRIORS, and is easily one of the best bassists I’ve seen, moving around the stage with more energy than most frontmen. Remember that wisecrack in THIS IS SPINAL TAP where they say their bass player is on “lead bass?” D’Aversa plays lead bass, not content to just hold down the low end, with his sound quite prominent throughout the show. I make no secret that my favorite bass player of all time is Rudy Sarzo, and this guy just might be aiming to take that throne one day.

Do you want to see a rock show that’ll remind you of why you fell in love with rock and roll and live music in the first place? Adam and the Metal Hawks is that rare band that delivers on all fronts. If you’re a skeptic, you won’t be after their performance. If they’re coming to rock your town, I assure you, it’s a ticket you’ll want to get your hands on. These Hawks are soaring over the USA… and they’re not coming down any time soon.

One of the best rock shows of 2024. And again, hats off to Twist Off! for a fantastic set to start the evening.