Des Rocs summons the lighting with electrifying performance

Rock n roll is, in fact, NOT dead! It feels like the voices still echo of people saying that rock is dead - and that there is no more good rock music anymore. I think people just aren't looking hard enough and want to be stuck in their old ways. The truth is that you'll never find something 'better' if you continue to compare others to the bands and sounds that you put on such an unreachable pedestal. No one is trying to convince anyone to not like their favorite bands, but it's important to keep the spirit alive.. you might just find something that you like - from someone trying to keep the spirit of their favorite music/musician alive.

Looking back at the day, I think I understand why, on 4/14/26, Chicago's weather was incredibly bipolar... it knew that Des Rocs was cooking up a storm. He had an absolutely killer lineup with openers King Falcon and ROMES. Both were a first for me - both listening to their music and seeing them live.

King Falcom was a was this incredible, hyper, alt-rock band that was in the room to prove a point. They very quickly drew me in and I was bouncing the whole time. Listening back to their music.. it's amazing.. but nothing compares to the live sound. They are definitely one of those bands that - in my opinion - sounds SOOOO much better in-person.

ROMES was just as captivating, but for different reasons. First and foremost, it's not very often that you see a two-piece band anymore - at least not for live shows - but what makes it so much cooler is that they're brothers. As a matter of fact, some of my favorite bands are actually two-person bands. (I feel like there's a theme here.) Actually, I couldn't stop thinking to myself that their sound was similar to Royal Blood's third album, "Typhoons." These two brothers have a pretty unique sound - with them being an electronic rock band. It's easy to get caught in ROMES whirlwind with their cool synth loops and high-energy and LOUD presence.

Unfortunately, with both openers done, it means that the end of the night is inevitable and drawing near... the upside? We have one final performance that you just know is going to be like nothing you've ever seen before - especially if he picked those two bands to warm up the crowd for him.

Just like the other two, this was my first time experiencing Des, live. However, it was not my first time listening to and/or hearing about him. I've actually been an avid listener for the last five or six years - when someone else introduced me to his music. From the first listen to songs like "Let Me Live / Let Me Die," "Maybe, I," & "Used to the Darkness," I was completely hooked! Something about the low, mysterious start, and the rasp of his voice, I just knew that there was something different about Des and his sound. He mixes a newer rock sound with some of that earlier rock n roll, high octane, rebellious kick to it. I'm not going to say that it makes you want to do something illegal, but it gets you into an adventurous spirit that makes you want to do all of those things that you know you probably shouldn't.

Des Rocs has something incredible going on. He has a drive like no other. I would imagine that he would put on the same show if it was for five people or if it was 20,000 people.. and that takes a special kind of dedication. He has been making music for some time now, so I know its just a matter of time before he has his really big breakthrough, and I cannot wait to see how the world reacts when they find out what they've been missing out on all this time... I cannot stress it enough how great Des is live.. I've only met a few other bands that put it the amount of heart that he does, and he does all of this with only a three-piece band.

I repeat.. ROCK IS NOT DEAD!!!

Thank you to Des Rocs and his team for having us, and I hope to see you again soon! And, thank you to King Falcon and ROMES for being some of the best openers I've experienced in some time.

He has a few more shows here in the US (mostly East Coast), so be sure to grab a ticket if you're nearby.. you'll only regret not going!!!