by Sean Reiter
Looking around at the fan attire Saturday night, there was no doubt who was the hometown hero of the 4-band bill at The Warfield in San Francisco. Machine Head – formed in Oakland back in 1991 by vocalist/guitarist Robb Flynn – has maintained 36-years of relevance and connection in the Bay Area thash metal scene. While the lineup of the band has changed substantially over the years, Flynn remained firmly in front with his powerful vocals and personality propelling the band forward in concert.
The locals roared along with the band’s intro as many of the near-capacity Warfield crowd sang along at the top of their lungs with lighting support putting a spotlight on the crowd. It was probably the most energetic moment of crowd involvement on the night, but Machine Head’s 60-minute set still saw many in the audience singing along with song from their 11 albums. Taking the stage with arms triumphantly raised in the air, Flynn, bassist Jared MacEachern, drummer Matt Alston and guitarist Reece Scruggs began with a thundering 2003’s “Imperium.” The set ranged throughout the band’s history with highlights including 2016’s “Is There Anybody Out There?” and 2014’s “Game Over.”
Flynn had the crowd in the palm of his hand with his captivating emotion and body language – frequently successfully exhorting the Bay Area crowd to join him in song and chanting. Machine Head headlined the venue the last time they were in San Francisco in early 2024. Faced with a tighter set time in the featured spot, Flynn avoided stories and anecdotes to focus almost solely on bringing the music to the fans. By the time they reached the set’s end with a crushing version of 1994’s “Davidian”, they had firmly put their stamp on the Bay Area as their territory and held their instruments high aloft and then took a bow to an adoring roar.
Unlike Machine Head’s many lineup iterations, Killswitch Engage have maintained a remarkably constant lineup. Indeed, all five current members were part of the early version of the band with vocalist Jesse Leach taking leave of the band for about a decade, but guitarists Adam Dutkiewicz and Joel Stroetzel, drummer Justin Foley and co-founding bassist Mike D’Antonio staying put. Though they may come from the other side of the country (Massachusetts), Leach made himself at home early – diving into the crowd during their opening song “Fixation on the Darkness.”
Despite their heavy metalcore sound and Leach’s growling vocals, Killswitch had a playful and friendly stage manner with all four of the front members staying far forward throughout the performance. Dutkiewicz – clad in an “I’m with Stupid” shirt that pointed to the other side of the stage and wearing a “Beer” headband was constantly in motion, smiling to the crowd and screaming with joy throughout the show. From the photo pit, his shouts of joy were audible even over the music and his stage demeanor and presence was reminiscent of how Will Farrell would have carried himself had he gone the heavy metal route. While a bit more subdued, Stroetzel had a perm-smile on his face and D’Antonio continually struck classic rock ‘n’ roll poses – whether frequently lifting his bass aloft or sending his substantial hair spinning.
Their set blasted through 18 songs in less than 90 minutes, but Leach took time to reflect on his amazement of San Francisco. “I’m from back east, but you guys are WAY more rocking,.” the preacher’s son told the crowd. Leach himself wore a shirt with a messsage of “Fight The Real Enemy” on the front and “It’s The Unjust System” on the back. Dutkiewicz then relayed a funny, but graphic story of his exposure to San Francisco’s drug and homeless situation on his first visit. The band chose to visit four songs off their newest (and critically-acclaimed) album, 2025’s “This Consequence” with “Aftermath”, “I Believe”, “Forever Aligned” and “Where It Dies” being featured. The latest album leans more into the darker, more political state of these times.
Iron Reagan – who took the stage before Machine Head – were coming off an extended hiatus and making their first Bay Area appearance in 8 years. The band blasted through a ridiculous number of songs in 25-minute set that also saw a high level of banter from lead vocalist Tony Foresta.
Foresta thanked Killswitch Engage for “dragging our asses out of retirement and on stage.” Their sound harkened back to the hybrid thrash and punk sound that was once highly-featuredin the mid-80’s at spots like Mabuhay Gardens and Ruthie’s Inn with bands like Attitude Adjustment and Suicidal Tendencies.
Iron Reagan’s set featured something I had never seen before – a father crowdsurfing with his mohawk-haired son atop his chest. As they slid over the barricade, everyone took notice. Foresta pointed at the young boy and said “this song doesn’t apply to you – you’re awesome” as he launched the band into “Your Kid’s An Asshole.” Later, he brought the young man on stage to gently perform his first stage dive. Their rapid-fire set was refreshing and compellingly unique and was delivered with their feet firmly on the gas pedal and their tongues planted firmly in cheek. At Saturday’s final stop of the tour, Foresta trashed several drums and drumstands, along with his microphone stand in true rock ‘n’ roll style. Here’s hoping that Iron Reagan make a much speedier return to the Bay Area!
