Back during our SPRING FLING Festival this past May-June, we had ourselves quite the weekend of amazing performances with some of Rock’s new and up and coming bands. Might have been our best of lineup ever, quite honestly. One of those bands was BADFLOWER. When they took the stage at Fling on the Peoria Riverfront, no one was really expecting anything. X fans were still getting to know this band. They knew their song “Ghost” was a roller-coaster of emotions lyrically, and musically, the song was simply connecting on a big scale. What the fans witnessed on stage was pure magic and raw emotion. BADFLOWER performed one of the best sets of the entire weekend. Lead singer and guitarist Josh Katz wailed, and put everything in to his performance. Amazing vocals, pure emotion. Excellent guitar work. He was living the lyrics in his songs. The band, led by Katz, lead guitarist Joey Morrow, bassist Alex Espiritu, and drummer Anthony Sonetti looked and sounded like seasoned professionals, not some young twenty-something band from L.A. Everyone went to the Church of BADFLOWER, and they were inspired, to say the least.
BADFLOWER had had one kick-ass year. Their album, “OK, I’m Sick”, has been one of the biggest and most enjoyable albums of the year. The new song, “The Jester”, might be the best song on the album. A great year, which begs the question, “Is Badflower the BEST new band of 2019??” You Peoria Rockers have certainly drank the Kool-Aid. You are begging for them to return. The band is selling out everywhere, and they are gaining new legions of fans every week. One of you X Rockers said to me that night at Spring Fling, “Dude, he reminds me of Cobain up there!” High praise, for sure. But yes, there are similarities. These guys are real, no fake pretentiousness, the lyrics are real life, the music is stout and performed with raw passion. I’m a fan, and I can’t wait to see what they have for us next. And yes, if it plays in Peoria, it will play ANYWHERE. Which is why were the greatest Rock city in AMERICA. OK, Badflower, you can come back now, K??
-Mattie
