Concert season this summer has been oddly slow in the Boise, Idaho, part of the world. Usually, the summer is full of entertainment, but this year fell kind of flat. Thankfully, The Sword broke that boring streak with a show that had me buzzing for days. I will admit, I have been a fan of this band since Age of Winters, almost 20 years ago, where I saw them live at the Blues Bouquet for all of $5. Every time they strolled into Boise, I was quick to go and watch the magic they brought, every performance. When they went on hiatus, my heart about shattered, so this comeback tour representing the Warp Riders album made my soul sing. I was ready to witness this incredible band another time.
On August 25th, 2025, at The Knitting Factory Boise, my son, friends, and I arrived, excited to finally see a show. Starting the night was a trio band, Pink Fuzz. This band was an impactful way to start the night with a doom/sludge kind of sound. Based out of Colorado, I learned this band is led by a brother and sister, which made it that much more amazing. John Demitro (guitar, vocals), LuLu Demitro (vocals, bass), Will Trafas (drums) had a lot of engaging and entertaining energy with very catchy and impressive riffs. John, dressed to the nines with two side braids and a trucker cap, was highly captivating with his unique performance style, glorious soloing, and engaging vocals. LuLu presented with a haunting kind of vocal style and relaxed air around her. All three musicians were enticing and enjoyable to watch.
Second, Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol swept the stage. I will be honest, it took me about three tries to say that band name before I finally mastered it. It is a mouthful, but they are worth every syllable. This crazy band out of Austin, Texas, was a sight to see and hear. Another three-piece band, Leo Lydon (vocals, guitar), Sean St. Germain (drums, backing vocals), and Aaron Metzdorf (bass, backing vocals), were just as bizarre as their name, but in the best way. I automatically heard a Primus-type vocal style of Les Claypool, but with a twist. Lydon and his 8-string guitar produced some fuzzy riffs, Metzdorf demonstrated some serious aerobatics with kicks, lunges, squats, and everything in between. It was difficult to look away from him. I hope he stretches every show. Germain maintained high energy throughout. These guys were a hoot and extremely impressive.
The main event was about to take place, and the Knitting Factory erupted with anticipation. Out walked the quartet out of Austin, Texas, John D. Cronise (guitar, vocals), Kyle Shutt (guitar, backing vocals), Bryan Richie (bass, backing vocals), and Santiago “Jimmy” Vela III (drums). The Sword has made monumental waves since their debut album, and you could tell this crowd was out of their mind to witness this anomaly of a stoner rock band. Since they were on the Warp Riders album tour, the light show appeared to take on a space-type effect. Darker ambiance with bright light colors beneath the drum stand. The color scheme brought many blues, reds, yellows, greens, and purples to make the experience more eccentric and “spacey”. The entire band brought their A game, with strong energy and that remarkable jam band quality we have come to love about them. One of the more notable events of the night was their remake of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity”, which was haunting and breathtaking. I videoed it and have gone back to watch it multiple times. They also played crowd favorites, “Cloak of Feathers” and “Tres Brujas”, and of course, “Freya”. It was like they hadn’t missed a beat; they were just as profound as the first time I saw them, and all the times in between. Cronise’s vocals were on point, Richie had that same fun swagger he has always presented, Vela III beat the shit out of those drums, and Shutt killed it with his stage performance and always exceptional guitar riffs and solos.
If you have never taken the chance to allow The Sword to enchant you, I encourage you to change that. I wish I could easily put into words what they have to offer as a live show, but alas, I will just inspire you to check them out for yourself so you can understand why they are selling out everywhere and why they are so special. This writer will continue to hold them near and dear to my ears, my sight, and my heart.
Here are some amazing photos from our prodigious Katarzyna Cepek.
