BASH FEST January 18th-20th 2017 Yost Theate
Review by Staci Amend; pictures by Alex Kluft
The Tichy/Sutton Production, a masterfully put together three day all-star event that features three tributes to RUSH, The late Randy Rhoads of OZZY OSBOURNE & QUIET RIOT and John Bonham of LED ZEPPELIN bringing together some of music’s most prolific artists that come together to pay tribute to their rock heroes for three days of music and mayhem. This long running event is the highlight of NAMM it brings together both musicians and fans to literally hang and celebrate the great music of these Legends.
Wednesday, January 18th Bash fest kicked off with A Farewell to Kings-A salute to 4 decades of Rush music at the Yost Theater in Downtown Santa Ana.
Brian Tichy and producing partner Joe Sutton put on the Bash Fest every year at NAMM. This event has been growing over the years into a monster production. Needless to say, the multi-talented Brian Tichy who puts it all together also plays in the shows with a rotating cast of amazing and talented players makes this more than just a tribute show. A Farewell To Kings kicked off the Bash with house band Walter Ino from SURVIVOR on guitars, Francesco DiCosmo from THIN LIZZY and MONTROSE on bass/vocals with Jonathan Sindlelman of ALAN WHITE/ KEITH EMERSON on keyboards.
Playing some of RUSH’s biggest hits as well as deeper cuts the band just killed it! The talented guests of players included Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall), Andy Galeon, Jimmy Keegan, drums. The guitar talents of Marzi Montazeri (Heavy as Texas/Phil Anselmo), Phil Demmel(Machine Head) just shredded the songs! Singer Chas West (Resurrection Kings/Bonham) did a blistering vocal on “Temples Of Syrinx” a highlight of the night! “Bastille Day”, “2112 Overture”,”Working Man” as well as over 2 ½ hours of Rush music with Francesco DiCosmo nailing Geddy Lee vocals and bass. A must see show and a great start to 3 days of music. A total all-star cast of talent led by Tichy who himself is one of the most talented out there playing those drums he completely becomes part of the instrument playing with such precision and perfection his heroes would be proud. Thanks to Brian and Joe Sutton for continuing to put on these shows filled with great music and great talent.
A FAREWELL TO KINGS SET LIST
10:15 A FAREWELL TO KINGS – HOUSE BAND ONLY
(FRANCESCO “COSMO” DiCOSMO / WALTER INO / JONATHAN SINDELMAN)
10:22 SPIRIT OF RADIO – HOUSE BAND
10:29 SUBDIVISIONS – HOUSE BAND
10:37 BASTILLE DAY / DRUM SOLO – JIMMY KEEGAN (SPOCK’S BEARD) DRUMS
– KOKO POWELL (EDGAR WINTER) BASS
10:46 ANTHEM / DRUM SOLO – ANDY GALEON (DEATH ANGEL) DRUMS
– MARZI MONTAZERI (HEAVY AS TEXES/ PHIL ANSELMO) (GTR)
10:56 WITCH HUNT- HOUSE BAND
11:02 YYZ/ DRUM SOLO – HOUSE BAND
11:14 LIMELIGHT – KOKO POWELL (BASS AND VOX)
11:21 VITAL SIGNS / DRUM SOLO – ANDRES FORERO (HAMILTON)
11:31 NATURAL SCIENCE – JASON BITTNER – DRUMS
(Shadows Fall/ Flotsam and Jetsam)
11:40 A PASSAGE TO BANGKOK / DRUM SOLO – JASON BITTNER
11:52 FREEWILL/ DRUM SOLO – JASON RULLO (SYMPHONY X) DRUMS
-PHIL DEMMEL (MACHINE HEAD) GTR
12:03 CLOSER TO THE HEART- HOUSE BAND
12:08 BROON’S BANE – SIR WALTER INO
12:10 THE TREES- HOUSE BAND
12:17 XANADU – HOUSE BAND
12:30 2112 OVERTURE – SHANE GAALAAS – DRUMS
(Yngwie Malmsteen / Michael Schenker / Diesel Machine)
12:35 TEMPLES OF SYRINX / DRUM SOLO –
Chaz West (Resurrection Kings / Bonham) VOX
12:44 WORKING MAN / DRUM SOLO – Seven Antonopoulos (Channel Zero) DRUMS
12:54 RED BARCHETTA / DRUM SOLO – Joe Travers (Zappa Vaultmeister)
1:04am HEMISPHERES PRELUDE / DRUM SOLO – Joe Bergamini- DRUMS
(Author/Co-Producer of Neil Peart’s
“Taking Center Stage” Book+DVD / Broadway / Happy the Man)
1:16am LA VILLA STRANGIATO – HOUSE BAND “CATCH THE SPIT”
1:27am TOM SAWYER – HOUSE BAND
ALEX LIFESON INTERVIEW from California Rock News last year:
CALIFORNIA ROCK NEWS 
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