Innings Festival
March 3, 2019
Tempe, Arizona
We first saw Grammy nominated The Record Company (TRC) when they opened for Bob Seger at Talking Stick Arena in Phoenix on February 15, 2019. We were totally impressed and blown away by the energy and amazing sound that Chris Vos, (vocals, guitar, harmonica) Alex Stiff, (Bass, vocals, harmonica) and Marc Cazorla (drums, vocals) produced during their way to brief 30-minute set. They were the perfect band to open for the veteran Seger who, at 73, has not lost a step.
We were thrilled when the band announced that they would be back in town on March 3, 2019 to play Innings Festival at Tempe Beach Park. (Thanks to Madison for helping secure our photo credentials to the show!) This was an earlier than normal gig for any band (1:45pm) and they opened for the last time for Bob Seger the night before at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas so these guys must have been running on fumes. You would have never known they had a short night as their energy level was as if they had just come back from a few days off.
They opened with “Baby I’m Broken” which immediately got the ample crowd’s attention. I would describe TRC’s style as caffeinated/bluesy rock and roll with a great variety of lap steel guitar and harmonicas thrown in. Chris’s distinctive gravely, well-seasoned voice is perfect in front of Alex’s booming bass and Marc’s excellent drumbeats. They worked their way through a great setlist that included “Hard Day Coming Down”, “Make It Happen” and a personal favorite “Off The Ground”.
Many in the crowd arrived early to stake their spot for the Eddie Vedder concert later that evening but found themselves with a new favorite band to follow. TRC did not disappoint and gave the crowd a great show and set the tone for day 2 of Innings Festival 2019. We look forward to the The Record Company returning to the Valley of the Sun. You should definitely check out their tour schedule and find them in a city near you – this is one band that does not disappoint!
