Photos and review by DONNA BALANCIA
PHILADELPHIA – Des Rocs played true Rock N Roll Saturday night to the thrill of the fans, some of whom even traveled halfway around the world to see their beloved performer and talented songwriter. On a rainy evening at the Fillmore’s side room, The Foundry, Des Rocs burst on stage and assuredly justified the devotion of his diverse admirer base. Those as young as 20 and upwards of 50 were equally electrified by this wildly energetic performer.
Des Rocs, AKA Danny Rocco, accompanied by curly coiffed and driving bassist Eric Mendelsohn, and tight drummer extraordinaire William Tully, brought the big sound and power to a room full of modern rockers looking for their Rock N Roll fix. Those in attendance got what they came for, as Des Rocs tore it up, with fans singing along, yelling out their favorite songs, crying, laughing and celebrating their long-awaited show.
“The last time I saw Des Rocs was at The Troubadour in LA,” said Amy, who was planning a relocation to the East Coast from Los Angeles, where, she said, the high rent is pushing her out.
“Des Rocs put on an amazing show at The Troubadour, and when I found out he was here, I had to come see him again,” she said. Another young woman and her friends traveled from the UK and others from NYC.
Jigsaw Youth, a popular, all-female hardcore band opened the night. It’s clear these women know their chops and the crowd alternately moshed and applauded the set. The wise-cracking Staten Islanders take the grunge-hardcore label and turn it on its pretty ear, with Maria Alvarez making funny quips and jovial banter while holding down the bass and lead vocals, Nastacha Beck was smiling away while ripping on guitar, and Alex Dmytrow kept the beat on drums. The band was a good primer for the headline act.
Rocco, garbed in black-and-white leather and sporting an Elvis-style pompadour, smirked, strutted and shook his way across the stage, immediately lifting The Foundry crowd to its collective feet, hands and phones in the air. While he admittedly is not crazy about the impact of technology, it’s clear there is a profound connection between Des Rocs and the audience.
Des Rocs’ latest album is Dream Machine (2023) and the NYC-based rocker and his two musician colleagues recently returned from Europe where the audiences were overwhelmingly enthusiastic. And it’s with good reason. Led by Rocco’s magnificent, almost-operatic voice and amazing lead guitar talent, along with relentless bass and mind-blowing drums, Des Rocs puts on a must-see, big-ticket show.
Read the US Rocker interview with Des Rocs here.
The US Tour was anticipated by his fans, some of whom have been following Des Rocs since the rocker set out on his own in 2019.
“He’s amazing; I’ve been following him since the beginning,” said Johnny, a fan who with a great voice, sang along with every Des Rocs word. “I’m happy he’s successful, I love him, I love his music, and he really inspires me.”
A Des Rocs show is a combination family reunion and Rock N Roll dance party. The original music and wild performances are reminiscent of a time not that long ago, when people weren’t afraid to enjoy themselves together – without cell phones.
That in-person connection between him and his audience is something Rocco feeds off, and he knows the audience loves it too.
“No screen can make you feel this way,” Rocco said. “And we should always stay present. Repeat after me, ‘Once a day I’ll try to be present.'”
The audience complied. Because for lovers of Rock N Roll, the music of Des Rocs is indeed the present.
Check out the music of Des Rocs here:
Check out the music of Jigsaw Youth here:
