Holy Wars at The Echoplex — Photo: Wes Marsala

Smoke Season, Kolars and Holy Wars give A+ performances at Echoplex

Last week at The Echoplex and presented by Play Like A Girl, Smoke Season headlined an evening of music that was supported by two sizzling acts. While we’ve covered Smoke Season’s compelling performance in the past, this was our first time catching newbies Kolars and Holy Wars. They fully impressed to say the least.

Holy Wars started the night off with their debut performance. Kat Leon and Nick Perez formally of Sad Robot have put the robot to bed and come up with a darker sound. Their new project is Holy Wars and it is quite good. Leon displays a bit of cat-like ferocity on stage and Perez shreds on the guitar. They have a new look too. Perez was usually pretty casual during the Sad Robot days, but at Holy Wars’ Echoplex gig, he came our dressed to impress in a black three-piece suit, while Leon donned a black cape and dark makeup. It was an enticing debut performance full of emotion and a lively mystique.

Kolars played in between the two bands. The husband / wife duo featuring Rob Kolar on the guitar and Lauren Brown on the drums are formerly of the glam-folk band He’s My Brother, She’s My Sister. They are without a doubt a rock ‘n’ roll band and it sounds a bit like you were taken back to the 50s, however there is a little twist; Brown brings some dope originality to the drums. She set up two floor toms, a snare, a single symbol, and she stood on a bass drum and wore tap shoes. Yes, she taps while drumming. She is creating beats from every limb! Her whole body moves but her head for the most part stays in one spot with an intense focus. It was really awesome to see. Kolar is fantastic on the guitar; his vocals and looks really bring that rock ‘n’ roll feel home.

If you see any of these bands on a bill, you need to jump on the opportunity to see them live.

Holy Wars perform at The Hi Hat on March 7 as support for Night Talks March residency. Also on the bill, Lauren Ruth Ward! This is an exceptional lineup of fierce female leads, AND this show’s free!

Words & Photography: Wes Marsala