Memphis metal mainstays Dawn Patrol kick off their summer tour with a show this Thursday night at the Hi-Tone. The band will be heading out on a West Coast tour that sees them playing 14 shows in 16 days, heading as far west as Los Angeles before trekking through Arizona and into Texas. The band will also dip down into Florida on this relatively short tour, putting thousands of miles behind them in the process.
Since forming in 2012, Dawn Patrol have become one of the flagship bands representing the Memphis metal scene, and this will be the first time that Tommy Gonzales and company take their thrash metal to the left coast. The band should be more than capable of winning new fans over, as Gonzales is already an experienced thrasher after filling in on a European tour with New Jersey’s Condition Critical.
Don Perry
Dawn Patrol
“I’ve always wanted to play out there because it’s new ground for us to touch as a band. There’s a lot of music going on out that way, so if we can gain a new fan base, that would be great. Plus, a California summer vacation sounds legit,” Gonzales said.
Co-headlining on Thursday night with Dawn Patrol is Classhole, the latest project from New Orleans club owner/metal enthusiast Matt “Muscle” Russell. Classhole feature members of the legendary Eyehategod and the band Mountain of Wizard, but there’s more allegiance to ’80s hardcore punk than sludge/stoner metal to be found in Classhole’s music. The band is currently on tour throughout the East Coast, with Thursday’s gig being the last show of a short, eight-day run.
Rounding out the bill is Hauteur, a Memphis band that recently released their debut EP. Hauteur should have copies of the cassette-only EP this Thursday, but the tape is also available online. Hard Charger was originally on the bill but have since dropped off.