If comic book nerds and movie aficionados can have their con(vention) days, why can’t local metal bands?
So was the logic of Fitzgerald’s and its staff during the San Antonio bar’s inaugural Rock-A-Con on Saturday night.
And there wasn’t a cover song in sight.
The brainchild of Fitzgerald’s owner Sharon Perkins and her S.A.A.O.M.T. (San Antonio All Original Musical Talent) showcase that frequently spotlights just what it implies, Saturday’s one-day conventional gathering featured seven local and/or area artists of various styles.
Beginning at 4 p.m. and lasting till the final note just after 12:15 a.m. by The Broken Page, the event enabled the artists to show up as early as they wanted but not just hawk their merch tables. It allowed them to take time to get (re)acquainted, network and support one another through checking out each other’s sets and exchanging info if so desired.
But the real winners were those who attended and checked out each artist. Seeing other non-performing artists support the scene as they frequently do, such as Even In Death vocalist Sean Nations and former The Taking vocalist Alan Lozano and The Taking drummer Daniel Ross, was also a highlight and an indication of what the night was all about.
Kicking off at 5:30 p.m. with Rufus Rufasu’s High Stakes and followed by locals Dark Sky Ordinance then Pavilion, those three groups warmed things up with brief but rockin’ 20-minute sets. Although the changeovers between the three bands were 40 minutes (that’s twice as long as their sets for you non-math majors), each group made the most of its allotted time and can be checked out below via ATM’s exclusive footage.
Following Kerrville natives Pavilion playing their first show in San Antonio, the four featured acts ensued with 45-minute sets that included more aesthetically pleasing 15-20 minute intermissions.
The first of the four was The Night Miles, a local supergroup of sorts consisting of members of Van Cronk, Napoleon Machine Gun, Bone China and The Maplehelm that quickly exhibited a separation of the men from the boys.
The energy then shifted in a big way with Nikoli and local favorites Rebel Angels.
Nikoli formed in 2021 in Las Vegas but is now splitting its homebase in San Antonio. The quartet fronted by RB Arredondo is getting close to releasing its full-length debut The Outcome and showcased nine of the 10 tracks on the album before time cut short the live version of “I Won’t Bleed Again,” the studio version of which features Lita Ford guitarist/vocalist and San Antonio native Patrick Kennison, whose own band Heaven Below returns to Fitzgerald’s on Aug. 28 with Nikoli in tow.
Wanna bet the house they’ll jam together on that one next month?
To tide you over, take in Nikoli’s high-octane performances of “Heist” and “Rising from the Dead” below.
Rebel Angels, meanwhile, has been making its mark throughout the city since 2022, releasing a plethora of rockin’ singles along the way.
Mauricio Adan has been atop the local scene’s collection of heavy metal and hard rock vocalists for nearly two decades whether you’ve heard or seen him in other all-original outfits such as Down Generation, sharing the stage with the late Manowar co-founder and guitarist Ross “The Boss” Friedman in 2013 as part of the Manowar tribute Blood Of My Enemies or in tribute acts devoted to Bon Jovi, Def Leppard and other cover outfits.
Watch Adan, guitarist Gabe Jimenez, bassist Stan Martinez and drummer Bob Rulez below via ATM footage of “Sucka for You” and “High as a Devil.”
The night ended with The Broken Page showcasing its own brand of metal. Frontwoman Ali was the only female musician on stage among the seven artists and she, along with members of her band, Nikoli and Dark Sky Ordinance deserve a special shout-out for being at the Rock-A-Con from beginning to end.
Watch the alums of the 2023 Chancla Fest below on “I Lie.”
For a city and music scene that leans heavily on cover and tribute bands, the S.A.A.O.M.T. is a breath of fresh air for those who appreciate local musicians creating their own form of expression in the hope of taking their group to new heights that’ll help put San Antonio back on the national map with the likes of Nothing More and Upon A Burning Body.
Sure, the overwhelming majority of those taking in the music were friends, wives and family of those on stage. But as is the case with each of the artists on hand, the Rock-A-Con has now officially had its own starting point. And there’s only room for growth — and more Texas-styled Rock N’ Roll — from here.