HALLOWEEN HOOTENANNY: AMERICAN MONSTER with Guests ALURA and IMPERIAL TIDE at FREMONT COUNTRY CLUB LV

Updated: 5 days ago

Halloween in Las Vegas hits different. Between the neon glow of Fremont Street, the packed sidewalks of costumed chaos, and the low rumble of bass echoing through downtown; it’s a night when the strange becomes normal and loud becomes necessary. For American Monster, it was the perfect setting for their return debut show, a hometown launch on one of the wildest nights of the year.

As a relatively new transplant to Vegas, I’ve been looking for that one local show that truly captures the city’s raw underground energy. This one did it. You could feel it before the first band even took the stage, the buzz of anticipation, the smell of beer and stage fog mixing in the air. The Halloween Hootenanny wasn’t just a concert; it was a collision of sound, sweat, and celebration that reminded everyone why local music scenes matter.

Imperial Tide hit first, and they didn’t ease anyone into the night. These Vegas locals came out swinging faces painted black and white in true corpse-paint fashion, looking like a death metal gang straight out of a nightmare. The second vocalist Landon Hill shouted, “Get the fuck up here!” chaos ignited. The pit opened instantly, fans dove in, and the Fremont Country Club floor transformed into a warzone. Somewhere in the middle of it, a Jedi joined the fray with a blue lightsaber, and even a few older fans got knocked down and came up smiling.

That’s the thing about Imperial Tide: they demand participation. Whether you wanted to or not, you were part of their set. Drummer Russel Schoenbeck and Hill helped carry the performance, keeping it tight and commanding from start to finish. Their sound was massive thick riffs, snapping snares, and crowd-baiting aggression that felt authentic. Tracks like "Cost of Living", "King of the Gutter", and "Off the Leash" hit especially hard, while "R.A.T." and "Slip" brought the room to a full boil. It wasn’t about perfection, it was about power, and they had it in spades.

Before wrapping their set, the band took a moment to thank Tyler Burgess and American Monster for inviting them to share the stage on such an important night. It was a small but genuine gesture that showed the mutual respect between Vegas musicians, one band helping another rise, not compete. More on Imperial Tide HERE.

When Alura took the stage, the energy shifted but never dropped. Blue lighting bathed the room, fog rolled across the floor, and the band’s Beetlejuice-themed outfits set the perfect Halloween tone. If Imperial Tide was chaos, Alura was control methodical, moody, and emotionally rich. Their frontman Taylor Adsit had impressive range, slipping effortlessly between haunting clean vocals and heavier, distorted tones. It’s easy to compare them to Deftones or Wage War, but Alura’s sound feels distinct, less imitation and more interpretation.

The crowd was right there with them, hanging on every dynamic shift. There was even a mid-set moment where the pit transformed into a slow-dance floor during a softer track it had couples swaying where minutes earlier fists were flying. That’s range.

Every member of Alura pulled their weight. Bassist Ryan Avery's groove carried the slower tracks, the guitar of Andrew Guerrero shimmered under the fog, and drummer Parker Adsit stitched it all together with precision. Their setlist from "Counterfeit" and "Disciple" to "The Bell Witch", "Belize", and "Lowlands" built perfectly from brooding to explosive.

Before leaving the stage, Alura also made sure to thank Tyler and American Monster for allowing them to be part of the debut a classy touch that added warmth to an already electrified night. "The Bell Witch " stood out as a highlight eerie, beautiful, and perfect for the season. By the end of their set, it felt less like a performance and more like a séance. If they keep performing like this, Alura could easily become one of Vegas’s next breakout acts. More on Alura HERE.

When the house lights dimmed again and American Monster’s curtain dropped, the reaction was instant. The roar from the crowd told the story, this was who they came to see.

Led by (former Falling in Reverse bassist) Tyler Burgess, American Monster came out swinging with a confidence that didn’t feel like a debut. Backed by Jerry Lee on drums and guitarist Jordan Griffin and Danny Maldonado on bass, the band wasted no time showing why they’ve been buzzing in the local scene. Their sound blends heavy guitars, industrial undercurrents, and melodic hooks all anchored by Tyler’s commanding presence and emotional intensity.

From the first riff of their new single "Welcome Home", the crowd was in their hands. Tyler worked the stage like the pro he is, connecting with fans by name, pointing out familiar faces, and even stopping mid-set to ask where everyone had come from. When he found out that some fans had flown in all the way from Australia just to see the show, he did something rare handed them free merch as a thank-you. That kind of gesture goes a long way, and the audience loved it.

There were a few rough moments with the mic either from technical issues or maybe Tyler pushing his voice to its limits, but it never broke the flow. If anything, it showed his grit. He never once looked frustrated, never lost focus. Even when the sound dropped out, you could still hear him belting through the mix that’s raw vocal power. The crowd noticed, and the cheers only got louder.

Set highlights included "We Die Young", a moody and heavy track that set a dark tone, and "Haunt Me", which ended with a brutal breakdown straight out of "Domination." The band’s chemistry was clear tight musicianship, controlled chaos, and genuine enjoyment of the moment. Their cover of "Bark at the Moon "was pure Halloween fan service, but it worked perfectly, sending everyone into overdrive. Even with a few audio hiccups during "BloodFeather", the band powered through and closed strong with "Death Rattle" leaving no doubt that American Monster isn’t just another Vegas band: they’re a force coming up fast. Keep up on this rising band and new music HERE and HERE.

FINAL THOUGHTS...

The Halloween Hootenanny felt like a declaration. It wasn’t just about one band’s return debut it was about Vegas staking its claim again as a breeding ground for heavy music that still values community, passion, and performance.

Imperial Tide brought the heat. Alura brought the emotion. And American Monster brought it all together raw, refined, and unfiltered.

What stood out most was the camaraderie. Both opening acts took time to thank Tyler Burgess for allowing them to be part of the show, a rare and genuine moment that captured the spirit of the night. You could feel the respect flowing both ways; bands supporting bands, fans cheering for all of them equally, and everyone walking out of Fremont Country Club knowing they’d just witnessed the start of something special.

This was a Halloween night that delivered everything it promised: heavy riffs, sweaty pits, and a reminder that Vegas is more than casinos and neon. It’s a city with a pulse and American Monster just gave it a heartbeat.

4.5 out of 5 Battle Jackets.

Rocky Kessenger / Through The Meta; Lens Photography

AMERICAN MONSTER Photos Rocky Kessenger / Through The Metal Lens Photography