Hail the Sun
By Rob McCune

Summer heat came early to Cleveland with a tour stop by Californian prog-rock, post-hardcore Hail the Sun, supported by Cincinnati’s own Foxy Shazam and a pair of rock bands out of the Sunshine State – Makari and Resilia.

Six-piece Resilia, led by vocalist Daisy Chamberlin (formerly of the band I Met a Yeti), is touring its debut album, “By a Thread,” though the band has been performing since 2022 and has confidently found its progressive niche with emotionally charged vocals and intricate guitar-led power anthems.

Fronted by energetic vocalist Andy Cizek, who led a revival of the Orlando-based project when he joined in 2018, Makari threw down with powerful medleys off their two albums, including the latest, 2024’s “Wave Machine,” in a set that sparked a firestorm in the crowd at Cleveland’s Globe Iron.

Foxy Shazam then turned that heat up to a vigorous boil with a performance that would not be contained. The band, who was featured in the HBO/DC series “Peacemaker,” is led by vocalist Eric Nally, who brings real Freddie Mercury (Queen) energy and style to the stage. Sky White on keys, Alex Nauth on trumpet, Misster Universe on bass, Devin Williams on guitar and drummer Teddy Aitkins round out this circus tent of spectacular, high-wire rockers. The vibe is equal parts classic glam rock and progressive, new-wave alternative. And it never slows down.

Teed up perfectly, Hail the Sun set off a solar flare of its own, with frontman and vocalist Don Melero seemingly at war with the celestial, thrusting his mic stand skyward and belting out supercharged lyrics. Melero walked a kind of catwalk at the front of the stage, backed by Shane Gann and Aric Garcia on guitars, bassist John Stirrat and Allen Casillas on the drum kit. The fans provided backing vocals, singing along on many of the tracks.

Wrapping up a U.S. tour in Alaska this spring, Hail the Sun next heads to the Land Down Under, Australia, for a handful of shows this summer.

Follow Rob McCune on Instagram (@Every_Thing_After_Photo) and listen to the “Every.Thing.After Podcast” on Spotify.