- Live Reviews
Highly Suspect Ignites Valentine’s Day with a Fiery Performance at House of Blues Orlando
- February 16, 2025
On Friday, February 14th, Highly Suspect made their way to the House of Blues in Orlando, FL, for a Valentine’s Day special that had couples and music lovers alike flocking to the venue. It didn’t take long for the crowd to feel the electric atmosphere that only a Highly Suspect show can bring.
As the opening tunes played, front-man Johnny Stevens danced his way onto the stage with bassist Rich Meyer, drummer Ryan Meyer, guitarist Matt Kofos, and synthesizer Mark Schwartz, greeting the crowd with his signature charisma and welcoming them to a “very great Valentine’s Day special with Highly Suspect!”. It wasn’t long before the lights dimmed and the crowd erupted with excitement.
The night kicked off with an explosive start as the band dove headfirst into the high-octane opening of ‘Bath Salts’ with Johnny setting the stage on fire, leaping into the the air with every strum of his guitar, drawing the crowd into a frenzy.
The band goes on to play two more songs from their debut album: Claudeland’ and ‘Mom’, before transitioning into sultry rock song ‘Summertime Voodoo’ and ‘Plastic Boxes’ from their latest album ‘As above, so below’. As Johnny slowly sinks to the ground, the lights dim—the audience overflowing with anticipation— before soaring into the band’s hit single, ‘Lydia’, which sent the crowd bouncing off the walls, forming mosh pits, and crowd surfing from start to finish.
After the band’s electrifying performance of Lydia, all but one of the members leave the stage, making room for Rich Meyer’s solo performance of ‘Arizona’ before which he checks in with the crowd asking, “How we doing Orlando?” to which the crowd replies with a resounding cheer. The guitarist then goes on to perform the soulful blues-inspired song with an acoustic guitar, accompanied by warm lighting that perfectly complements the intimate, reflective mood of the performance.
As the song comes to a close, the rest of the band makes their way back to the stage to play ‘The Reset’—a grunge, atmospheric instrumental track— mellowing the crowd, allowing them to recoup their energy for what would be a blazing finale. The band then seamlessly transitions into ‘Vanity’—a dark, seductive track that blends elements of blues, rock, and gritty, sensual energy. Throughout the song, Johnny points to the crowd, prompting them to belt the lyrics. This is also where Johnny’s raspy vocals take center stage. As the song comes to an end, Johnny shouts, “Hands up if you had a good time this evening,” to which the crowd responds in kind before he expresses his gratitude stating, “Thank you guys so much for coming down. Thank you.”
Closing the night was “Pink Lullaby,” a stunning finale that had Johnny leading the audience in a hypnotic wave of hands as strobe lights pulsed through the chorus, amplifying the song’s intensity. Unexpectedly, Jeffrey Wells (otherwise known as Animal)—the band’s drum tech—joins Johnny on stage, the two trading screamo vocals that had the crowd going wild. As the final notes fade, Johnny leaves the crowd with a parting message: “Don’t let ‘em kill your vibe.” Repeating the phrase like a mantra, ensuring that the energy of the night would linger long after the last chord was struck.
From start to finish, Highly Suspect delivered an exhilarating, emotional, and sonically captivating experience. Whether it was the raw power of “Bloodfeather,” the hypnotic intimacy of “Vanity,” or the riotous closing of “Pink Lullaby,” the night was a testament to the band’s ability to turn a concert into something unforgettable. Orlando showed up, and Highly Suspect made sure they left with hearts pounding and ears ringing—just as a great rock show should.
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