October 9th, 2024, is a night that will be etched into the minds of those in attendance for a long time to come. When the grunge-inspired quintet Wilt and the Mexican sister powerhouse trio The Warning stepped onto the SOLD OUT, Bellwether stage, something special happened—rock music felt alive, pulsing, and dripping with fresh energy. It was as if the genre had thrown off its dusty old clothes, found a leather jacket, and sprinted back into the room with a vengeance.
First up was Wilt, the Los Angeles-based five-piece that looked like they’d stepped out of a dingy Seattle basement in ‘94—except they didn’t sound like it. Grunge influences were all there, but Wilt managed to inject it with just enough new blood to sound relevant and exciting. Chelsea Rifkin’s flowing black dress and 6” platform boots set the tone, their lead singer, greeted the crowd with a laid-back, “Hey, what’s up, LA?!” before they launched into “She Wants Me Too.” And let me tell you, that track does not lie. Aaron Liebman and Andrew Perrea’s guitars churned like gears in a machine, grinding out some of the heaviest riffs I’ve heard this side of Soundgarden. But there’s something more nimble about Wilt. This wasn’t just a nostalgia trip. Next up, “Bite My Tongue” followed with more of that signature Wilt sound—dirty but polished, rugged yet with a sheen that could fill arenas. Rifkin’s voice was both powerful and restrained, a bit like a Harley revving its engine but never quite tearing down the street. You knew there was plenty of horsepower left under the hood. The standout moment of the set came with “Gwen,” their debut single, which started slow, almost haunting, as Dan Bermudez laid down some intricate fills on the drums, before exploding into a full-on sonic assault. It was here that Rifkin’s vocals truly shined—melodic yet razor-edged, soft but with the threat of a scream lurking just underneath. By the time they closed with an unreleased track that hinted at even bigger things to come, the room was packed, and the crowd’s energy had shifted from casual to fully invested. It was clear that Wilt had done their job, setting the stage perfectly for what was to follow.
WILT:
Chelsea Rifkin – vocals
Aaron Liebman – guitar
Andrew Perrea – guitar
Jake Shpiner – bass
Dan Bermudez – drums
WILT SETLIST:
1. She wants me too
2. Bite my tongue
3. Bundy
4. Dent
5. Moved along
6. You’re the one to blame
7. Gwen
The Warning: Rock’s New Queens Have Arrived
The Warning might have only been in their 20s, but when they took the stage, they looked like seasoned pros—and, well, they are. After all, they’ve been playing together since they were practically still in diapers. The Villarreal sisters—Daniela, Paulina, and Alejandra—came out swinging with “S!CK,” and from the very first note, the Bellwether was theirs. There’s a raw, almost primal energy to their performances that can only come from siblings who know each other’s moves inside and out. Every beat, every riff was tight, yet there was an organic quality to it, like it was just bursting out of them. This is a band on the verge of exploding into huge stadiums.
“CHOKE” came next, a hard-hitting anthem from their earlier days, and it was here that the crowd really started losing it. Paulina on drums is an absolute beast—her frenetic energy driving the song while Daniela’s vocals soared above it all. But make no mistake, Alejandra’s groovy basslines held it all together, giving the sound that perfect balance between fury and finesse. Alejandra has a trademark move where she drops down like a leopard about to pounce, and it’s so electric. Then, came “Qué Más Quieres,” a moment that electrified the room. The majority of the crowd sung along in Spanish, as LA is a hotbed of Latin Music Culture, for those that didn’t know the lyrics, it didn’t matter. The urgency and emotion in the song transcended language. It was pure energy, and the audience ate it up, bouncing to every note like they were in a trance. The Warning played like a band that knows they are on the cusp of something massive but hasn’t forgotten to have fun with it. Their setlist was a smorgasbord of their catalog, with newer tracks like “Automatic Sun” and “Six Feet Deep” showcasing their ever-evolving sound, while fan-favorites like “MORE” and “MONEY” had the entire room belting the lyrics right back at them.
“Hell You Call a Dream” and “Martirio” were late-set highlights, the former with its dreamy, almost haunting vibe before morphing into a sonic bulldozer, and the latter bringing the night to an emotional crescendo. But it was the encore, the volcanic duo of “Narcisista” and “EVOLVE,” that sealed the deal. Paulina once again took center stage, showing off her dual skills as both drummer and vocalist, while the final number sent the crowd into a frenzy. She is electric I can’t say enough.
As the last notes echoed through the Bellwether, it felt like a statement: Rock is not only alive and well, but it’s thriving. The Warning and Wilt are leading the charge, and if you haven’t caught them yet, you better get on board. The future is looking bright, and, dare I say, loud. Their new LP Keep Me Fed dropped in June and if the music gods are fair, they should shine a Grammy Spotlight on them in the US as they are already nominated for Rock Song of the year for “Qué Más Quieres” for the Latin Grammy Awards.
If this was any indication of what’s to come, rock fans better prepare themselves—because The Warning just might be the next band to conquer the world.
THE WARNING:
Daniella Villarreal Vélez – Guitar, Vocals
Paulina Villarreal Vélez – Drums
Alejandra Villarreal Vélez – Bass
THE WARNING SETLIST:
1. S!CK
2. CHOKE
3. Six Feet Deep
4. Qué Más Quieres
5. Satisfied
6. Escapism
7. Burnout
8. MORE
9. MONEY
10. Consume
11. DISCIPLE
12. Sharks
13. Hell You Call a Dream
14. Automatic Sun
15. MARTIRIO
ENCORE:
16. Narcisista
17. EVOLVE
FOLLOW THE WARNING ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
FOLLOW WILT ON SOCIAL MEDIA:
