Tom Morello is best known as being the incredible guitarist for Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave and Street Sweeper Social Club. When he’s not busy with those projects, he goes by “The Nightwatchman”.
Morello is a outspoken left-wing activist and this project is an outlet for his political beliefs if nothing else. Luckily, it’s backed by his amazing guitar work. The songs are folk-y at times, acoustic punk-y at others.
Seeing him live is where it all comes together. Backed by The Freedom Fighters Orchestra - a full band, The Nightwatchman is more than just an easily forgotten side project.
Songs from across the artist’s career are present, with tracks like “The Road I Must Travel” getting big responses. However, the occasional Rage Against the Machine riff here or there gets the crowd really moving.
Nothing is overly stunning until the cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “The Ghost of Tom Joad” is played. Wow. It’s about 8-minutes long and incredible the entire way through as Morello plays the guitar behind his head or with his teeth as he throws himself around the stage. The gimmicks really work for The Nightwatchman. The performance is a marvel. One of the true great guitarists of the generation, well deserving all of the attention.
Christian Voldstad
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