Grosh grows

Grosh keeps evolving.

Grosh has been around since 2018 as an original hard rock band.

Every time I see the Grace-Lougen-led quartet play I wonder when the big break is coming. If Greta Van Fleet can find airplay and commercial success, surely Grosh can.

Saturday at The Sportsmen’s Tavern we heard something different. Megan Brown seems more emotionally connected to the music than she used to be, somehow freer and more confident. Her tone was richer.

Josh English and Dylan Hund on drums and bass were as tight as ever.

It’s hard not to run out of superlatives for Lougen. She might be the most talented rock guitarist currently playing Western New York. She is kind, gentle and fierce with guitar in hand.

One thing she did Saturday I had never seen before. It was only 30 seconds or so, but she double-hand tapped on the fretboard Eddie Van Halen style.

Van Halen didn’t invent the technique but certainly brought it to the fore with “Eruption” back in the 80s. Seeing Lougen even dabble in that technique is incredible. The evolution of a guitarist from always playing with a pick to never using one and then going to that advanced technique is incredible.

A few months ago the band traveled to Texas to record a new album. Lougen told us before the show there are two songs left to be mixed but the release is coming.

Diyene opened, appearing at the Sportsmen’s for the first time. I did not catch the lead singer’s name but particularly enjoyed the emotion of “Good Neighbors” a song about people gone too soon. Dave Riffel from the Niagara Arts and Cultural Center was on bass.