Grey Daze - It's all for Chester!!!

***2/3
A fitting tribute to a Alternative Rock legend

Grey Daze ***2/3 was the original band from Chester Bennington (Linkin Park), who sadly is not with us anymore. The group is paying tribute to the life of Chester, on their current 'ForYouChester' tour. Which hit the great venue of the Garage, in Highbury, London, UK. Chester always did interesting work with all the bands he has been in, one of which he did with members of Orgy / Julien-K called Dead by Sunrise. An act that I still listen to, and who re-released their album 'Out of Ashes' for Record Store Day.  I have to say I didn't know much about the music of Grey Daze, other than the hits 'B12' and 'Soul Song'. I listened alot to Nu-Metal in the 2000's, but Grey Daze where never a band that I had heard much about. So I was looking forward to hearing a bit more, and seeing what they could produce live.

Apparently the band where going to reunite, to complete an album entitled 'Amends', just before Chester Bennington tragically took his own life. An event that shook the whole Alternative Rock / Metal World, with so many tributes coming from Worldwide... and still pouring in now. The band took to the stage and broke into a track called 'Saturation', and you realised this is a band that really wants to impress. With new singer Cris Hodges trying his hardest to do justice to Chester's voice and memory, performing the songs in a way that he would have liked. The haunting melodies going round the room, to set the scene for the evenings proceedings. One of the song that impressed me, was 'She Shines', with it's Thirty seconds to Mars esq. balance and distinctive guitars.

You wonder why more people have not heard of this band, because they have some really good songs. And you do wonder if Chester hadn't joined Linkin Park, if the band would have made it in the end to the big stage. What's great about Grey Daze is that they can change the tempo, so one minute they are uptempo, and the next moment they are showing emotion. This is shown best on the track 'In Time', which is beautiful in every way. I have to say it wasn't the tracks that I had already heard that impressed me the most, which was a nice surprise because you don't find that very often. And I will be checking more into their catalog of songs, because they did impress me.

Even though at times I think they need something a little bit more, that will take them to the next stage. But I think Grey Daze have opened a new book, and starting a new chapter. They will always have Chester in their hearts, he will not be forgotten. And the music they make will be noticed more and more, and I think they will gather new fans once they have been heard. Because the guitar work is great, and really unique and haunting. And the way they deliver the songs is really professional. So watch this space for more news on Grey Daze, and we look forward to reviewing the new material.

Photos by James Gibbons and Review by Michael Bennett

Grey Daze - Setlist
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Saturation (Strange Love)
Here, Nearby
She Shines
Just like Heroin (A little Down)
Wake Me
Hole
Sometimes
The Down Syndrome
In Time
Anything, Anything (I'll give You) (Dramarama cover)
Morei Sky
Drag
Soul Song
Starting to Fly (with Georgia Casey)
Sickness
B12

Check Out! the Video for 'B12' Below...