Concert Preview: Bush at The Anthem

Any fan of anything grunge was surely thrilled when Bush announced their 2023 North American tour. Forming in 1992 in London, England, the band has been a force to be reckoned with. Some may recognize the name for their brief set at the infamous Woodstock ‘99 or just from their popular releases, such as  “Glycerine.” Gavin Rossdale has been the backbone of this band for its entirety on rhythm guitar with unmistakable lead vocals. Chris Traynor, Corey Britz, and Nik Hughes have stepped in to replace founding members, but they bring the same energy and grit to the stage that is the heart of their grunge legacy. 

In their 5 decades of music making, Bush has faced great success and steep challenges. Their debut album, Sixteen Stone, was not released by Hollywood Records as originally planned due to a lack of support, but Interscope Records eventually released the record in 1994. Sixteen Stone peaked at number 4 on Hotseekers and Billboard 200, and it also produced 2 Top 40 singles. The strong debut paved the way for Razorblade Suitcase, released in 1996, which reached number 1 in America. Legendary audio engineer Steve Albini was featured on Razorblade Suitcase, just three years after he worked with Nirvana on In Utero. The band proceeded to release The Science of Things (1999) and Golden State (2001), facing dwindling success. The band took a break from 2002 to 2010, pursuing other projects individually. Then, in 2010, Bush played it’s first show in 8 years, announcing a new album, The Sea of Memories, which came out in September of 2011. Founding members Nigel Pulsford and Dave Parsons were replaced by Chris Traynor and Corey Britz, but Bush picked up where it left off, with a single that hit No. 1 on Billboard Alternative song chart. They haven’t looked back since, releasing Man on The Run (2014), Black and White Rainbows (2017), The Kingdom (2020), and finally The Art of Survival (2022), bringing them to an impressive nine studio albums in total. 

Their newest release stays true to their post-grunge roots. In the face of rising commercialism and what seems like endless sell-outs, Bush has held their ground with a heavy album teeming with instrumental mastery and groove. Attendees of their upcoming tour should expect nothing less than an authentic post-grunge experience. 

Bush is being supported by Jerry Cantrell, Candlebox, and Devora on select dates as they tour behind their latest release, The Art of Survival. Bush will be performing with openers Candlebox and Devora at the Anthem on February 15, 2023 with doors at 6:30 and showtime at 8:00. Tickets are still available and can be purchased here or any I.M.P. venue box office.