Hello Rockstars! Today’s Artist of the Week is Rose of Sharyn!
Here’s their story in their own words, Enjoy! 🙂
All Photo’s By: Valucis Media
VMS:
“When did you start performing your music,
what’s your backstory and current lineup.”
Rose of Sharyn:
Our current line up is:
Jay Shadows: Vox
Kai Ready: Guitar
Damian De Los Reyes: Guitar
Rob Holtzmann: Bass
Matt Sorrow: Drums
Jay Shadows: “I have been doing music for over 20 years since I joined the Air Force, it actually saved my life during a terrible divorce. I started in the Vegas music scene back in 2010 as the singer of a local band called In Shadows Embrace, due to military duty I had to moved years later. I am back again and now the singer for Haddonfield and Rose of Sharyn.”
Rob Holtzmann: “So about my backstory with Rose of Sharyn…
I’ve been playing guitar since I was 12, starting out in these hair metal bands around St. Louis – late 80s glam stuff, you know? Then I joined the Air Force which pulled me away from the band scene for a while.
I never really left music though – tried a few grunge bands when I returned, but then just shifted to production and DJing for years. It wasn’t until I moved to Las Vegas that I got the real itch again. I met Jay while he was singing for Haddonfield. Man, Jay and I just clicked right away. There was this musical chemistry between us that’s always there. I found myself really wanting to work with him, so I grabbed guitars and bass and started practicing seriously again.
When he mentioned Rose of Sharyn, I jumped at the chance to join. Our first show together was at The Dive Bar – talk about coming full circle! From playing in bands as a kid to stepping away and then finding my way back to the stage with someone I really connect with musically. It’s been awesome getting back into performing after focusing on the production side for so long. Definitely feels like I’m where I’m supposed to be!”
VMS:
“Why did you guys choose Killswitch Engage as the band of choice for you, how does their music inspire you guys and what does it mean to you.”
Rose of Sharyn:
Jay Shadows: “Killswitch has always been a band I respected and enjoyed listening to. I have always related to their music.”
Rob: “I joined this Killswitch tribute because, honestly, who wouldn’t want to crank out those iconic riffs every weekend? There’s nothing like watching a crowd lose their minds to “My Curse.” The technical challenge keeps our playing sharp, and those amazing Howard/Jesse choruses alongside Jay are pure energy. There’s really something special about honoring a band that shaped modern metal, when that breakdown hits and the pit opens up, it’s what metal is about!”
VMS:
“Which local artist would you like to work with and why.”
Rose of Sharyn:
Jay: “There are so many bands I would want to work with for originals, I would say locally, Body of Filth, Within Oblivion, Alura, to many to mention.”
Rob Holtzman: “I love the guys in my band, and I even when I start thinking about other projects, they are the first names that come to mind. Matt and I have a side project we are developing that we are excited about, and I was able to convince Haddonfield’s guitarist Crash to join in on the vision… So that is exciting. Other than that, we really love being on line ups with so many of Vegas’s best. I have a genuine love for anyone willing to get out there… It’s all love.”
VMS:
“Do you have a favorite song that you like to perform.”
Rose of Sharyn:
Jay: “Definitely “Rose of Sharyn” and in Haddonfield our newest song “Came for Blood”.
Rob: “My absolute favorite part of playing in this Killswitch tribute has to be crushing those heavier tracks! “Rose of Sharyn” just hits different live – the riffs are so satisfying to play, and I can’t help but kick up in the energy when we’re performing it. “Fixation on the Darkness” is another one that just gets me going every time. The intensity of that song that makes me feel like it could never be loud enough!
And of course “Holy Diver” – paying tribute to Dio through Killswitch’s version is like the best of both worlds! The crowd absolutely loses it when those first notes hit. You can see people nudging their friends like “oh shit, here it comes!” right before we dive into it. I’m a sucker for the heavier stuff – it’s where we can really let loose and feel that connection with both the band and the audience. Nothing beats that metal rush!”
VMS:
“Do you have any crazy or interesting stories from working in the music scene.”
Rose of Sharyn:
Jay: “So many, playing Extreme Thing was the biggest moment of my life and I hope to relive it someday. Coming out on the stage two giant pits and a sea of people took my breath away.”
VMS:
“What does the future hold for Rose of Sharyn.”
Rose of Sharyn:
Rob: “We’re just getting started! We have a lot of great shows on the horizon, playing the legendary Whiskey A Go-Go in May, the Fake New World Festival in April at the Bonfire, and a gig at Vamp’d coming up. We’re also really excited to start working some of Killswitch’s newer material into our set.
Their recent stuff has this amazing balance of heaviness and melody that we can’t wait to tackle.
The bigger picture is definitely about growing our audience. Every show we play, we’re seeing more faces, more energy, and more of that crazy metalhead passion that makes this all worthwhile. There’s nothing like watching a crowd absolutely lose their minds!
We just want to keep delivering those face-melting Killswitch anthems with as much intensity as possible.”
VMS:
“What do you want your audience to feel and experience at one of your live shows.”
Jay: “As a new cover vocalist, I have been conflicted I see cover bands play the music and not connect and others do. I can’t help it I want to connect to the audience and help them feel the music rather it be my cover band or my original band.”
Rob: “I want our audience to feel completely immersed – that mix of chaos and connection. When we’re firing on all cylinders, I want people forgetting about their problems for a couple hours, feeling the bass in their chest, and finding that release that only metal hits with. I want them screaming lyrics back at us, throwing down in the pit, I want everyone to walk away thinking, “That was exactly what I needed tonight.” It’s a shared experience where the line between band and audience disappears. It’s free, pure metal therapy, without having to go to a doctor’s office to feel better!”
Damian: “I want the audience to feel our excitement and love for performing/music. I want to be as visually appealing as the music itself. If i’m not sore for the next couple days than I didn’t give the audience what they deserved (lol) when you listen to music as high energy as us, I want the visual energy to match.”
VMS:
“What have been your personal pros and cons of being a band here in Las Vegas. What do you think the scene could improve on and what are your hopes for the future of the Vegas Music Scene.”
Jay: “The scene is great among artists but there is so much to do in Vegas so finding ways to get the word out to build larger audiences is hit or miss.”
Rob: “Cutting through the noise is always the challenge… Trying to get the word out when there are so many entertainment options is tough. But on the plus side, every gig we have played, the people on-stage and off have been amazing.”
VMS:
“Tell me about the awesome music festival on April 19th you have coming up at The Bonfire Las Vegas called the “Fake New World Festival“. How did this sick lineup come to fruition and what can we expect that night.”
Rose of Sharyn:
“WOW!!! You absolutely NEED to check out Fake New World Festival on April 19th at The Bonfire Vegas. Trust me, this is going to be insane – we’ve got killer tributes to Pearl Jam, Black Sabbath, Killswitch Engage (that’s us – Rose of Sharyn!), Mötley Crüe, Joan Jett, Tool, Paramore… seriously, the lineup is stacked!
Tickets are only $20 and that includes a free drink! You won’t find a better music bargain anywhere in Vegas, period. Where else can you experience this many legendary bands’ catalogs in one night for that price?
But the thing is – these tickets WILL SELL OUT.
The venue isn’t massive, and word is already spreading. So grab your tickets now through mobsceneshows.com or Eventbrite before you’re stuck watching everyone’s stories the next day wishing you’d been there!
If you love rocking out, head-banging and mixing it up with the Vegas Metal Family, this is your night. Come headbang with us – I guarantee it’ll be the most fun you can have for $20 in this town!”
Vegas Music Scene Thoughts:
What I love about Rose of Sharyn is actually the same thing I love about two other amazing cover bands here in town that I did an Artist of the Week on a while back called Funeral Haze and Darby O’Gill and the Little People. All of these bands have a huge love and passion for music that is truly palpable and make for a one of a kind experience for the audience. When I saw ROS at the Nocturnal Ambitions Music Festival I was blown away by their magnetic chemistry they have on stage as a band, and how their passion for what they do was truly magical and how wonderful they are as musicians. To me, music is one of the most beautiful and therapeutic things on the planet, and when I watched in awe and amazement the audience genuinely connecting with them, I knew they have something special.
And it honestly doesn’t matter to me if they would have performed original songs or Killswitch Engage’s music, because at the end of the day it’s making the audience connect and feel things they might not have ever felt before. That’s the wonderful power of music and that’s what Rose of Sharyn does so incredibly well. They send the crowd on a musical journey that is unrelenting, joyous, and an amazing night to remember. What I feel is also not talked about enough is how hard it is to be a cover band. You basically have to be as good or even better than the original artist, and that is no easy task and one that Rose of Sharyn does effortlessly. Their musicianship and vocals are definitely top tier.
I encourage you guys to not only see the sick band that is ROS, but also to support all the wonderful Cover bands Performing at “Fake New World” on April 19th at The Bonfire. It’s a killer lineup of some of the incredibly talented musicians Las Vegas has to offer and I personally have never seen a festival like this in our city, which is why I feel this night will be something very special and I know all of these incredibly solid bands are going to put on quite an amazing show for you.
I am proud to call Rose of Sharyn my Artist of the Week. They have such a huge passion for what they do, and I know will give you a wonderful experience you will never forget. 🙂
—–VMS