Review - Animals As Leaders @ Social Hall (12/17/16)

Tosin Abasi of Animals As Leaders (Photo: Kevin Keating)

Rising guitar virtuoso, Tosin Abasi, and his band, Animals As Leaders, absolutely destroyed SF’s Social Hall this past Saturday night as they closed out the US leg of their ‘Madness of Many Tour’. Opening for Animals was a set by Plini, an Australian guitarist backed by the Intervals, which also had their own time to shine shortly after Plini’s set. This was a night filled with pounding instrumental complex prog metal, and the sold-out crowd soaked up every minute of it.

Tosin Abasi of Animals As Leaders (Photo: Kevin Keating)

For those of you not already familiar with Animals As Leaders, the 3-piece progressive metal band was formed by Tosin in 2007 and released their most recent album The Madness of Many (iTunes) last month. Earlier this year, Tosin joined Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, Nuno Bettencourt, and Zakk Wylde for the Generation Axe tour, a collection of some of the best modern rock guitarists when they hit the Fox Theater in Oakland – you can read our review here.

Matt Garstka of Animals As Leaders (Photo: Kevin Keating)

But Saturday night was an exploration into the depths of prog metal, and a master class was given by Tosin, Javier Reyes (also on guitar, but doing most of the bass lines), and Matt Garstka on drums. For more insight into Tosin and the band, check out this recent Guitar Center interview below.

Do yourself a favor and take a listen to the new album and definitely check these guys out when they come to your town! More of our photos from the show can be found on our Facebook page here.