Restless Spirit Ready to Rouse Boise Tonight With Their Metal Mayhem
“Some dude came up to Jon while he had his shirt off and started licking him. I think the guy was yelling about doing it, so we were like, ‘OK, don’t talk about it, be about it,’ and he did it. It was insane.”
-Restless Spirit, recalling one of their crazier shows.
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Desert rock, stoner metal, prog and psych rock … Restless Spirit touch almost all the heavy-music bases on the self-titled album they released last month through Magnetic Eye. For further proof, Boise metalheads have the chance to witness the trio from Long Island up close and personal at The Shredder tonight.
As Restless Spirit’s recent interview with The Bad Penny indicates, guitarist/vocalist Paul Aloisio, drummer Jon Gusman and bassist Marc Morello don’t put up with bullshit. That comes through in both communicating with the band members and their honest and direct music, which isn’t fueled by anger as much as authenticity.
What follows is our full interview with the band ahead of their gig tonight.
Thanks for answering some questions about your Friday show in Boise. Is this your second time playing here, after your May 2025 show at Neurolux?
Yeah, this is only our second time here.
What do you recall in terms of how the show went, the time you spent here, etc.? Any good anecdotes to share?
We showed up and it felt like no one was going to be there. The tour was selling great and then this particular show did not have a lot of presales. Luckily, the show ended up being packed to the brim. It’s always nice when you go in expecting one thing and then are pleasantly surprised with a turnout and a good reception.
Are you returning to Boise because you felt you got a strong turnout the last time or was it already on Gozu’s schedule when they tapped you to join them on the tour?
Generally speaking, on a full US tour like this, you definitely want to hit as many cities as possible that you have a chance of drawing a crowd at. The schedule that was presented to us had this show planned in already, so we were happy to see that.
Sounds like you won’t be able to spend much time here, but given that you’ve already visited before, are there one or two spots you wanna hit, whether they be certain restaurants, the Record Exchange, a bar, etc.?
I know nothing about Boise! Every time we’ve been here, it’s been in and out because of travel times to and from. But I do like The Shredder, as I’ve been here before with another band. So I’m happy to just be in a venue that I know is cool already.
Congrats on the release of Restless Spirit last month. Are there are any particular songs on the album that you think will translate exceptionally well in a live setting?
“Desolation’s Wake” [from the new album] for sure. It’s so much fun to play. All of our songs are designed to be played live, but that one in particular really just seems to hit hard for both us and the audience.
As you’ve already embarked on your tour in support of the album, are you still learning more about them as you perform the new material in live settings?
Sometimes we add a couple of flourishes here and there, but for the most part, the songs stay the same. Speaking of “Desolation,” though, our drummer Jon adds a cool little fill from “Good Times Bad Times” by Led Zeppelin during the guitar break that’s really fun. No one’s commented on it yet, so I’m not even sure if people realize we’re doing that!
Why did you decide to title your fourth studio album after your band name? Do you feel like, with this LP, you finally got to the heart of the sound or character that you initially set as your goal?
You said it perfectly.
What’s the craziest concert/ best anecdote about a show that you can share – or the first one that comes to mind?
We played a basement once, and the insulation from the roof was falling on us from the shaking due to the volume. I had a case of beer by my pedalboard to offer to everyone in the crowd. Things got crazy, and some dude came up to Jon while he had his shirt off and started licking him. I think the guy was yelling about doing it, so we were like, “OK, don’t talk about it, be about it,” and he did it. It was insane.
What band(s) do you emulate or at least highly respect in terms of their concert performances?
Any band that gives their all to the audience. I don’t care what genre. I don’t want to emulate any certain band in terms of presence, but in terms of energy, there are tons of bands that really just give it everything. That’s what we aim to do as well.
How big of a burden have or will soaring gas prices play(ed) on deciding your tour itineraries?
Gas prices suck right now. Merch sales are more important than ever because of it. That’s all I can say on that subject.
How would you convince someone who’s on the fence about attending the show to commit to going?
I mean, do you want to have fun or not? If so, just come out and see us. Forget your other obligations. It’ll be worth your while, I think.
Still not convinced? Learn much more about Restless Spirit and listen to some of their tunes on their Bandcamp page.
Restless Spirit play at The Shredder tonight as part of an all-ages show with Boston stoner/fuzz rock band Gozu and local band Black Marrow. Doors are at 7 p.m., and tickets are available here for roughly $15.
The Bad Penny (beta) 
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