Surviving members of Power Trip, including Blake Ibanez (guitar, vocals), Nick Stewart (guitar, vocals), Chris Whetzel (bass), and Chris Ulsh (drums), surprised fans with a five-song set at Mohawk in Austin, Texas on Friday (1st). Joined by Skourge vocalist Seth Gilmore, who also plays with Ibanez in Fugitive, the night’s headlining act. The impromptu performance followed Fugitive’s set, where Gilmore and Ibanez remained on the stage as Stewart, Whetzel, and Ulsh, surprised the crowd by walking onto the stage, as they went into Power Trip songs “Soul Sacrifice,” “Executioner’s Tax,” “Hornet’s Nest,” “Manifest Decimation” and “Crucifixation.” Before the performance, the venue hinted at a special guest, creating further anticipation for the show. It has been just over three years since the passing of Power Trip vocalist Riley Gale, who died on August 25th, 2020, which was ruled as an accidental death.
Despite being a remarkable and likely emotional return to the stage, Gale’s family expressed being “entirely surprised” by the event at Mohawk. In a statement posted on social media yesterday (2nd), they noted that they were not consulted or invited, emphasizing that if consulted, they would have preferred the performance to take place in Dallas, Riley’s hometown. They wished to discuss vocal replacements and incorporate them into the Riley Gale & Friends Day concert, the primary fundraiser for the Riley Gale Memorial Foundation. The family desired the event to be a surprise addition to the Foundation’s fundraising efforts and an opportunity to thank Riley’s fans for their continued support. Despite the lack of inclusion, they appreciated Blake’s acknowledgment on stage at Mohawk that they owe a lot to Riley. Riley’s family urged fans to support Riley’s legacy by buying albums from Southern Lord Records and contributing to the Riley Gale Memorial Foundation. The Foundation will announce “Riley And Friends Vol. 3” next year, featuring bands Riley knew and loved, along with fans and family, in honor of Riley’s profound impact.
Read the statement below:
“The Riley Gale Memorial Foundation & Gale family are aware of the event that took place at Mohawk in Austin, TX on December 1st, 2023. It caught us entirely by surprise. At no point in the planning or lead up to that moment was anyone in the Gale family consulted, or even invited. We were not asked our thoughts or feelings about it taking place. If we were, we would have liked to discuss who would fill in on vocals, since Riley had laid out very specific requests for this exact scenario. We would have requested it take place in Dallas, where Riley and POWER TRIP were born, and where Riley was instrumental in building up the Dallas hardcore and metal community before even setting foot on stage as a performer. We would have liked it to be a surprise and wonderful addition to the Riley Gale & Friends Day concert, the main fundraising event for the Riley Gale Memorial Foundation, a 501(c)(3) that supports the causes Riley cared about as well as aiding up-and-coming bands through the Riley Gale Band Touring Grant. Riley’s family would have liked the opportunity to show our appreciation to you, Riley’s fans who continue to support him by listening and buying albums because we know how much his lyrics and music meant to his fans. As Blake said on stage at Mohawk, they owe a lot to Riley, and the Gale family agrees wholeheartedly. Riley’s family was not included, and that’s unfortunate, but for those among you who love Riley and what he stood for, you can show your love by buying albums directly from Southern Lord Records and becoming a part of the Riley Gale Memorial Foundation at the link below. Keep an eye out for our announcement of Riley And Friends Vol. 3 early next year — it will feature bands that Riley knew and loved along with hundreds (hopefully thousands) of Riley’s fans and family.’Birth. Life. Death. Repeat. The goal is to manifest higher than before. REST IN POWER. www.rileygale.org.”
