Interview: Rival Sons’ Scott Holiday on Rock Icons, The Band’s Ethos and What’s Next
California rockers Rival Sons have carved out their own lane in the modern rock landscape—equal parts bluesy swagger, explosive riffs, and deeply human songwriting. With two albums released in 2023—DARKFIGHTER and LIGHTBRINGER—the band showcased their thematic depth and sonic range in back-to-back statements that fans and critics alike hailed as their best yet.
Ahead of their much-anticipated headline show in Liverpool this July, we caught up with lead guitarist and founding member Scott Holiday to talk about the band’s return to the city, how it feels to support rock legends, and what’s on the horizon for Rival Sons.
You’re heading to Liverpool this July for a headline show—what can fans expect from your return to the city?
Scott Holiday: Maximum rock & roll. Maximum good vibes. The band is in great form and great spirits. You can expect us to leave it all on the stage.
You’ve mentioned more varied setlists for these headline dates—can you tease any surprises or deep cuts for the fans?
SH: I’ll always make sure and pull some different deep cuts into the sets with each tour. We’ve also been enjoying having at least a few songs and many moments in the set nightly that allow us to improvise and create off-the-floor to invite very individualistic experiences each night. Keeps us all on our toes and fresh.
Supporting Guns N’ Roses and appearing at Black Sabbath’s final show—how does it feel to be part of these iconic moments in rock history?
SH: Wonderful. These are artists that shaped me as a guitar player… and at times in my life felt like close friends I could depend on. Meaning, when we have nothing else and you feel all mixed up in adolescence, sometimes these records feel like friends. A vibe you can really depend on.
We’ve played a handful of gigs with Slash and the pre-Slash/Duff reuniting version of Guns, but this is a great proper tour together—to some new exotic places too!
As far as the Sabbath show… this is really important to us, as the fellas in Sabbath are just the best and have played a significant role in Rival Sons’ career. We’re honored to play and be a part of this final chapter.
You released two albums last year, DARKFIGHTER and LIGHTBRINGER—how did the dual release concept come about?
SH: The albums started as one collection. But it just felt like too much to bite off in a single collection for the listener. A lot to take in on one album.
When we came to this conclusion there was a very clear division in the songs, and putting them within their own collections just really felt completing and correct. Very simply, thematically you have DARKFIGHTER that poses struggle, and LIGHTBRINGER that gives some resolve or hope. There are also crossovers thematically within each collection, to give each collection proper arc. For the most part though, these are the thematic differences.
You’ve never really fit into one era or genre—how intentional has that been, and how do you keep evolving?
SH: The intention has never been to make music indicative of one era or another, but to make music that speaks to us… music that feels honest and genuine.
For Rival Sons, that comes out in an amalgamation of eras and styles and textures—as it does for many artists. Of course, Rival Sons’ ethos of what great rock n’ roll has been through history is clear in our influences and output. We have strived to push outside our individual and collective comfort zones and be mindful to not repeat ourselves album to album. That means we have to explore many eras, artists, genres and ways we approach creating music. This definitely speaks to how we continue to evolve.
Are there any artists—past or present—you’d love to collaborate with?
SH: So many! But I believe collaboration should come together naturally and with purpose.
I could give you a massive list of artists I admire and would love to learn directly from and collaborate with… but it’d be a mile long… and what I’m really concerned with in a collaboration is timing and purpose. Artists cross into each other’s lives all the time—some make timeless art together, some—even if they seem perfect—make something flat.
I think it’s all about that cosmic connection. And that might even be with someone not on my list… but the right time and place—that we may unlock something new and special in one another. This is what I have with my partners in RS… and this is what I’m interested in collaborating with outside of RS. Antennae up! Always ready… looking and listening for this kind of opening or opportunity.
Looking ahead to 2025 and beyond, what’s on the horizon?
SH: Many irons in the fire. A new album to record in the fall. Been writing and experimenting for this at home and on the road. We’ve been working on a doc over the last decade that will come to completion very soon…
More great tours being booked… new places and people to play for…
I’m considering a handful of artists to write with and produce—always keeping those chops up. Been thinking very seriously about a solo effort as well… which is a very fun and freeing prospect for me!
New things are coming in all the time for RS. We have a wonderful team behind us, and the band is in a very good mindset. We’ve been doing this for quite a while together… and it’s still something we want to do—with fervor and vitality. This is incredible and exciting for me… just this idea alone is very inspiring.
Don’t miss Rival Sons playing Liverpool’s Eventim Olympia this summer!
Rival Sons
Liverpool’s Eventim Olympia
2 July 2025
Tickets
