On Saturday, December 13, 2025, I was very, very fortunate to have been able to see the John Bush Celebration of Anthrax 1993-2003 or as I like to call it Bushthrax. Of course anybody who knows me knows how big of an Anthrax fan I am and I never really got to see these songs performed live so with that let’s take a look………
Anthrax has always had a special place in my heart and I have been dying to see songs from the Bush era live. The last time I saw Anthrax where they were the headliner (2022 I believe it was) they did play the song Only and I gotta say it didn’t quite sound as powerful with Joey on vocals but still it was the next best thing. When the announcement came, that John Bush was going to be performing songs from his time in Anthrax, I immediately purchased a ticket. What made the show even better was his other band Category 7 played right before. I had heard their album shortly after it was released and I remember thinking it was good. I enjoyed it, but really hadn’t given it much of a listen after that. I must say that seeing those songs made me really appreciate the album even more. Now for those who don’t know who Category 7 are, it’s a band with Phil Demmel (Kerry King, ex-Machinehead) on guitar, Mike Orlando (Adrenaline Mob) on second guitar, Jason Bittner (Shadows Fall) on drums, and Jack Gibson (Exodus) on bass (for this show, Joey Vera from Armored Saint filled in). This was definitely one of those performances that made me want to go back and listen to the album again. Category 7 played for about 45 minutes and then left for a 30 minute break in order to get ready for the main event……..
Once the lights dimmed and the introduction for Potter’s Field started, it was on!! I was obviously not expecting them to open with Potter’s Field but that is such a great choice it is one of my favorite John Bush era songs. Right after that, they went right into the song Random Acts Of Senseless Violence and from then on, it was just one great song after another. At first, it was a little weird, not seeing Scott, Charlie or Frankie playing these songs, but I gotta say having Category 7 as the backing band was just as great. Another thing that I have to point out to is that some of those guitar solos seem to be quite complicated especially the ones off of Sound Of White Noise but both Phil and Mike pulled it off flawlessly. I’m honestly not surprised though Phil Demmel is one of the best guitar players ever and he can play anybody’s material effortlessly. Mike Orlando is another great guitar player too and he also nailed the guitar parts quite well. Now I have pointed out before that Joey Vera filled in for Frankie Bello during the We’ve Come For You All tour and Jason Bittner filled in for Charlie Benante during the 2005 Reunion Tour so technically you had a couple of former Anthrax members there.
For the most part, they played pretty much everything that I wanted to hear and I have to say John Bush is one of those singers that sounds great both live and on album. This was one of those shows where the crowd was singing along to pretty much all the songs and I would say this is probably the most crowded I’ve seen The Whiskey. Like seriously this venue was packed so much so there were people actually watching on the staircase which normally isn’t allowed. The John Bush albums really are great albums after this show, it really makes me appreciate them even more so. If you’re a fan of Anthrax especially the John Bush era and you didn’t go to this then you absolutely missed out!! I sincerely hope that they do this again because it was just too good not to!! This was the perfect last show of 2025!!
Final Grade: A+
Bushthrax Setlist:
Potter’s Field
Random Acts Of Senseless Violence
Refuse To Be Denied
Inside Out
Cadillac Rock Box
Hy Pro Glo
Catharsis
1000 Points Of Hate
Black Dahlia
Black Lodge
King Size
Safe Home
Room For One More
Fueled
Encore:
What Doesn’t Die
Only
Sinister Reviews 