Jacobious Lovebone and Heartvalve at The Rainbow Bar & Grill

Jacobious Lovebone and Heartvalve – The Rainbow Bar & Grill – June 28, 2026

It may have been a late Sunday night deep within the wilds of the Sunset Strip, but the rock was only just beginning to rumble inside the iconic Rainbow Bar & Grill. The upstairs room—small, sweaty, and absolutely alive—would host not one but two projects led by the ever‑enigmatic Jacobious Lovebone, making his first solo appearance outside the grip of Bastardane.

Best known as the former frontman and bassist of Bastardane—featuring Castor Hetfield (yes, James Hetfield’s son) on drums—Lovebone was ultimately dismissed when his persona became “too extreme for the band’s vision.” That sense of danger, theatricality, and unfiltered emotional volatility was on full display tonight. You could feel the swagger and sensuality dripping from every note he delivered, a performer finally unleashed and reveling in the freedom.

Heartvalve – 10PM Shock Therapy

Opening the night at 10PM was Heartvalve, a swamp‑soaked, doom‑tinged project that also featured Bastardane’s Ethan Sirotzki on guitar. Imagine the murky, corrosive atmospheres of Acid Bath or Eyehategod in their heyday, and you’re only beginning to grasp the sonic menace Heartvalve conjures.

Their short yet thunderous set—Lost Souls, All Good Things Die, Victims, and Eastside (Reprise)—reverberated with dynamic intensity. The reunion of Lovebone and Sirotzki felt inspired, and drummer Triko Chavez delivered a vibrantly feral performance that pushed the room into overdrive. Nothing recorded yet, but Heartvalve played like a glimpse into what Bastardane might have become had Lovebone’s vision steered the ship: darker, stranger, and far more dangerous.

Skanks With Knives – A Breather Before the Storm

A band called Skanks With Knives took the stage next, giving Lovebone and his drummer a much‑needed breather before the night’s main event. Their set kept the energy high and the crowd primed for the chaos to come.

Jacobious Lovebone – 12:30AM and Unleashed

At nearly 12:30AM, the room tightened, the lights dimmed, and Jacobious Lovebone emerged for his namesake band’s debut performance. What followed was nothing short of a powerhouse unveiling.

Sure, you can trace influences—David Bowie, Marilyn Manson, Iggy Pop—but Lovebone is a thoroughly original beast. Clad in leather and swagger, he commanded the room with a mix of cabaret decadence, punk volatility, and avant‑rock storytelling. He has the songs, the talent, and the drive to back it all up tenfold.

Performing selections from his recent Strange Stories of Decay manifesto alongside other singles, Lovebone opened with a stunning one‑two punch: Parts Per Million and Secret Getaway. The atmosphere shifted instantly. This was perfect after‑hours soundtrack material—dark, intoxicating, and dripping with cinematic tension.

The brilliance kept coming: Qualude, Swingers, and Gargoyles pulled the audience deeper into Lovebone’s bleak, seductive world. It didn’t matter that it was nearly 1AM and many of us had day jobs looming in just a few hours. We were witnessing a performance destined to become part of Sunset Strip lore. The final two songs, Cabaret and Hourglass Sanatorium, sealed the deal with haunting, theatrical flair.

A Star in the Making

There’s no doubt about it—Jacobious Lovebone is on a collision course with superstardom and infamy, judging by the rapturous commencement delivered at The Rainbow. And the madness continues: Lovebone will hit The Viper Room on July 17th and Bar Sinister on August 8th.

Catch him in these intimate spaces now while you still can—or kick yourself later for missing out on something truly awe‑inspiring.

An interview with Jacobious Lovebone is coming soon to Highwire Daze Online!

(Review by Ken Morton – Photos by Karyn Burleigh of Rock Edge Photography)

Jacobious Lovebone on Instagram
Heartvalve on Instagram