The Penguin Rocks logo
The Penguin Rocks Menu


?>

 

Des Rocs releases "I Am The Lightning"

originally published: 07/26/2023


Photo by Javi Perez

NYC native Des Rocs has released “I Am The Lightning,” the third song to be pulled from his forthcoming sophomore album Dream Machine out August 25 via Sumerian Records. Produced by Alain Johannes (Queens of the Stone Age, Them Crooked Vultures, PJ Harvey), Matt Wallace (Faith No More, Maroon 5) and Des Rocs mastermind Danny Rocco, Dream Machine plays like a bolt of energy coursing through the glory days of rock, metal, and grunge, united within his signature “bedroom arena rock” sound. 

About the new song, Danny Rocco explains: “‘I Am The Lightning’ was born from a desire to perform music that is both bone-shattering & instilled with a deeper message. I live on tour driving from one city to another, and I’ve come to view the journey of life as one long road trip –  a series of winding roads connected by important events. ‘I Am The Lightning’ is the soundtrack to this chaotic journey down the highway of life.”

Recently, Des Rocs released the official video for “Nowhere Kid,” which followed the release of his “thrilling new single” (Consequence of Sound) “Never Ending Moment,” which has been streamed more than 1.5 million times on Spotify alone and just hit #27 at Active Rock Radio and #35 on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. Guitar World called the song an “essential rock anthem” and raved, “Windmilling acoustic guitars and wailing Flying V solos are the order of the day, and they sound colossal.”

After wrapping a national tour with Badflower earlier this year, Des Rocs is currently in the midst of a headline tour that wraps tomorrow night in Omaha, NE. Reviewing his performance at Sonic Temple festival earlier this year, Metal Injection proclaimed, “Des Rocs opened the main stage with the same energy and zeal as a headliner…This is the kind of music that is meant to be played live in an arena, and vocalist/guitarist Daniel Rocco is the kind of person who is meant to do it.”

Dream Machine follows Des Rocs’ 2021 debut full length album A Real Good Person In A Real Bad Place. The album received wide-ranging praise from outlets like Loudwire (“addictive”), Guitar World (“fierce”), Rolling Stone, SPIN, American Songwriter and Alternative Press, who describes Des Rocs’ sound as “a whirlwind of classic-rock-influenced alternative rock that will leave your heart racing.” Currently, Des Rocs boasts more than 1.25 million monthly listeners on Spotify, with more than 227 million global streams to date. 




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



Dream Machine tracklist:

1) Dream Machine

2) I Am The Lightning

3) White Gold

4) Nowhere Kid

5) Never Ending Moment

6) Bad Blood




Please support the advertisers at New Jersey Stage!
Want info on how to advertise? Click here



7) Natural Born Thriller

8) In The Night

9) Up To You

 

Tour Dates:

7/27 – Omaha, NE – Waiting Room Lounge

9/23 – Clarkston, MI – Pine Knob Music Theatre


FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | COMMUNITY | DANCE | FILM | KIDS | MUSIC | THEATRE

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


Candlelight

Candlelight Concerts - Tribute to Queen and The Beatles

Friday, November 14, 2025 @ 7:00pm
Monmouth University - Pollak Theatre
400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764
category: music


 

Sabbra

Sabbra Cadabra with Death Metalllic

Friday, November 14, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Union County Performing Arts Center (UCPAC) - Main Stage
1601 Irving Street, Rahway, NJ 07065
category: music


 

Emily

Emily Grove’s Joni Jam - A Tribute to Joni Mitchell

Friday, November 14, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Outpost In The Burbs
40 S Fullerton Ave, Montclair, NJ 07042
category: music


 

Don

Don McLean

Friday, November 14, 2025 @ 8:00pm
Carteret Performing Arts Center
46 Washington Ave, Carteret, NJ 07008
category: music


 

Griffin

Griffin House

Friday, November 14, 2025 @ 7:30pm
Lizzie Rose Music Room
217 E. Main Street, Tuckerton, NJ 08087
category: music


 

To narrow results by date range, categories,
or region of New Jersey
click here for our advanced search.


 

The Penguin Rocks

© 2025 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
[email protected]

Presented by New Jersey Stage

Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and our NJ Stage accounts on Instagram, and Threads


News | Features | Radio Shows | Penguin's Hall of Fame | Song of the Week | BlowUpRadio column

Contact Us | About Us | Submit Music | Ad Rates