Some concerts are planned weeks in advance. Others come together with a simple phone call from a good friend.

After spending most of the day in the recording studio, I packed up my camera gear and headed across town for one of the summer’s biggest classic rock events as Chicago and Styx brought their co-headlining tour to Riverbend Music Center.

Before I even left the house, I had already spoken with my good friend, and Chicago crew member, Chris Franz. While we covered the usual logistics, our biggest challenge turned out to be answering life’s important question: Where are we going to eat?

Thankfully, Riverbend is only about twenty minutes from my house. I managed to beat the worst of the concert traffic, although Cincinnati’s evening rush still tried its best to slow me down.

When I arrived, I met Chris at the buses just after soundcheck. With limited time before showtime, we walked next door to the casino restaurant, ordered a couple of appetizers, and spent the next hour catching up. It felt like countless conversations musicians and crew members have every day while out on the road, equal parts work, friendship, and trying to squeeze in a meal before the lights go down.

Unfortunately, the restaurant never managed to get our food to the table. As packed as the place was, we finally admitted defeat and headed back to catering.

And… we probably came out ahead.

Waiting for us was an impressive spread featuring ribs, multiple sides, and enough desserts to test anyone’s willpower. I had every intention of showing some restraint.

Let’s just say I tried.

With dinner behind us, Chris headed off to prepare for the show while I made my way to the photo pit. After setting up my cameras, I caught up with security and a handful of photographers I’d worked alongside before. It’s one of my favorite parts of concert photography, the familiar faces behind the scenes that help make every show happen.

Then the house lights dropped.

The roar from the crowd was immediate as Chicago walked onto the stage.

There’s something remarkable about watching a band with nearly six decades of history continue to perform at such an incredibly high level. While the lineup has naturally evolved over the years, founding member Lee Loughnane still leads the charge alongside a lineup of exceptional musicians who honor the band’s remarkable legacy. Every horn section was razor sharp. Every harmony landed effortlessly. Every song sounded as timeless as the day it was recorded.

Chicago has always been difficult to categorize. They’re a rock band with horns, jazz influences, pop sensibilities, R&B grooves, and enough unforgettable melodies to fill multiple careers. That unique musical identity has helped them sell more than 100 million records worldwide and remain one of the most successful American bands in history.

None of that matters, though, if a band can’t still deliver live.

Chicago absolutely can.

The audience responded exactly as you’d expect. From the opening notes through the final encore, fans sang every lyric, danced in the aisles, and celebrated songs that have become part of the soundtrack of multiple generations. Despite the intense summer heat, nobody seemed interested in sitting down for very long.

As photographers, we’re typically limited to shooting the first three songs from the pit. Once that window closed, we were given the freedom to photograph throughout the venue, allowing me to experience the concert from several different perspectives.

One of the unexpected highlights of the evening wasn’t on stage, it was in the crowd.

I spent time talking with concertgoers throughout Riverbend, hearing stories about how many times they’d seen Chicago over the years, which songs meant the most to them, and why they continue coming back. I also met several new friends along the way, something that seems to happen whenever live music brings people together.

That’s one of the things I love most about this job.

Concerts aren’t just about the performers.

They’re about shared memories.

As the final notes faded into the warm Cincinnati night, I packed up my cameras and made one last stop backstage to thank Chris and the entire Chicago crew for their hospitality. Their generosity made the evening even more enjoyable, and I’m grateful for the invitation.

Then it was back home.

Because while the concert may have been over…

The night wasn’t.

There were photos waiting to be delivered, and another incredible show to relive one frame at a time.

Chicago has spent nearly sixty years proving that great songs never go out of style. Judging by Thursday night’s performance at Riverbend Music Center, neither has the band.

Links

• Artist: https://chicagotheband.com/
• Episode: https://jayfranze.com/episode22
• Photos: https://jayfranze.com/chicago-riverbend-cincinnati-oh-8-6-26-photos/

Some concert reviews begin when the house lights go down.

This one started somewhere around 7 a.m. in Kentucky, while I was still wiping the sleep from my eyes and questioning every decision that had led me to voluntarily spend the next four hours behind the wheel.

Then again, this is live music. Sleep is optional.

The destination was Franklin, Tennessee, and Tequila Sunrise, an Eagles tribute featuring longtime Taylor Swift guitarist Paul Sidoti. I had been looking forward to this one, and apparently decided the best way to prepare for a night of photographing live music was to turn it into an 800-mile endurance event.

After making the drive south, I met up with the incredibly talented young artist Ivey Leighton in Nashville. She jumped in the car, and we headed the rest of the way to Franklin. We grabbed some dinner, talked shop for a while and eventually met up with nine-time Grammy-winning engineer Bob Bullock.

Not exactly a bad way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

From there, we headed to the Franklin Theatre.

Sitting along Main Street in downtown Franklin, the Franklin Theatre has the kind of history you simply can’t manufacture. Its marquee first illuminated the street in 1937, and for generations it served as a neighborhood movie house, a place for popcorn, matinees, first dates and all the little memories that eventually become part of a town’s identity.

After closing in 2007, the theater was rescued by the Heritage Foundation of Williamson County and underwent an extensive restoration before reopening as a venue for movies and live entertainment.

Walking inside, you immediately understand why people fought to save it.

There’s an intimacy to the room that works particularly well for a show like this. Before everything got underway, I took some time to check the lay of the land, figure out where I wanted to shoot from and get ready for the night.

Then Tequila Sunrise hit the stage.

And they didn’t exactly ease into things.

They opened with “Hotel California.”

That’s right. The song most bands would probably save for the encore was essentially their opening statement.

Fine. Apparently we’re doing this.

From there, the band worked its way through the Eagles catalog, delivering virtually every song you would expect, and want, to hear from a tribute to one of the most successful bands in rock history.

But what made Tequila Sunrise work wasn’t simply the song selection.

These were exceptional musicians paying attention to the details.

There is a difference between playing Eagles songs and recreating the experience of an Eagles performance. Tequila Sunrise clearly understands that distinction. The arrangements, harmonies and instrumental parts were treated with the respect the material deserves, but the musicians also incorporated some of the recognizable mannerisms and stage characteristics associated with the Eagles themselves.

It never felt like a group of guys standing onstage running through somebody else’s greatest-hits collection.

They committed to it.

At the center of the evening was Paul Sidoti, a musician whose résumé speaks for itself. For more than two decades, Sidoti has been part of Taylor Swift’s touring band, performing on some of the biggest stages in the world. Put him inside a historic theater in Franklin with a group of equally capable musicians, however, and you get to see another side of what makes players at this level so much fun to watch.

There’s no substitute for musicianship.

And this band had plenty of it.

The Franklin Theatre was sold out, and the crowd seemed more than happy to take the trip back through the Eagles catalog with them. Song after song was greeted with recognition, enthusiasm and the kind of reaction that reminds you why this music has survived generation after generation.

That’s ultimately the challenge facing any tribute band.

Everybody already knows the songs.

They know where the guitar parts are supposed to land. They know the harmonies. They know the intros within seconds. Some of these songs have been part of people’s lives for 40 or 50 years.

There isn’t much room to hide.

Tequila Sunrise didn’t need any.

By the time the final notes rang out, the sold-out crowd had gotten exactly what it came for, a night celebrating the music of the Eagles, performed by musicians capable of doing that catalog justice.

After the show, Ivey and I caught up with Paul for a bit before climbing back into the car and beginning the journey toward Nashville.

Of course, apparently the day still wasn’t quite ridiculous enough.

So before heading north, we stopped to say hello to the great Scotty Simpson, bass player for the Oak Ridge Boys, who had performed at the Grand Ole Opry that night.

Because why wouldn’t we?

At that point, the sensible thing probably would have been to find a hotel, get some sleep and deal with tomorrow when tomorrow arrived.

Instead, I pointed the car toward Kentucky.

Again.

Four hours later, somewhere around 5 a.m., I finally fell into bed.

Nearly an entire day spent driving, talking music, catching up with friends, meeting musicians, photographing a sold-out show and listening to some of the most recognizable songs ever recorded.

I was exhausted.

And I’d do it all again tomorrow.

I love my job.

Links

• Artist: https://www.paulsidoti.com
• Episode: https://jayfranze.com/episode219
• Photos: https://jayfranze.com/tequila-sunrise-franklin-theatre-franklin-tn-8-5-26-photos/

It was one of those nights where live music fans had way too many choices.

There were major concerts happening all over the Midwest, but when Matthew Fritsch reached out and asked if I’d make the trip to Columbus to shoot his show at the King of Clubs, I didn’t hesitate. I’d already made one trip to the venue earlier this year to photograph Twist It, and I left that night wondering if I loved the venue because of the room…or because Twist It absolutely blew the doors off the place.

Turns out, it was both.

Here’s the funny part…

Somewhere during our conversation, I completely missed the fact that this wasn’t actually a Life After This show. I loaded up my gear expecting to photograph the band’s original music, only to discover after arriving that it was an entire night dedicated to rock tribute acts.

And, well…

I was pleasantly surprised.

Tribute bands have exploded in popularity over the last several years, but I’d never really spent an evening covering an entire lineup dedicated to celebrating legendary rock bands. If anyone was going to convince me that tribute nights deserved the attention they’ve been getting, I figured it was probably going to be these guys.

The King of Clubs sits about two hours north of me, so I left around 4:00 p.m. to give myself enough time to hang out with the band before the show. It was one of those perfect summer drives, mid-80s, overcast skies keeping the heat in check, and almost no traffic. I wish every road trip to a concert was that easy.

I pulled into the parking lot just as Matthew arrived. The rest of the band was already unloading gear, so instead of standing around pretending to look important with a camera around my neck, I jumped in and helped load equipment.

That’s one of the things I like about nights like these.

People see the lights, the music, and the crowd, but they don’t always see the hours of work that happen before anyone walks through the front doors. Cases get rolled in, cables get run, drums get assembled, guitars get tuned, and somewhere in the middle of all that chaos, everyone is somehow still laughing.

After checking in with the venue staff and grabbing my media pass, I took some time to get my camera gear ready and scout a few angles. I remembered the balcony. It’s one of my favorite places to shoot because it gives you a completely different perspective than standing in the pit all night.

Once the stage was set, the guys disappeared backstage to get ready while I wandered around talking with the venue staff and the band’s crew.

Then the lights went down.

The massive LED wall behind the stage lit up with the Legends Rise logo, complete with a subtle nod to Godsmack, and within seconds the room went from quiet anticipation to organized chaos.

And I mean that in the best possible way.

Legends Rise never tries to convince you they’re Godsmack.

They’re not wearing costumes.

They’re not trying to imitate Sully Erna’s every move.

They’re simply four incredible musicians paying respect to a band they clearly admire.

Ironically, that makes the performance feel even more authentic.

Matthew Fritsch attacks the stage with enough energy to make you tired just watching him. Whether he’s climbing onto the risers, working every corner of the stage, or leaning into the crowd, he never lets the momentum drop for even a second.

Guitarist Thomas Cheek is just as entertaining to watch. His playing is locked in, but it’s his animated stage presence that keeps pulling your eyes across the stage.

Meanwhile, bassist Ray Vitatoe and drummer Matt Johnson build the kind of rhythm section that you don’t just hear, you feel it. Every kick drum hits you square in the chest while Ray’s bass locks everything together with that thick, driving groove Godsmack fans expect.

Of course, that’s probably what happens when you’ve spent years playing together as Life After This. Chemistry like that can’t be faked.

The evening itself was basically a celebration of hard rock.

Legends Rise opened with a tribute to Godsmack before handing things over to Sanitarium, paying tribute to Metallica, followed by Last Train to Ozz, honoring Ozzy Osbourne.

I’ll be honest…

Tribute bands have exploded in popularity over the last few years, and not all of them are created equal.

These were.

I’ve been fortunate enough to see Godsmack, Metallica, and Ozzy Osbourne over the years, so I don’t throw comparisons around lightly. Every band on this bill had obviously spent countless hours perfecting these songs, but it wasn’t just the accuracy.

It was the passion.

None of these musicians looked like they were simply going through the motions. They looked like fans who happened to be talented enough to recreate some of rock’s greatest songs at an incredibly high level.

And the crowd fed off every second of it.

As Legends Rise wrapped up their final song, my phone buzzed in my pocket.

It was my wife.

Back home in Northern Kentucky, tornado sirens were sounding as severe storms rolled through the area. She wanted to let me know that she and the family were taking cover and, make sure I knew what was happening in case the weather decided to follow me north toward Columbus.

For a few moments, my mind shifted from camera settings and stage lighting to radar maps and weather alerts. Thankfully, everyone back home was safe, and once I knew they were okay, I could turn my attention back to what had been an outstanding evening of live music.

One thing that really stood out happened after Legends Rise left the stage.

Instead of disappearing backstage, the band headed straight to the merch booth, talking with fans, signing merchandise, taking pictures, and introducing people to their original band, Life After This.

That’s just smart.

If someone walks away thinking, “If their tribute band is this good, I wonder what their original music sounds like?” you’ve just gained a new listener.

Even better, the guys stuck around for the rest of the night to support the other bands instead of packing up and heading home after their set. That’s something audiences rarely notice, but other musicians always do.

It’s the kind of thing that tells you exactly who people are.

By the end of the night, I had my answer about the King of Clubs.

It wasn’t Twist It.

The venue itself deserves the credit. Great sightlines, excellent production, a friendly staff, and enough room that there really isn’t a bad place to watch a show. After two visits, it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite venues in Ohio.

As for Legends Rise…

They reminded me that tribute bands don’t have to be impersonators to be great.

Sometimes all it takes is four musicians who genuinely love the music they’re playing, and have the talent to make you forget, even for a couple of hours, that you’re not watching the original band.

I’ve become a big fan of Life After This over the past several months, and after seeing what they can do as Legends Rise, I’ll happily make the drive to catch either project again.

Some shows are memorable because of the music.

Others stick with you because of the people you meet.

This one managed to be both.

Links

• Artist: https://lifeafterthis.com/
• Episode: https://jayfranze.com/episode227
• Photos: https://jayfranze.com/legends-rise-king-of-clubs-columbus-oh-8-1-26-photos/