Concert Reviews

Jeris Johnson: Tour in the USA

Published

6 months ago

March 7, 2026

For an artist who first built a following online before launching onto major touring stages, Jeris Johnson has quickly proven he knows exactly how to command a live crowd. After sharing massive stages with bands like Falling in Reverse, Johnson brought that same arena-ready intensity to Jergel’s Rhythm Grille for a night that celebrated both rising talent and the kind of explosive energy modern rock thrives on.

What made this stop particularly notable wasn’t just Johnson’s growing draw, but the lineup he chose to bring with him. The evening featured an impressive run of female-fronted openers—LYLVC, Eva Under Fire, and Butcher Babies—each bringing their own sound, style, and stage presence to an already packed room. It’s the kind of thoughtful curation that doesn’t always happen on tour bills, and it gave the night a sense of momentum long before the headliner even stepped on stage.

Opening the evening, LYLVC wasted no time pulling early arrivals closer to the stage. Frontwoman Alyse Zavala balanced sleek electronic textures with a sharp alternative edge, creating a sound that felt both modern and infectious. By the end of their set, the once-scattered early crowd had grown noticeably denser at the barricade.

Detroit rockers Eva Under Fire followed with one of the evening’s most vocally commanding performances. Frontwoman Eva Marie delivered soaring melodies with a strength and clarity that filled every corner of the venue. Her voice carries a powerful balance of grit and polish—equally capable of pushing through hard-hitting rock choruses or leaning into more melodic moments that show the emotional weight behind the band’s music.

Then came the sonic storm of Butcher Babies. With Heidi Shepherd now leading the charge as the band’s sole vocalist, the set felt raw, relentless, and completely electrifying. Shepherd commands the stage like a force of nature, delivering the band’s signature guttural screams with razor-sharp precision while stalking the stage and whipping the crowd into a frenzy. The room shifted instantly—mosh pits opening, heads banging. It was the kind of performance that didn’t just warm up the crowd; it detonated it.

One of the most impressive things about the evening was how many fans showed up early, specifically for the openers. Each band had their own dedicated supporters scattered through the venue, but by the end of each set, it was clear their audiences had grown, earning them new fans.

By the time Jeris Johnson took the stage, Jergel’s Rhythm Grille was packed shoulder to shoulder and buzzing with anticipation. Johnson has developed a reputation for pulling in crowds that cut across genre lines, and the diversity in the room proved it—fans who first discovered him through viral hits standing right beside seasoned rock and metal show regulars.

From the moment the first notes hit, Johnson proved exactly why his momentum keeps growing. His set moved effortlessly between explosive, high-energy anthems and slower, more emotional songs that bordered on rock ballads.

One of the most memorable moments of the night came when Johnson performed his reloaded version of Kryptonite, originally by 3 Doors Down. Johnson shared with the crowd that the band’s vocalist, Brad Arnold, who recently passed after a battle with cancer, had personally permitted him to release his heavier interpretation of the song. Playing it live became both a tribute and a celebration, as fans instantly recognized the iconic melody and embraced Johnson’s modern rock twist on the classic.

But the quieter moments elsewhere in the set revealed something equally compelling. Johnson’s ability to slow things down and connect. Those passionate, melodic songs created a brief pause in the chaos, with the crowd swaying and singing along before the next surge of energy inevitably kicked back in.

By the end of the night, the energy in the room hadn’t faded. Rather, it had only grown stronger. With three powerhouse female-fronted bands igniting the stage before him and Johnson delivering a performance that balanced adrenaline with genuine emotion, the night felt less like a standard tour stop and more like a full-scale ode to modern rock’s evolving sound.

About Author

Kylie Thomas

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Concert Reviews

BRISTOW VIRGINIA TOOK A TRIP ON THE WILD SIDE… SHOUTED AT THE DEVIL. AND ENJOYED THE GIRLS GIRLS GIRLS.

Published

3 weeks ago

August 7, 2026

Ron

MOTLEY CRUE CAME BACK INTO TOWN BRINGING WITH THEM TESLA AND EXTREME FOR THE RETURN OF CARNIVAL SINS TOUR.

Extreme opened up, and not only did they kick ass, but they also took some names, too. Gary sounded amazing on vocals, and of course, Nuno not only rocked the guitar; he gave all the ladies out there heart problems. We got to hear “More Than Words,” “Get the Funk Out,” and “Hole Hearted”.

Tesla was next, and the band always puts on an amazing show. It’s just a good ole rock and roll fun time. We got to hear “Modern Day Cowboy,” “Mama’s Fool,” and “Little Suzi.”

Motley Crue put up the circus tent, and fans were ready for the big top to drop. I was excited because this was the first time getting to see Crue with John 5 on guitar. The stage looked crazy and had things you could look at everywhere, from girls to cages and beyond. Nikki and Tommy looked amazing, and Neil looked healthier than in the past years; he sounded great, and you could see that he was having fun.

I have seen Motley Crue a few times now, but this time I was so close to the stage it was insane. Doing this press gig does come with some perks, and we get to see great bands and get tickets, but this was next level with how close to the stage my tickets were. It gave me such a great experience, not only just being that close and jamming out to songs that I grew up to, but also being with all the Crue fans and just seeing everyone getting excited and rocking out. They were all there for a good time and some kick-ass rock n’ roll.

Motley played a fantastic set too, with some bangers and killer songs from albums up to Generation Swine. Songs like “Wild Side,” “Shout at the Devil,” “Looks that Kill,” “Home Sweet Home,” “Smoking in the Boys’ Room,” “Live Wire,” “Girls, Girls, Girls,” and, of course “Dr. Feelgood” and “Kickstart My Heart.” The show was amazing, and the place was packed and having a great time. This is only the first leg of the tour, so if they come your way, go and see this tour and let yourself go and enjoy live music and rock ‘n’ roll.

About Author

Ron

Ron has keen eye for new talent, a love for the underground, and a tremendous passion for music of any genera. You’ll probably bump into him at a horror convention or some seedy club checking out the next need-to-know band.

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Concert Reviews

THIS IS WHERE IT FALLS APART… STABBING WESTWARD CELEBRATES 30 YEARS OF WITHER, BLISTER, BURN AND PEEL IN BALTIMORE

Published

1 month ago

July 25, 2026

Ron

It has been nine years since Stabbing Westward played in Baltimore, and I was thrilled to see them return to perform my favorite album. They brought along Acumen Nation and Priest as supporting acts. Both Acumen Nation and Priest put on an incredible show, and I loved how they energized the crowd. It’s fantastic to have a band like Acumen Nation, which has been around since 1988, alongside Priest, a newer band, and the fans truly enjoyed both sets.

Stabbing Westward is one of those bands that really resonated with me at a pivotal time in my life. This album was released during my junior year and fit my experiences perfectly. It’s one of those albums I would listen to from start to finish, and then I would just start it over again. I’m excited that the band is releasing a new version of this album, reflecting how they would have approached it if they had the freedom to mix it and create without outside interference.

What we got to hear was amazing. I loved the fresh sound to it but still keeping the core of what that album meant to them and to the fans. Coming out on stage with my 3 favorite songs on the album, “I Don’t Believe,” “What Do I Have To Do,” and “Falls Apart.” But hearing some of the other tracks on that album brought back so many memories of the past, like “Shame,” “So Wrong,” and even hearing the cure cover “Burn” and “Dawn” from the Escape From LA Soundtrack.

The concert was amazing. We were supposed to have an interview with Chris, but because of the Canadian fires, he was saving his voice for the show and meet ‘n greets, but we will have that interview soon for you.

About Author

Ron

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Concert Reviews

THE EX-FACES ROCKED THE REVERB STAGE

Published

1 month ago

July 22, 2026

Ron

I’ve been incredibly excited about the Ex-Faces show since it was first announced. I’m a huge Mushroomhead fan and love that the members of this group have come together to enjoy the music.

It was incredible to see J-Man, Waylon, Stitch, and Lil Dan together again. Adding Gravy and Mr. Murdernickel to the mix—especially since I never got to see him play live despite being a Mushroomhead fan near Cleveland since ’96—made it even better. I love that the guys genuinely looked like they were enjoying being on stage together, celebrating their time in this band and their experiences with Mushroomhead.

Hearing classic songs like “Bwomp,” “These Filthy Hands,” and “Sun Doesn’t Rise” was fantastic, but getting to experience deep cuts like “Eternal,” “1200,” and even the cover of “Crazy” was incredible. The Ex-Faces played 16 songs and could have kept going; the crowd definitely wouldn’t have minded.

I know this band and project are more than likely temporary, but I’m fully down for a few more tours and maybe even some more ex-members joining the trek. Even though I was sad that our stop didn’t have Pig Benis, I was super stoked that we had his OG brother Murdernickel. Go out and see this tour while you can, and let’s all get a little crazy and never let it go.