The pair is currently on a fall tour playing separate sets
Rock shredders John 5 and Richie Kotzen took the stage at Tally Ho in Leesburg, VA on Wednesday night (Nov 5th) for a double bill. John 5 went first, melting faces with a loaded 75-minute set.
John 5, in a bulky leather jacket and his signature make-up, kicked things off with a glow-in-the-dark guitar. The strings and clear body glowed as he strummed, tilted towards himself. He quickly switched to a jet black model and began playing at a breakneck pace, cramming in just under 20 instrumental songs all in under 90 minutes.
To watch John 5 play is mesmerizing. He seems totally engrossed in what his hands are doing, which in turn leaves the audience captivated by his in-flight fingers. It seemed that whenever John would rile the crowd, it was because they realized they had forgotten to cheer from being so spellbound.
John 5 is a master at making his guitar sound like anything. Whether he’s sliding his hand across the neck for a UFO-type sound effect or strumming a heavy metal solo, he makes it look easy. He even found a steel guitar-like sound from his Telecaster on the tune “Howdy.”
John 5 played a set of his own songs, as well as songs from his band The Creatures. And of course, he ended with a medley of numbers from his most recent band: that little group called Mötley Crüe. Throughout, it was just John and his drummer on stage. They achieved a magnificently full sound with only the two of them, no doubt thanks to John 5’s ability to seemingly turn one guitar into a full orchestra of instrumentation.
During his set, clips from black-and-white horror films and rotoscope animation played at random. With the neon Tally Ho logo flashing purples, yellows, and oranges, John 5’s set was the perfect way to celebrate an extended spooky season. Indeed, John 5 said he’s unable to “let go” of Halloween, donned a creepy mask, and passed out Halloween candy from a Trick or Treat bucket. Fans didn’t seem to mind. After all, the fall chill just arrived, and leaves only this week began to turn in Virginia. Who’s in a rush for all that Turkey and yams, anyway?)
A buzzed and buff Richie Kotzen opened his ten-song set with “Losing My Mind” before immediately launching into a thumping “War Paint.” His voice is smoky and raw, yet doesn’t overpower the complex playing of his trio.
And play the trio did. Kotzen got through a dozen of his tunes in 75 minutes. This was due, in large part, to the jams that would break out mid-song. As a result, each song bled seamlessly to the next. “Bad Situation” bled effortlessly from “War Pigs.”
Kotzen is another top-of-the-line player, finding the melodies on his guitar with ease, even in the moments his singing may be harmonizing with something else. It’s the rocker version of patting your head and rubbing your belly, and Kotzen makes it look easy.
There are times when the rough edges around Kotzen’s voice give way to pure soul. The chorus on “Fear” is a perfect example. He also used this song to display his vocal range, reaching both high notes and low growls.
Kotzen didn’t let up, at no point going easy on himself, the band, or the crowd. But they ate up every note from the rocker. Whether it was staring at his fretting or singing along, Kotzen had the crowd exactly where he wanted them.
This bill makes sense on several levels: they’re rockers more famous for their contributions to others’ music than for their singular talents. And to step out and show what it takes to bend a guitar to their will only creates more admiration among fans, and brings ever more people into their fold.
View this post on Instagram
View this post on Instagram
