Smokin Strings Magazine

09/09/2026

Vernon Johnson Wins Over Choctaw Labor Day Festival Crowd

Tuskahoma, Oklahoma — September 5, 2026

Opening a festival lineup that includes The Close , Neal McCoy and Mark Chesnutt is no small task. Add the heat of an Oklahoma September afternoon and the pressure of stepping onto the stage at 6 p.m., and Vernon Johnson had every reason to have his work cut out for him.

Instead, he walked onstage and went straight to work.

From the opening notes, the crowd at the Choctaw Labor Day Festival was with him.

Johnson opened his set with “Ragged But I’m Right,” immediately establishing the traditional-country sound that has become his calling card. What followed was a set built around some of the greatest songs ever recorded in country music, including “Tennessee Whiskey,” “Honky Tonk Downstairs,” “I Never Go Around Mirrors,” “Swinging Doors,” “Hey Good Lookin’,” “Long Gone Lonesome Blues,” and “She Thinks I Still Care.”

There was no need for a long introduction or elaborate production. Johnson simply stepped up with a voice steeped in traditional country and let the songs do the talking.

One of the night's most memorable moments came with “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes.” The response from the audience was noticeably different as Johnson worked his way through the George Jones classic. Faces in the crowd changed, conversations stopped, and the song seemed to hit home with the people sitting in front of the stage. It was one of those moments when a performance becomes more than entertainment.

Johnson also received an unexpected boost from a familiar face behind the kit. Josh Miller, who was in town playing drums for Mark Chesnutt, stepped up at the last moment to join Johnson's band and help round out the sound. The addition gave the performance an even fuller feel and demonstrated the kind of spontaneous musicianship that can make a live country show special.

Johnson was backed by a talented group of musicians:

Dylan Murch — Pedal Steel
John Hampton — Fiddle
Jeff Hampton — Bass
Joel Billy — Harmonica
Josh Miller — Drums, guest appearance

Despite the heat, the seats were filled as Johnson played his set, and the audience stayed engaged from beginning to end. But perhaps the clearest indication of how well the performance landed came after the final note.

A line of roughly 40 to 50 people formed to meet Johnson after the show.

That kind of response isn't generated by a billboard or a festival slot. It's earned one song at a time.

And Johnson closed the evening the same way he closes every show—with gospel.

His final song was “I Saw the Light,” bringing the set full circle and reinforcing something that has become a defining part of Johnson's performances. In an era when traditional country music is increasingly difficult to find on major festival stages, Johnson isn't simply singing the songs of the past. He's carrying them forward, giving audiences a chance to hear the music that built country music in the first place.

At the Choctaw Labor Day Festival, Vernon Johnson was technically the opening act.

Judging by the crowd's reaction, he didn't play like one.

09/09/2026

𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐙𝐙𝐀: 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐘 𝐃𝐈𝐄𝐃
𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐬, 𝐚 𝐩𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐧𝐚, 𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐚 𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐤 ’𝐧’ 𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥 𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐲 𝐫𝐞𝐟𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐰 𝐮𝐩.

𝐖𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐕𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐨 𝐛𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂. 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 | 𝐒𝐦𝐨𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐌𝐚𝐠𝐚𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐞

There are cover bands.

There are tribute bands.

And then there is Cheese Pizza.

Trying to explain Cheese Pizza to someone who never experienced the band during the glory days of the 1990s is almost impossible. You can talk about the music. You can talk about the shows. You can tell them about the legendary Tavern Tour and the absolutely ridiculous things that happened when Cheese Pizza rolled into town.

But until you've actually been there, you're probably not going to understand.

Because Cheese Pizza was never just a band.

Cheese Pizza was an event.

Back in the 90s, a Cheese Pizza show could turn a perfectly respectable tavern into something resembling a rock-and-roll demolition derby. The b**r could be flying, the crowd could be completely out of control, and nobody knew exactly what was going to happen next.

And that was the point.

Cheese Pizza built a reputation on taking songs everybody knew and turning them into hard-rock party anthems while surrounding the music with enough insanity to make sure nobody walked away thinking they had just attended an ordinary bar show.

Then there were the traditions.

Beads for the ladies willing to show a little more than they probably planned on showing that evening.

Fans becoming part of the show.

And, of course, the legendary bologna sandwiches sailing through the crowd.

Because apparently normal concert merchandise wasn't good enough.

T-shirts? Nope.

Drumsticks? Boring.

Here's some lunch. Catch it.

That is Cheese Pizza.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐓𝐀𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐍 𝐓𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐒 𝐀𝐆𝐀𝐈𝐍

Fast-forward three decades and Cheese Pizza brought that same spirit to Psycho Silo this past weekend.

The setting couldn't have been more appropriate. Psycho Silo has the kind of atmosphere where a band like Cheese Pizza doesn't have to apologize for being completely ridiculous. The crowd showed up ready to party, and the band wasted absolutely no time reminding everyone what this was all about.

The night opened with "Kung Fu Fighting," and if you're wondering how a song that was never exactly known as a hard-rock classic suddenly sounds like it belongs on a wall of amplifiers, Cheese Pizza provided the answer.

They took the song, plugged it into the Cheese Pizza machine and cranked the hell out of it.

From there, the band ripped through a collection of familiar hits including "Ballroom Blitz," "Play That Funky Music," "I Think I Love You," "Mickey," "Daydream Believer," and "I Touch Myself."

These weren't played as straight covers.

That would be far too easy.

Cheese Pizza takes songs that have been burned into the collective memory of several generations and gives them a hard-rock makeover. Familiar melodies become heavier. The guitars get nastier. The attitude gets turned up. Suddenly songs that probably shouldn't work in a rock setting are working perfectly.

And that's one of the band's greatest strengths.

They know exactly what they are.

They're here to entertain the hell out of you.

𝐇𝐀𝐙𝐄 𝐋𝐄𝐄 𝐅𝐈𝐍𝐍: 𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐒𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐅𝐎𝐑 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐂𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐈𝐎𝐍

Then there's frontman Haze Lee Finn.

You don't walk into a Cheese Pizza show expecting the singer to appear in jeans and a T-shirt.

That would be disappointing on an almost philosophical level.

Haze Lee Finn came out wearing a full-length fur coat with an extremely short 1970s-style dress underneath.

Because apparently subtlety was left somewhere back at the tavern in 1997.

As the night progressed, Haze worked the stage in true Cheese Pizza fashion, with the dress providing considerably more entertainment than anyone could reasonably expect from a piece of clothing. Bending over, scratching himself, moving around the stage... let's just say the outfit wasn't exactly designed with maximum coverage in mind.

And nobody seemed particularly surprised.

This is Cheese Pizza.

You don't come to a Cheese Pizza show expecting normal.

𝐂𝐇𝐎𝐏𝐒 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐆𝐔𝐈𝐓𝐀𝐑 𝐅𝐈𝐑𝐄

While Haze was providing the visual insanity, guitarist Chops was busy reminding everyone that underneath all the comedy and craziness is a seriously talented musician.

Chops absolutely ripped on guitar.

His riffs were sharp, powerful and played with the kind of confidence that comes from someone who knows exactly what he's doing. He wasn't simply standing there playing the songs. He was putting on a guitar show of his own.

At one point, Chops took the theatrics to another level, balancing his guitar by the headstock with one hand while the instrument continued to sustain a screaming note.

It's the kind of moment that makes photographers start shooting before they even think about it.

That's the stuff you want at a rock show.

Give me the guitarist doing something ridiculous with a screaming guitar over somebody standing perfectly still in front of a microphone stand any day.

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐇𝐄𝐄𝐒𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐙𝐙𝐀 𝐑𝐔𝐋𝐄𝐒 𝐒𝐓𝐈𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐋𝐘

The traditional Cheese Pizza madness wasn't forgotten either.

Beads made their way into the crowd for those willing to show off their... enthusiasm.

One guy found himself invited onto the stage to dance in his underwear.

And yes, bologna sandwiches were still part of the equation.

Some traditions apparently deserve to survive the passage of time.

The show wasn't quite as wild as the Cheese Pizza concerts of the 1990s, though.

The b**r wasn't flying through the air like it once did, and the crowd was noticeably more tame than the lunacy that accompanied some of the band's legendary Tavern Tour stops.

But there's probably a pretty simple explanation for that.

Everybody has a camera now.

Back in the 90s, you could do something completely insane at a Cheese Pizza concert and wake up the next morning with nothing more than a headache and a story your friends would tell for years.

Today, somebody is standing ten feet away with an iPhone recording the entire thing in 4K.

That changes the equation.

Nobody wants their finest moment of questionable judgment immortalized on Facebook before they even make it home.

So maybe the crowd isn't necessarily more responsible.

Maybe they're just more aware that the internet has a memory.

𝐒𝐎𝐌𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐒 𝐍𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐆𝐄

That's what made the Psycho Silo show so damn entertaining.

Cheese Pizza has been around long enough to become part of the musical history of the Midwest, but they haven't turned into a nostalgia act going through the motions.

They still have the attitude.

They still have the humor.

They still have the outrageous stage antics.

They still know how to take a song everybody knows and turn it into something that sounds completely different.

And most importantly, they still know how to have fun.

That's something that gets lost in live music sometimes.

Everybody wants the perfect production.

The perfect lighting.

The perfect video wall.

The perfect setlist.

Cheese Pizza seems more interested in asking a much simpler question:

"How much fun can we have tonight?"

At Psycho Silo, the answer was pretty damn obvious.

The Tavern Tour may have started decades ago, but Cheese Pizza proved that it never really died.

The b**r might not be flying quite as high.

The crowd might be a little more cautious.

And everyone might be checking their phones before doing something that could end up on the internet forever.

But put Haze Lee Finn in a fur coat and a dress, hand Chops a guitar, crank up the amplifiers and start throwing bologna into the crowd...

Suddenly it's 1995 again.

And somewhere in the middle of all the screaming guitars, ridiculous costumes, flying deli meat and questionable decisions, you realize exactly what Cheese Pizza has always understood:

Rock 'n' roll is supposed to be fun.

And Cheese Pizza is still one hell of a party.

Band: CHEESE PIZZA Tavern Tour

Venue: Psycho Silo Saloon

Video: Xplicit Impressions



https://youtu.be/o9BMe-rtbzg?is=jOQENMGAw8dvFDtN

09/07/2026

Happy Birthday Keri Kelli! Hope you have a fantabulous rockin birthday.

09/02/2026

09/02/2026

𝐊𝐄𝐄𝐏𝐄𝐑𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐅𝐋𝐀𝐌𝐄: 𝐏𝐋𝐔𝐒𝐇 𝐏𝐑𝐎𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊'𝐒 𝐅𝐔𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐍 𝐕𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐎𝐎𝐃 𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐒

PLUSH

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐛𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐡, 𝐍𝐘
Debonair Music Hall, 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐤, 𝐍𝐉

𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞 𝐛𝐲: 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬𝐨𝐧

𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐬𝐲 𝐨𝐟: 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐢𝐧 & 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐧 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐲


Rock and roll never dies it just keeps reinventing itself. Women have always been a part of rock and roll, but never get their just due. One band that is trying to change all that is plush. I kept seeing their name on my facebook feed for years. Photographers that I know have posted pix of them on concert photography pages and I have always been intrigued. I finally decided to take the plunge. I've seen them twice in a week on their North America tour and I couldn't be more impressed.

Plush is made up of singer, songwriter, guitarist Moriah Formica, bassist and back up vocalist Ashley Suppa and drummer Faith Powell. With four Billboard Top 40 hits to their credit the band has been slaying audiences here and abroad. Moriah was the youngest person to get a "4 chair turn" on The Voice at the tender age of 16. From the opening number to the last note Plush hits hard. Moriah's vocals are nothing less that astonishing. She can scream with the best of them and be soft and tender when the song calls for it. If you can get a 4 chair turn on The Voice singing Heart, you know there is a bright future ahead. Ashley on bass has been dubbed "the female version of Cliff Burton". Her hypnotic groove drives each song. Her thumbing bassline makes your chest feel like it's going to explode. Faith on drums is a beast, she hits so hard the room reverberates.

If you've never seen Plush, do yourself a favor check them out, you'll not be disappointed.

09/02/2026

𝐇𝐎𝐌𝐄𝐆𝐑𝐎𝐖𝐍 𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋, 𝐔𝐍𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐏𝐈𝐑𝐈𝐓
𝐂𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐘 𝐆𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐙 𝐑𝐄𝐓𝐔𝐑𝐍𝐒 𝐓𝐎 𝐁𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐓𝐎𝐍 𝐖𝐈𝐓𝐇 𝐀 𝐏𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐔𝐓𝐄 𝐖𝐎𝐑𝐓𝐇𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐈𝐓𝐒 𝐋𝐄𝐆𝐀𝐂𝐘

𝐁𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂. 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 | 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞

Some bands play Pantera.

𝐂𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐆𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐳 𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐢𝐭.

Returning to their hometown roots at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington, Illinois, Cemetery Gatez delivered a performance that proved why they've earned a reputation as one of the nation's premier Pantera tribute acts. With more than two decades of history behind them and recognition as "America's #1 Pantera Tribute" by Bandsintown, the band didn't simply perform Pantera's music. They recreated the aggression, intensity and brotherhood that made the original band legendary.

The crowd may not have filled every inch of The Castle, but the fans who came showed up ready for war. From the opening riffs to the final notes of the evening, fists filled the air, horns were raised and every ounce of energy the audience had was thrown right back at the stage.

Sometimes it isn't about how many people are in the room.

It's about how much noise they can make.

𝐀 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧

Long before Cemetery Gatez became a fixture on festival stages and club calendars across the Midwest, it began right here in Bloomington, Illinois.

Over the past 21 years, the band has evolved into one of the country's most respected Pantera tribute acts, carrying the music of Dimebag Darrell, Vinnie Paul, Rex Brown and Phil Anselmo to audiences who still crave the raw power of one of metal's most influential bands.

Today's lineup reflects just how far Cemetery Gatez has grown.

𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧 – 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐕𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬
𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 – 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫 & 𝐕𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬
𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 – 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐬 & 𝐕𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬
𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐨 𝐝𝐞 𝐥𝐚 𝐏𝐞𝐧𝐚 – 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐬

While Henderson and Arrington represent the band's Illinois roots, Mills and Octavio de la Pena bring Texas firepower to the lineup, creating a combination that feels fitting for a band carrying Pantera's legacy.

𝐀 𝐒𝐞𝐭 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐞𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐝 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐬

Cemetery Gatez wasted little time reminding everyone why Pantera's catalog remains untouchable.

From "Yesterday Don't Mean S**t," "New Level," "Becoming" and "5 Minutes Alone" to crowd favorites like "I'm Broken," "Walk," "Cowboys From Hell" and "Mouth for War," the band attacked each song with conviction rather than imitation.

Instead of relying solely on the obvious hits, Cemetery Gatez dug deep into Pantera's catalog with songs like "Regular People (Conceit)," "Strength Beyond Strength," and the powerful pairing of "Domination/Hollow."

For longtime Pantera fans, it wasn't just a concert.

It was a celebration of the band's entire legacy.

𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝𝐧'𝐭 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐔𝐩

The night's most memorable moment wasn't planned.

Midway through the performance, drummer Octavio de la Pena hit his kick drum with such force that it finally gave out.

For a moment, the show paused.

Not because the band didn't know what to do.

Because the equipment simply couldn't withstand the punishment.

As Octavio de la Pena and bassist Nate Arrington dropped to work, patching the damaged kick drum with tape, guitarist Brian Mills stepped forward and unleashed an extended guitar solo that immediately captured the audience's attention.

There was no awkward silence.

No nervous waiting.

Just another incredible performance.

With the repair still underway, Cemetery Gatez smoothly transitioned into "Planet Caravan," Pantera's haunting interpretation of the Black Sabbath classic. The slower, atmospheric song proved to be the perfect bridge, allowing the repair to continue without breaking the night's momentum.

By the time "Planet Caravan" came to an end, the kick drum was ready.

The tape held.

Octavio climbed back behind the kit.

And Cemetery Gatez went right back on the attack as if nothing had happened.

It was one of those moments you can't script, and one that perfectly illustrated the professionalism of a band that has spent more than two decades onstage. Equipment failed. The performance didn't.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞. 𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲.

As the unmistakable opening groove of "Walk" thundered through The Castle Theatre, Cemetery Gatez invited several fans onto the stage to help sing one of Pantera's most recognizable anthems.

Among them was Brian Graham of Phantom Lordz, who had opened the evening with an outstanding tribute to Metallica.

Seeing musicians from both bands sharing the stage wasn't just a cool photo opportunity.

It was a reminder that tribute bands aren't competing against one another. They're preserving the music that shaped them.

For a few minutes, the line between performers and audience disappeared. Fans, musicians and friends became one loud choir, shouting every word back toward the stage.

Those are the moments people remember long after the lights come up.

𝐀 𝐅𝐢𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡

The final stretch of the evening showcased exactly why Cemetery Gatez continues to earn praise wherever they perform.

"Cowboys From Hell."

"Mouth for War."

"Cemetery Gates."

"Hostile."

And finally, an emotional closing performance of "Floods."

Rather than ending with another burst of speed, the band chose one of Pantera's most respected compositions to close the night, sending the audience home with one last reminder of the musical depth that existed beneath all the power and aggression.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

Cemetery Gatez isn't successful because they dress like Pantera.

They aren't successful because they copy Pantera.

They're successful because they understand why Pantera mattered.

They capture the groove, the intensity, the precision and, perhaps most importantly, the attitude that made Pantera one of heavy metal's most influential bands.

Watching Cemetery Gatez return to Bloomington wasn't just another stop on the calendar.

It felt like a homecoming.

More than two decades after getting their start in Central Illinois, they're still carrying that same spirit onto stages across the country. On this night, they reminded everyone at The Castle Theatre exactly why they've become one of the most respected Pantera tribute acts in America.

If you couldn't have Pantera...

For one unforgettable night in Bloomington, Cemetery Gatez was about as close as it gets.

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝: Cemetery Gatez (The Pantera Tribute Band)

𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: The Castle Theatre

𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐛𝐲: Xplicit Impressions

More photos will be up at Xplicit Impressions soon

09/02/2026

𝐌𝐄𝐓𝐀𝐋𝐋𝐈𝐂𝐀 𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐍
𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐓𝐎𝐌 𝐋𝐎𝐑𝐃𝐙 𝐃𝐄𝐋𝐈𝐕𝐄𝐑 𝐀 𝐓𝐇𝐑𝐀𝐒𝐇 𝐌𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐂𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐒 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐂𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐓𝐑𝐄

𝐁𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂. 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 | 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞

Some tribute bands are content with playing the hits. The Phantom Lordz isn't one of them.

Taking the stage at The Castle Theatre in Bloomington, Illinois, the Springfield-based Metallica tribute band treated fans to a set that celebrated the band's formative years, leaning heavily into the aggressive thrash metal that helped define an entire generation. While attendance may not have filled every corner of the historic venue, the fans who came were there for one reason: Metallica. From the opening notes, they made enough noise to make the room feel much larger than it was.

For nearly an hour and a half, Phantom Lordz reminded everyone why Metallica's music has remained a cornerstone of heavy metal for more than four decades.

𝐀 𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐭 𝐛𝐲 𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐅𝐚𝐧𝐬

The Phantom Lordz isn't interested in simply looking like Metallica. Their focus is recreating the energy, musicianship and attitude that made the original band legendary.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐩 𝐟𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝:

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐡𝐚𝐦 – 𝐑𝐡𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐦 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫 & 𝐕𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐬
𝐀𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐰 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧 – 𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫
𝐊𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐧 𝐃𝐮𝐧𝐤𝐞𝐥 – 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐬 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐫
𝐒𝐡𝐚𝐮𝐧 𝐓𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧 – 𝐃𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐬

Brian Graham's vocals captured the grit and aggression fans expect from classic Metallica, while Andrew Sorenson delivered the intricate guitar work that has become synonymous with James Hetfield and Kirk Hammett's legendary partnership. Kevin Dunkel anchored the low end throughout the evening, allowing Shaun Tobin to drive the band's relentless rhythm from behind the kit.

The chemistry between the four musicians was evident from the first song and never let up.

𝐍𝐨 𝐑𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐒𝐞𝐭... 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐚𝐬𝐡

Rather than leaning on Metallica's biggest commercial hits, The Phantom Lordz crafted a setlist that rewarded longtime fans.

Opening with "Creeping Death," the band immediately established that this wasn't going to be a greatest-hits performance. They followed with classics like "No Remorse," "For Whom the Bell Tolls," "Welcome Home (Sanitarium)," "Harvester of Sorrow," and "Ride the Lightning," keeping the crowd locked in from start to finish.

As the night progressed, The Phantom Lordz dug even deeper with "Disposable Heroes," before launching into the undeniable power of "Master of Puppets."

The evening closed exactly as it should have... loud, fast and unapologetically heavy with "Seek & Destroy" followed by the blistering "Damage, Inc."

It was a setlist built by fans, for fans.

𝐀 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲

Although the audience was smaller than many would have expected for two outstanding tribute bands, that never translated into a lack of enthusiasm.

Fans sang along, raised fists, flashed the horns and headbanged throughout the night, creating an atmosphere that made The Castle Theatre feel far more intimate than empty. It served as another reminder that the quality of a concert isn't measured by attendance, but by the connection between the performers and the people standing in front of the stage.

The Phantom Lordz fed off that energy all evening.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐑𝐢𝐝𝐞

The performance also carried additional significance for drummer Shaun Tobin.

The Castle Theatre marked his final performance with The Phantom Lordz before relocating to Florida, making the evening more than just another stop on the calendar. Behind the kit, Tobin powered the band through every song with precision and intensity, providing a fitting conclusion to his time with the group.

It wasn't treated as a farewell spectacle.

It didn't need to be.

Instead, Tobin did exactly what drummers do best. He sat behind the kit, delivered a powerful performance and left everything on the stage one last time alongside his bandmates.

𝐀 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐁𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐝

One of the night's coolest moments came later during Cemetery Gatez's set.

When the Pantera tribute launched into "Walk," Brian Graham returned to the stage, joining Cemetery Gatez alongside several fans to help sing one of heavy metal's most recognizable anthems. It was a spontaneous display of camaraderie between the two bands and highlighted something often overlooked in the tribute scene: respect.

There was no competition.

Just musicians celebrating the music they love together.

𝐅𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬

The Phantom Lordz proved that honoring Metallica is about far more than wearing black shirts and playing familiar riffs. It's about capturing the power, precision and spirit that made Metallica one of the greatest metal bands of all time.

Their performance at The Castle Theatre accomplished exactly that.

For longtime Metallica fans, it was a trip back to the band's thrash roots. For anyone experiencing The Phantom Lordz for the first time, it was a reminder that some of the best live performances you'll find aren't always in arenas. Sometimes they're happening in historic theaters, in front of passionate fans, played by musicians who genuinely love the music they're performing.

𝐁𝐚𝐧𝐝: The Phantom Lordz

𝐕𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞: The Castle Theatre

𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐛𝐲: Xplicit Impressions

More photos will be posted at Xplicit Impressions

09/01/2026

𝐖𝐇𝐄𝐍 𝐆𝐈𝐁𝐒𝐎𝐍 𝐂𝐈𝐓𝐘 𝐁𝐄𝐂𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐑𝐎𝐂𝐊 '𝐍' 𝐑𝐎𝐋𝐋

𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝, 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐮𝐫𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐡 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐧 𝐔𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐥𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐨𝐜𝐤

𝐁𝐲 𝐃𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂. 𝐒𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐡 | 𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐚𝐠𝐞

There are concert venues that rely on massive arenas and big-city skylines to create a memorable experience. Then there's Gibson City, Illinois, where one August evening proved that all you really need is a great stage, legendary musicians, and thousands of fans ready to sing every word.

The 2026 GAH Summer Bash once again transformed downtown Gibson City into a destination for classic rock lovers. Year after year, the event continues to attract nationally recognized artists while maintaining the hometown atmosphere that makes it unique. This year's lineup of Nelson, Night Ranger, and Rick Springfield gave fans three unforgettable performances, each bringing its own style, energy, and connection with the audience.

𝐍𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐨𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐍𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐠𝐢𝐚

The evening began with Nelson, whose unmistakable harmonies instantly transported fans back to the early '90s. Matthew and Gunnar Nelson reminded everyone why songs like "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" remain staples for classic rock audiences. Their polished performance served as the perfect kickoff, warming up a crowd that was already eager for the night ahead.

From the first few songs, it was clear this wasn't just another concert. It was a celebration of the music that has become the soundtrack to so many lives.

𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲'𝐫𝐞 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐓𝐨𝐩 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐢𝐫 𝐆𝐚𝐦𝐞

If Nelson lit the fuse, Night Ranger set it off.

From the opening notes, the band's energy never let up. Every member seemed to be in constant motion, feeding off one another while thousands of fans answered with raised rock-and-roll horns and thunderous singalongs. Every chorus felt bigger than the last, turning downtown Gibson City into one giant voice.

One of the evening's most entertaining moments came during Kelly Keagy's drum solo. Rather than leaving him alone behind the kit, the rest of the band grabbed drumsticks and surrounded the drums, joining in to create one of Night Ranger's signature live moments. It's something longtime fans have come to expect, but seeing five accomplished musicians locked into one rhythmic performance never loses its impact.

The chemistry between the band members was impossible to miss. After more than four decades together, Night Ranger still performs with the enthusiasm of musicians who genuinely love sharing the stage. Whether tearing through hard-rock anthems or slowing things down for the emotional power of "Sister Christian," they had the Gibson City crowd singing at full volume from beginning to end.

𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐒𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝 𝐎𝐰𝐧𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭

When Rick Springfield walked onto the stage, the excitement immediately shifted into another gear.

At 77 years old, Springfield delivered a performance that defied every expectation attached to his age. He sprinted across the stage, leaped into the air, joked with the audience, and never looked like a performer trying to conserve energy. If anything, he seemed determined to outwork musicians half his age.

Then came one of the night's most unforgettable moments.

Springfield pulled out a bouquet of roses and began strumming his guitar with them, sending red rose petals flying into the air and across the front rows. The reaction was instant. Women near the stage erupted into cheers and screams as petals floated through the lights, creating one of those concert moments that simply can't be replicated in a recording.

Just a few feet away, one fan proudly held up a sign declaring she had skipped her wedding anniversary to attend the show. Judging by the laughter around her and Springfield's ability to captivate the audience, she probably wasn't regretting the decision.

As the night continued, the audience became as much a part of the performance as the band itself. Thousands of voices filled the streets as fans sang along to hit after hit, culminating with an explosive rendition of "Jessie's Girl." It was one of those rare moments where the crowd nearly overpowered the sound system, proving that some songs never lose their ability to unite generations of music fans.

𝐀 𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐊𝐞𝐞𝐩𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

Summer Bash has quietly grown into one of Central Illinois' premier live music events. Each year, Gibson Area Hospital brings nationally recognized artists to a community that embraces them with enthusiasm and hospitality, creating an experience that rivals festivals in much larger cities.

What makes Summer Bash special isn't simply the names on the marquee. It's the people.

Families spread out lawn chairs early in the day. Friends reunite over music they've loved for decades. First-time visitors quickly understand why so many fans make the trip back every summer. By the time the headliner takes the stage, strangers are singing together like lifelong friends.

That's something you can't manufacture.

𝐎𝐧𝐞 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭. 𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐬.

As the final notes echoed through downtown Gibson City, fans slowly made their way toward the exits carrying more than just concert merchandise. They carried memories of rose petals floating through the air, Night Ranger's electrifying musicianship, Nelson's timeless harmonies, and thousands of voices joining together to celebrate the music that has stood the test of time.

For one summer night, Gibson City wasn't just another small Illinois town.

It became the center of the classic rock universe.

And if the smiles leaving the venue were any indication, Summer Bash once again proved why it's one of the Midwest's can't-miss concert experiences.

1st Opener: Nelson Band

2nd Opener: Night Ranger

Headliner: Rick Springfield

Venue: Summer Bash

Promoter: Grandstand Concerts