Leaves are falling all around, the clocks have moved back, stores are decorated for Christmas (too early), and there is a definite chill in the air. It was still hot inside the Sherman Theater when Richie Kotzen, John 5, and BAND Inc. came to Stroudsburg, PA. 

 

A small town of about 6000 people, Stroudsburg may not seem like a place to find great music, but the Sherman Theater dispels any notions to the contrary. Near the bottom end of Main Street, the Sherman Theater has played host to multitudes of acts over the years. It opened in 1929, with Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy taking the stage. It has more recently hosted Baroness, W.A.S.P., Yngwie Malmsteen, and GWAR, as well as cultural events like The World Series of Beer Pong – Qualifying Tournament. There is plenty of on-street parking available, and a bit of patience will be rewarded with a space within easy walking distance. There are bars and restaurants lining both sides of the street, along with plenty of other shops should the need arise. 

Inside the theater, the entrance sports a concession stand selling simple food items and soft drinks, while a full bar is in the lobby. The theatre itself was likely designed as a movie house, and the floor slopes towards the stage, making for easy viewing of the performers, whether you are sitting or standing. 

This evening was a seated event as it was likely to be a long night of great music. Promptly at 7 the band appropriately called BAND, Inc. started their set 

 

BAND, Inc. hails from Boston and is fronted by Giuliana Lucia Amaral, a statuesque blonde with a powerful voice, playing bass. Her name is on the bass in big letters in case someone inadvertently thinks it is theirs, and the band name is on the kick drum. There are two guitar players on either side to complete the quartet. With a strong bluesy sound, they get the crowd interested, and a standout song, “Better Off Dead”, really gets the evening off to a strong start. 

Being the opener is never easy, and not many in the audience will be familiar with your music, so it can be wise to choose a cover to get everyone invested and engaged. BAND, Inc. chose a cover of “Whole Lotta Love” with just enough tweaking to make it their own, and then closed with an original “Midnight Rider”. After their set, they retired to the lobby and the merch booth, where they spent the rest of the night chatting with everyone and there were a lot of people who wanted to talk to them after their stellar performance. 

John 5 was next up, and this guy is a guitar virtuoso. He is the kind of person who spent every waking moment with a guitar in his hands and never stopped learning. He has the skill to be part of any band, and at the moment, Mötley Crüe is reaping the rewards of his talents. 

His set opened with blazingly fast guitar work and seldom slowed down. Three jack-o-lanterns were placed between the monitors as decorations. He tells us later that he is a huge fan of Halloween and has his guitar tech and bass player throw candy to the audience. We are told the technician’s name is Richard Ramirez but that claim is suspect, as later we are also teased with a Dave Mustaine appearance that proves to be John 5 having fun with the audience. An eighteen song set included some of his standards like “How High The Moon” (by Les Paul) and “Que Pasa” as well as a substantial selection from his newest album, Ghost (60 Cycle Hum Records). He dazzled the audience by playing just about anything with strings, even a banjo, until his set ended with a medley of Mötley Crüe songs. 

 

The evening isn’t over yet. If you are going to follow the first two acts, you had better be damned good, and we have Richie Kotzen in that unenviable position. Not to worry, he is more than up to the challenge. 

From nearby Reading, PA, Kotzen has been playing guitar since before the first Star Wars movie and, like John 5, was heavily inspired by KISS. He has been part of multiple projects such as The Winery Dogs, Mr. X, Iron Maiden offshoot Smith/Kotzen and, most notably, replaced C.C. Deville in Poison. 

 

Stylistically, Richie Kotzen is much more bluesy than John 5 and a bit less flashy but every bit as talented. With short hair, a black t-shirt and fit build, he doesn’t show his years physically. However, there is a maturity in his playing and reserve that seems on the verge of exploding at any moment, but it is kept in check, controlled and focused on the guitar. Songs like “War Paint” and “Fooled Again” have a powerful full sound and showcase his writing talents. “Fear” starts with the same drum riff that opens “When The Levee Breaks” by Led Zeppelin, signaling another influence.   

There are only a few days left on this tour, but all three artists have more dates in the works. John 5 with a major Mötley Crüe tour next summer, and Richie Kotzen will be wandering Europe this February and March. If you love the guitar, these guys are the ticket. 

Richie Kotzen setlist:
Losin’ My Mind
War Paint
Bad Situation
Fooled Again
Fear
Doin’ What The Devil Says To Do
Love Is Blind
Peace Sign
Rust
Help Me
Remember

 

Buy Richie Kotzen music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/4pv5FNw

Buy John 5  music and merch here:
https://amzn.to/4rno1BV

 

WRITTEN BY MATTHEW KOCHEK
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PHOTOS BY KIM HANSEN @PHARMADIVER
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