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My First Concert of 2026: Brother Cane
- Date of Concert: Thursday, March 12, 2026
- Location of Concert: The King Of Clubs in Columbus, OH
- Openers: Nova Buzz, Dressed In Electric, Charlie Bonnett III & The Folkin' Gasholes
Thanks to my friend Kevin, I was able to see my first concert of 2026.
It was the band Brother Cane, featuring the lead singer, co-lead guitarist, co-main songwriter and leader of the band Damon Johnson (also in Lynyrd Skynyrd, played in Black Star Riders, Alice Cooper’s band, and Damn Yankees, as well as a solo artist).
Along with Johnson, Brother Cane also includes original bassist Glenn Maxey, as well as guitarist Tony Higbee, drummer Jarred Pope, and keyboardist Buck Johnson, although Buck was not playing at this show.
I had never seen Brother Cane before, so this was a treat.
They are a very solid, rocking band, all great musicians, and Damon sings very well also.
They played songs from their whole catalog, including songs from their new album which will be released in April of this year.
Thanks Kevin for the free ticket!!
Thanks to all the local openers who started the night off well.
Thanks to The King Of Clubs, who celebrated their 5th anniversary this night since opening their doors (here is to many more years!!). And thanks to Brother Cane, for starting my concert year off in a rocking way.
Rock on everyone. And thanks also to Damon for responding to me on Facebook in regards to a question I asked him.
Brother Cane Set List:
- Breadmaker
- That Don’t Satisfy Me
- If This Means War (New Song)
- 20/20 Faith
- Blinded By The Sun (New Song)
- Lie In The Bed I Make
- Take A Chance (New Song)
- Hard Act To Follow
- Make Your Play
- Nothing To Lose (New Song)
- Hung On A Rope
- And Fools Shine On
- Machete
- Got No Shame
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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Eddie Trunk Rocks!!
I got to see my favorite radio DJ in the world, Eddie Trunk, at a speaking engagement at a club called Tuck N Reds in Yellow Springs, Ohio on Saturday, May 7th, of 2026.
Several local bands opened the show, and they were all good, but I was there to see Eddie.
I’ve been a fan of his since 1999.
I don’t always agree with him and he sometimes annoys me, but I also think he is cool, knows a lot, and I consider him to be the luckiest music fan in the world.
He has interviewed and/or knows many of my musical heroes.
At this event, Eddie talked about his history (43 years in radio, executive at Megaforce Records, worked at VH1 Classic as a VJ and co-host of That Metal Show, emcees many events, and an author) and told many different stories, including about my favorite guitarist Ace Frehley (Rest in Peace).
He told a story of how he and Ace went bowling and when Eddie went to get bowling shoes, Ace, who had never bowled, was throwing bowling balls like you would a soccer ball or most balls.
He was also drunk. Cops were going to be called, but when Eddie told the guy that that was Ace, the guy said if Ace signed a bowling pin, he would not call the cops.
Eddie said he was thinking about writing a book of just his Ace stories. For those that don’t know, Eddie was not only a fan of Ace’s, but he also helped get Ace signed to his first solo record deal. And they remained friends until Ace’s passing in 2025.
Eddie has written two books about some of his favorite bands and is working on what I believe is his autobiography now, as well as a documentary about his life and career.
Eddie also took questions from the audience, and I asked him about one of our mutual favorites Overkill. You can check out his answer in one of the videos below.
I even got to “Stump The Trunk” (if you know his former TV Show That Metal Show, you know what I’m talking about). As a prize, he signed my books, took a picture with me, and gave me a bottle of water.
He actually met everyone that wanted to meet him for free once the show was over.
He was super cool with everyone and it was just a fun time.
I’m glad I was able to properly meet him.
Thank you Eddie for everything you do. You rock!!
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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Hits Galore!! Bryan Adams/Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo Concert Review
- Date of Concert: Saturday, November 1, 2025
- Location of Concert: Rocket Arena in Cleveland, OH
I finally got to see Bryan Adams!!
I was supposed to see him in 2023, but I was ill at the time and could not attend.
Well, I made up for it this time.
What a show!!
As I said in the heading of this post, hits galore.
Opener Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo really brought the punch with their song selections from throughout their 4 decades long discography.
I had seen them a few months prior to this as a headliner (review here) so I knew what to expect.
Pat’s voice is still as powerful as ever and Neil (her husband) is a great guitarist and pianist too.
And their band is solid as a rock.
It was cool seeing them again.
But now to the main event.
Bryan Adams has been a very successful singer/songwriter/musician also for 4 decades and is still going strong.
This tour is in support of his latest album Roll With The Punches.
He played some from that album, plus lots of songs from throughout his career.
If you’re a fan, you had to be satisfied.
He even takes a few requests, via online choices.
And even though he has a big stage to perform on, he did the first two songs and the last song on a smaller platform in the back of the arena. Really cool!!
And his band (Bryan plays guitar and bass) which includes long time guitarist Keith Scott, long time drummer Pat Steward, and keyboardist Gary Breit, are rock solid too.
Again, another great show for the books.
What’s next? Who knows.
Rock on everyone.
Bryan Adams Set List:
- Can’t Stop This Thing We Started (B-Stage)
- Straight From The Heart (B-Stage)
- Kick Ass
- Run To You
- Somebody
- Roll With The Punches
- 18 Til I Die
- Please Forgive Me
- Take Me Back
- It’s Only Love
- Shine A Light
- Heaven
- Never Ever Let You Go
- This Time
- Make Up Your Mind
- You Belong To Me
- One Night Love Affair
- Lonely Nights (Audience Request)
- Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman? (Audience Request)
- Here I Am
- When You’re Gone
- The Only Thing That Looks Good On Me Is You
- (Everything I Do) I Do It For You
- Back To You
- So Happy It Hurts
- Summer Of ’69
- Cuts Like A Knife
- All For Love (B-Stage)
Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo Set List:
- All Fired Up
- Invincible
- Ties That Bind
- Promises In The Dark
- Shadows Of The Night
- Together (New Song)
- We Belong
- Hell Is For Children
- You Better Run
- Love Is A Battlefield
- Heartbreaker (also features some of Ring Of Fire)
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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My Favorite Guitarist Is Gone: Ace Frehley (1951-2025)
I’m tired of typing posts like this, but sadly, my heroes keep dying.
My favorite guitarist ever is now gone.
Ace Frehley (April 27, 1951-October 16, 2025).
I became a fan of his and his band KISS when I was 15 going on 16.
I actually saw KISS that year.
The original lineup!!
December 8, 1998 (review here).
What a night it was.
I could have died happy that night.
I’ve always said that KISS is my favorite band ever. All lineups. All albums. All eras.
And that’s true.
However, the original lineup of Ace (lead guitar and sometimes vocals and songwriting), Gene Simmons (vocals/bass/songwriting), Paul Stanley (vocals/guitar/songwriting) and Peter Criss (drums/vocals/songwriting) are the most important lineup and my favorite band ever.
I’m glad I got to see them twice (other review here).
I also got to see Ace solo twice, once in 2016 (review here) and once in 2021 (review here).
The 2016 show I also got to meet Ace afterwards.
I’m so glad I got that chance.
I haven’t cried yet, but I’m sure I will.
I’ll be playing the music (KISS and Ace solo. He made a lot of great solo albums too.), watching the concerts and interviews, and reading stories about he and KISS for awhile after I type this. I’m actually listening as I type this and before I started.
I could say so much, but I’ll just say no other band will have the same impact on me as KISS has.
And they/he have inspired sooooooooooooooooooooo many people all over the world.
And Ace was/is/always will be a HUGE part of KISSTORY.
I love you sooooooooooo much Ace and will miss you forever.
Rock on in Heaven and/or in Jendell!!
The one and only Space Ace/Spaceman has left us, but the music/videos/memories live forever.
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Jackyl Rocks!!
- Date of Concert: Thursday, October 9, 2025
- Location of Concert: Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY
- Opener: Guns For Hire
The headline really says it all so I’ll say it again: Jackyl rocks!!
I saw the band Jackyl for the second time, although this time with my friend Brandon Lange at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY.
Opening band Guns For Hire got things started with some good rock music.
But as always, everyone was there to see the headliner. In this case, Jackyl.
The band, led by Jesse James Dupree (vocals, guitar, and yes a chainsaw), ripped through a bunch of songs from their rocking discography.
I would say if you mixed AC/DC and any southern rock band or really rocking country band and put them in a blender, you would have Jackyl.
I can’t say it enough: Jackyl rocks!!
The band also includes Jeff Worley on guitar, Roman Glick on bass, and Chris Worley on drums.
If you want to listen to a loud rock band, seek out Jackyl.
Yes you know what I’m going to say: Jackyl rocks!!
And this was a first. Near the end of the show, Jesse threw out his hat that he wore all night into the crowd, and I saw it going to the center of the crowd where I was. I leaned to my right and I actually caught it. There was a little bit of grabbing by other people trying to get it, but I won.
Pretty awesome!!
Thanks Jesse.
Again, Jackyl rocks!!
And thank you Brandon for the invite and ticket!!!
Jackyl Set List:
- Blast Off
- Cut The Crap
- My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaine’s Ass
- Encore
- Screwdriver
- Down On Me
- Just Like A Devil
- Push Comes To Shove
- A Country Boy Can Survive (Hank Williams Jr. cover)
- Just Because I’m Drunk
- I Stand Alone
- When Will It Rain
- Dirty Little Mind/Better Than Children (w/Delta Dawn bit)/Dirty Little Mind cont.
- Redneck Punk
- Suspicious Minds (Mark James cover and Elvis Presley’s version is especially known)
- The Lumberjack
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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I Got To See and Meet Another Member of Blackfoot!!
- Date of Concert: Saturday, August 16, 2025
- Location of Concert: The Gallia County Fairgrounds in Gallipolis, OH
- Opener: Southern Mules
I knew that Blackfoot/early Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Greg T. Walker had a band called Two Wolf for the last several years, but I recently discovered they finally released a new album.
Called Two Wolf, it is a really good hard rock/southern rock album.
The whole band, consisting of Greg on bass and vocals, Lance Lopez on guitar and vocals, Chris Bell on guitar and vocals, and Rusty Valentine on drums and backing vocals, are a very tight and rocking band.
The album has lots of original songs, but also has Blackfoot songs too, which are all great re-records of the band Greg co-founded and was in for many years.
I found out Two Wolf were going to play at a charity concert (called Southern Rock Woodstock) a little more than an hour from my house.
I could not resist.
I’m not big on being outside for a festival type of show, which this was, for 12 hours, so I went much later in the day.
In fact, I didn’t get there until after 7 PM, although it was perfect timing because the sun was trying to go down, temperature wasn’t as hot, and the band that played before Two Wolf, a cover band called Southern Mules, was playing.
They did a great job playing many covers, including songs by Molly Hatchet, Styx, Lynyrd Skynyrd, and others. Even a Blackfoot classic, which Greg played with them on.
The song was Highway Song, which I consider Blackfoot’s Free Bird.
I saw Greg was walking towards a beer stand, so I followed him over, but another fan was talking to him. Soon afterwards, I was able to ask him if he would sign my Two Wolf CD, and he said he would, but to just give him a minute. I waited and then he motioned me towards the band’s merchandise tent.
I told him how much I loved the Two Wolf album and that I bought a band shirt at the show and he said “Good!”. I then asked him if he could sign the CD and he did with my sharpie.
I then asked if I could take some pictures with him, and he said yes.
I got some nice pictures of us, I must say.
I then got a fist bump from him and let him be after that.
Thank you sir for allowing me that moment of meeting you!!!!
Later, Greg and his band Two Wolf played and they really rocked.
They’re just as good live as they are on album.
They played most of the album, and some other Blackfoot songs.
Really good set and they were really loud and rocked!!
Thank you guys for the great album and show.
Keep on rocking!!
Two Wolf Set List:
- Highway Song (Southern Mules played this with Greg earlier in the night so I’m including it here.)
- Keep On Movin’
- Too Hard To Handle
- Wishing Well
- Wild Country
- Wrong Road
- Tell The Truth
- Diary Of A Working Man
- Fox Chase
- Left Turn On A Red Light
- Will I Believe
- Great Spirit
- El Paso Sugar
- Romeo
- The Blessed And The Cursed
- Train Train
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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38 Special Still Rocks!!
- Date of Concert: Saturday, August 9, 2025
- Location of Concert: New Barn Theatre at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center in Mt. Vernon, Kentucky
- Opener: Kolby Oakley
I’ve been wanting to see the band 38 Special for a long time, but have just not gotten around to it.
I finally rectified that when I saw them in Mt. Vernon, KY at a really cool venue called New Barn Theatre at Renfro Valley Entertainment Center.
38 Special still consists of lead singer/guitarist/songwriter Don Barnes (who still sings amazingly well) and the band also consists of Bobby Capps (keyboards/vocals), Gary Moffatt (drums), Barry Dunaway (bass/vocals), and Jerry Riggs (guitar).
38 Special are on their 50 Year Legacy Tour and have a new album coming out September 19th called Milestone, which I have preordered.
What can I say? They really rock live!!
Loud, but clean. You can hear everyone and all the vocals, especially from Don, are just phenomenal.
Keep on rocking guys. I can’t wait to hear the new album.
They are playing the first single from it now in concert “All I Haven’t Said”, which is a good first start to the album.
Opener Kolby Oakley and his band were solid and started the night off well.
Another great concert for me.
Next up is Two-Wolf (Blackfoot/Lynyrd Skynyrd bassist Greg T. Walker’s band) on August 16.
Rock on everyone.
38 Special Set List:
- Rockin’ Into The Night
- Wild-Eyed Southern Boys
- Back Where You Belong
- The Sound Of Your Voice
- Back To Paradise
- Honky Tonk Dancer
- Rough-Housin;
- All I Haven’t Said (New Song)
- Teacher Teacher
- Somebody Like You
- Second Chance
- Like No Other Night
- Heart’s On Fire
- Radar Radar (Riggs cover song)
- If I’d Been The One
- Fantasy Girl
- Good Times (The Easybeats cover song)
- Caught Up In You
- Chain Lightnin’
- Encore: Hold On Loosely
Kolby Oakley Set List:
- Who Do You Love
- He’s A High Roller
- I’m Better Left Alone
- If That Ain’t Country
- Instrumental Medley: Welcome To The Jungle/Man In The Box/Sad But True/Fire/Immigrant Song/Crazy On You/The Boys Are Back In Town/Tom Sawyer/Bohemian Rhapsody
- Sober Side Of Me
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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Pat Travers Band Rocked Columbus, Ohio!!
- Date of Concert: Friday, July 25, 2025
- Location of Concert: The King Of Clubs in Columbus, OH
- Opener: Terry Davidson & The Gears
Pat Travers Band rocked Columbus, OH.
The Pat Travers Band consists of Pat Travers on vocals/guitar, David Pastorius (Bassist Jaco Pastorius’ nephew) on bass (also phenomenal), and Alex Petrosky on drums.
What a great rock trio.
I really don’t have much more to say on this show, except it rocked and to quote Pat Travers “I’m Pat Travers, and this is my band! And we’re gonna kick your ass!”.
And they did!!
Also the opener, Columbus favorites Terry Davidson & The Gears, started the show nicely.
Pat Travers Band Set List:
- Rock N Roll Susie
- Life In London
- Crash And Burn
- Off Beat Ride
- I’ve Got News For You
- Ronnie
- Gettin’ Betta
- Born Under A Bad Sign
- Spinning Wheel
- Makes No Difference
- Racing The Storm
- Snortin’ Whiskey
- Boom Boom Out Goes The Lights
- Encore: Drum Solo
- Bass/Drums Jam
- Come On Pt. 1
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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My Tribute to My Favorite Wrestler Hulk Hogan (August 11, 1953-July 24, 2025)
As I type this, I’m still processing the passing of Ozzy Osbourne (December 3, 1948-July 22, 2025).
Two days after Ozzy’s passing, my favorite wrestler ever, Hulk Hogan, passed away too.
I had heard for about a month that his health was not well, but I honestly did not believe it.
In the last several years, Hulk Hogan has become someone everyone loves to hate, and fair enough.
I’ve not loved everything he’s done and said by any means.
Having said that, I became a fan of his when I was six or seven years old and he was the reason why I became a wrestling fan.
From 1989-1992, when I first watched wrestling (I sadly went away from it for many years but did get back into it and will forever be a wrestling fan.), Hulk Hogan was everything to me.
I bought into his whole character and he was one of my biggest heroes.
Even when I went away from watching wrestling, I never stopped being a Hogan fan.
And even when I got back into wrestling years later, he was the reason.
Many will forever argue who the “greatest wrestler of all time is”. I have many favorites, but for me, it’s Hulk Hogan.
He was the biggest star, sold sooooooooo much merchandise, and really put his name out there and professional wrestling out there too.
Wrestling was popular wayyyyy before he came along, but when he got really popular, wrestling definitely kicked into a new gear of popularity.
He wasn’t the only reason, but the biggest reason why because again, he put his name out there and put professional wrestling even more into the mainstream.
From 1984-1992 or 93, Hulk Hogan was IT!!
He went into a slight slump in the mid 90s, but when he teamed with Scott Hall (RIP) and Kevin Nash and formed the bad guy wrestling faction New World Order (NWO), Hogan’s popularity soared again.
In 2002, when the NWO attempted to make a comeback, the fans really wanted Hogan to be a good guy again, and that’s what he did.
His popularity, even in 2002, was off the charts.
Some years later, family/domestic issues became forever tabloid news, even to this day.
Like all of us, he was flawed and made mistakes, but for me, the good he did still outweighs the bad.
If you don’t agree, fair enough.
But no matter what, Hulk Hogan, for me, will always be my favorite wrestler and I will be forever grateful and thankful to him.
I sadly never got to see him wrestle in person or meet him (although I did get his autograph a few times via online and at a wrestling show), but I did get to see him at a wrestling pay-per-view in 2011 in Cincinnati.
I’m glad I at least got to see him.
I feel like I need to say so much more, but I’m at a loss.
All I can say is I’ll always be a Hulkamaniac and again, I’ll always love him for all the good that he brought to my life, and especially childhood.
I love you Hulkster!!!!
Rest In Peace and all the best to your family, friends, and fans all over the world.
Hulkamania/NWO 4 Life!!!
All the pictures I’ve included in this post are from my collection of magazines, books, DVDs, toys, and pics of the show I saw him at.
I have pictures that I took from the show, but I can’t find them. If I do, I’ll post them too. But until then, I included pics from the DVD of the show I was at.
This is not everything that I have of Hogan, but you get the idea that I’m a Hulkamaniac.
Again, I love you Hulk Hogan (Terry Bollea)!!!!!
Thank you for making my childhood and life in general better.
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Ozzy Osbourne (December 3, 1948-July 22, 2025)
When I was in high school, I got into a lot of music that I’m still a fan of and forever will be.
Thanks to an old friend Robbie Frasher, I got into the music of Black Sabbath and Ozzy Osbourne.
He let me borrow his copy of Ozzy’s albums Blizzard Of Ozz and The Ozzman Cometh compilation, which also featured some Sabbath songs.
Those were the first true Heavy Metal songs I heard and boy what a way to start.
Because Sabbath invented the whole genre and ultimately all of it’s subgenres!!
Thank you Robbie for getting me into their music.
I sadly only saw Ozzy once, but it was with Sabbath on Ozzfest in 2004.
They were soooooo great (review here).
I love all of Sabbath’s and Ozzy’s albums.
I will forever be a fan.
I just never thought of Ozzy passing away.
Yes, we’re all going to die someday, but you just try not to think about it.
I knew Ozzy’s health had not been well for about six years, but I just thought he would carry on.
He literally just did his final show with Sabbath and as a solo artist on July 5 and even though he had to sit, he sang great and seemed very happy.
I know he wanted that last show and now that he’s gone, I know he willed that show to happen and hung on for that show.
No I did not know him and he’s not a family member, but it doesn’t mean this is not a big loss for me. Because it is.
I’ve really been feeling this and will continue to for some time.
All my best to his family, friends, band mates, and fans all over the world.
He truly was an original.
His music is phenomenal.
He was a great singer and performer.
He was a huge personality that beamed sooooooo bright.
He made a lot of people happy and will continue to forever with his body of work.
I love you Ozzy soooooooo much!!!!
I’m glad you were here as long as you were and I’m glad I was alive the same time you were to enjoy the music and got to see you once.
God Bless Ozzy Osbourne!!!!!!!!!!!
