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CONCERT PHOTOGRAPHY & REVIEW: Styx and Foreigner bring their Renegades & Juke Box Heros tour to Denver, Colorado’s Ball Arena 6-25-2024 with special guest John Waite - SEE IT ALL HERE

6/30/2024

STYX

** PHOTOS BELOW **

With a smooth turnover of the stage, it was time for Styx and I was excited to see them again. I first saw them in 1977 and I couldn't help but think, damn, 47 years have gone by and they were also the very first band I took pictures of live. With the lights dancing and their fans roaring, Styx opened their set with, “The Grand Illusion” from the 1977 album of the same name. I could feel the smile on my face light up, and I and their fans knew it was just the start of a great set to come. For me, a malfunction with my camera and though I could listen, I spent the first two songs figuring out the problem. Just before Styx started their third song, “Lady” the problem was solved and I shot up a storm of pictures during the song.

Styx moved through time with song’s, “Miss America”, “Blue Collar Man” (Long Nights) and the crowd was singing with them. Sitting up in my seat watching and listening to the crowd and I was rocking with them, though I pasted on the singing. (Lol) On stage, the band members moved about interacting with each other and their fans.

The lighting was awesome as it danced over the stage and out into the crowd. From where I was sitting, I could see all around the venue and it was so good to see everyone having a great time. Styx finished up their set with a 2 song encore of, “Mr. Roboto” and “Renegade” with Chuck Panozzo and blew everyone away! The band took their bows to a cheering, roaring crowd showing their appreciation for a great show, a really great show.

Styx members:
James "JY" Young: Founding guitarist and lead vocals
Tommy Shaw: Lead vocals and guitars
Chuck Panozzo: Original bassist who often appears as a guest musician
Lawrence Gowan: Lead vocals and keyboards
Todd Sucherman: Drums and percussion
Will Evankovich – guitar, backing vocals, occasional mandolin

Setlist:
The Grand Illusion
Too Much Time on My Hands
Lady
Lorelei
Crash of the Crown
Miss America
Rockin' the Paradise
Blue Collar Man (Long Nights)
The Best of Times
Deep in the Heart of Texas @Cover
Fooling Yourself (The Angry Young Man)
Come Sail Away @Info[With Chuck Panozzo]

Mr. Roboto @Info[With Chuck Panozzo]
Renegade @Info[With Chuck Panozzo

FOREIGNER

** PHOTOS BELOW**

As people were catching their breath, the stage was being turned over again in a timely manner for Foreigner’s turn to rock the house. I had the pleasure of covering Foreigner’s tour last year and it was awesome, so I had a good idea of what I was about to see and shoot this night.

The crowd was settling in as the lights came down and they started cheering as Foreigner took to the stage and started their set with, “Double Vision” from their 1978 album of the same name and the house rockin. Vocalist Kelly Hansen was on the move and the fun of shooting Foreigner began. Along with great music there was also great lighting and no slowing down of stage presence from the band. Kelly carries his mic stand everywhere and dances with it as well. “Head games” and “Cold as Ice” followed and the crowd were on their feet rockin and singing as guitarist Bruce Watson hypnotized the crowd with his magic fingers all over his guitar. He too was on the move along with guitarist Luis Maldanado and bassist, Jeff Pilson.

Moving through their set list with favorites that kept the crowd dancing and singing with, “Dirty White Boy” and “Feels Like the First Time”. The fun part about being a concert photographer is when the band members interact with you with looks, pointing at you or leaning right into the camera lens.(see photo gallery) At the same time delighting the crowd doing pretty much the same thing while they are using their cell phones to capture the moments. They guys jumped into an instrumental jam session followed by, “Urgent” then it was drummer Chris Frazier’s turn to wow the crowd with a solo of his own.

When the band kicked off “Juke Box Hero” the crowd went nuts, it’s hard not to with that song and then the band took a short break and returned to finish their evening with, “I Want to Know What Love Is” and “Hot Blooded”. Foreigner took their bows to a cheering, roaring crowd showing their appreciation for a great set of music and what a night it was. I think close to 20,000 people and the bands got a good night's sleep. The way the energy poured back and forth throughout the night I slept really well!

This show is very early in this tour, with 30+ more stops, the tour is a must see for anyone who loves good rock and roll and adding a great stage show is the cherry on top. Don’t miss this tour, it won’t happen again.

I personally want to thank the bands for an awesome night, this one goes down in the musical history books!

Foreigner members:
Bruce Watson - guitarist
Michael Bluestein - keyboards
Kelly Hansen - vocals
Jeff Pilson - bassist
Luis Maldanado - guitarist
Chris Frazier - drums

Setlist:
Double Vision
Head Games
Cold as Ice
Waiting for a Girl Like You
Dirty White Boy
Feels Like the First Time
Instrumental Jam Session
Urgent
Drum Solo
Juke Box Hero

I Want to Know What Love Is
Hot Blooded

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CONCERT REVIEW & PHOTOGRAPHY: Tesla's Keepin' It Real Tour packs Denver Colorado's Mission Ballroom and Terrell Stewart captured the carnage - SEE THE PHOTOS AND READ IT HERE

6/16/2024

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Tesla’s Keepin’ It Real Tour packs Denver Colorado’s Mission Ballroom June 11th 2024

BY: Terrell Stewart

I am always excited for concert night, there’s nothing like standing in front of a stage photographing some of the greatest musicians on the planet. Add to that, seeing a band you are not familiar which turns you into an instant fan. That's what Kurt Deimer did opening the show on his Be Kind Tour. Kurt is not only a musician but an actor as well. The lights came down and a roar from the crowd filled the venue as the large video screen lit up with clips from movies Kurt has been in.
There was also a clip from his new movie coming out soon, Hellbilly Hollow. Opening his set with “Doom” he set the tone for a powerful and thought provoking set of music. Kurt has released a number of singles over the last couple of years and has an EP from 2021, Work Hard, Rock Hard.

As Kurt moved through his songs, he was moving about the stage engaging the crowd and making various facial expressions. In between songs he would talk about living life always looking to the positive side when introducing the next song. As he was walking across the stage he said, tomorrow morning I want all of you to wake up and do whatever you want. You want to jump from an airplane, do it, live your life, you don’t when you will die. This song is “Live or Die”. The band finished off this powerful set with “Fight” and after that he let the crowd know he would be at the merch table and wanted to meet everyone, take pictures and sign whatever you like. I did just that and met a very gracious man that appreciated everyone. Thank you Kurt Deimer and the excellent musicians that tour with you for a great show of music.

Kurt Deimer - vocals
Phil X - guitar
Brendan Hengle - rhythm guitar
Marco Pera - bass
Isaiah Perez - drums

Setlist:
Doom
Dance
Look
Have a Cigar @Cover
Hero
Whatcha Sayin'
Big Toe
Live or Die
Naive
Fight

KURT DEIMER

TESLA

With the stage now set, Tesla took the stage to an energized crowd, and started their set with, “Cumin' Atcha Live” from their 1986 album, Mechanical Resonance to their cheering fans. Staying with that album they delighted their fans with “Modern Day Cowboy” and a flash back to the days of MTV. I remember calling in sick to work so I could stay home and watch MTV all day. With the stage well lit and a little fog occasionally flowing, I moved about photographing the energy coming from the band. Lead singer Jeff Keith moved about the stage with the energy of a five year old on a candy rush. Moving through a timeless set of classic songs, the energy level was high even when they did the song “Paradise” acoustically.
The interaction of the band members with dueling guitars and solos that were mesmerizing, engaging with the crowd and a little bantering, kept their fans rocking out. This was an older crowd but you couldn’t tell by their enthusiasm, energy and their love for Tesla. Seeing Tesla live was returning to the 80’s and the timeless music that was created back then. Regardless of your age, this is a show to see and witness some of the nostalgia from a great decade of music.
Tesla are:
Brian Wheat – bass, backing vocals, keyboards, piano (1981–1996, 2000–present)
Frank Hannon – guitar, backing vocals, keyboards, piano, organ, theremin, bass, mandolin, harmonica (1981–1996, 2000–present)
Jeff Keith – lead vocals (1984–1996, 2000–present)
Dave Rude – guitar, backing vocals, bass (2006–present)
Steve Brown – drums, percussion (2021–present)
Setlist:
Cumin' Atcha Live
Modern Day Cowboy
Gettin' Better
All About Love
Walk Away @Cover
Forever More
Heaven's Trail (No Way Out)
Miles Away 2004
Changes
Paradise @Info[Acoustic]
Love Me
Call It What You Want
What You Give
Song & Emotion
Love Song
Little Suzi @Cover
Signs @Cover