Gov't Mule and Dark Side of the Mule at Red Rocks 8-7-23

Michael Yanko

Rock Legends Photographers

Red Rocks was on my bucket list for many years. In early July I got an email from Gov't Mule stating that they were going to be playing there on 8-7-23 doing their Dark Side of the Mule performance. I thought this might be the perfect opportunity to cross this one off my list. After doing a little research I found out that not only was Jason Bonham opening the show with his Led Zeppeling Evening, Joe Bonamassa was playing there the night before. The decision was made, and 15 minutes later I had flights, car rental, and a hotel all booked. I was very excited to cross this one off my list and enjoy 2 nights of amazing music. I had seen Gov't Mule several times before, but I had heard that the DSOTM shows are spectacular. I was very excited for this 2 great days of music.

Unlike the previous rainy night the weather was perfect. Special guest Jason Bonham and his Led Zeppelin Evening opened the show with an amazing tribute to Zeppelin. This was the perfect band to preface the amazing performance we were all about to experience. 

Jason Bonham at Red Rocks in Morrison, Colorado 8-7-23

Michael Yanko 

Rock Legends Photographers

Day two of my Red Rocks bucket list adventure trip was the best of the two. The weather was wonderful, and this time I had a pass to shoot from the photo pit. Plus, there were 2 great bands, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Evening, and Gov't Mule doing their own music as well as a set of Pink Floyd songs.

Bonham's band opened the show performing their Led Zeppelin Evening.

 I was fortunate to see Led Zeppelin several times in the 70s, and they definitely cemented a place in my memory as one of the greatest bands of all time. Jason Bonham's band is amazing, and they sound closer to the original Led Zeppelin than any tribute band ever could. 

Bucket List! Red Rocks with Joe Bonamassa August 6th, 2023

 By Michael Yanko 

Rock Legends Photographers

     Having been a concert photographer since the 70s and shooting thousands of concerts, hundreds of festivals, and nine music cruises, Red Rocks has been on my bucket list for many years. When I got an email from Gov't Mule stating that they were playing there, it piqued my interest. When I found out that Jason Bonham was opening and that Joe Bonamassa was playing the night before, I realized it was time to make a trip to Colorado and cross this one off my list!

     Red Rocks is located in Morrison, Colorado, about a half hour outside Denver. It's surrounded by beautiful scenery, which made for a wonderful drive. We parked at the onsite museum, and then made the one-mile trek downhill to the box office to get our photo passes. The excitement in the air was already starting to build and we met some great people at the box office. One of the people we met was Joe Bonamassa's driver, and he was more than helpful with tips about the venue. The best tip of all was that there was a shuttle to take me up to the top where the venue is. The shuttle dropped me off at the backstage entrance, giving me an opportunity to capture the stunning photo on the next page.

Bob Weir and the Wolf Bros with the Wolf Pack plus special guests at Humphreys by the Bay in San Diego, CA on 10/26/22

Twas a gorgeous summer-like fall evening at the charming outdoor venue that rests in between the Shelter Island Harbor and San Diego Bay almost completely surrounded by water, boats and palm trees. Humphrey's was way past sold out but the good news - most of the heads standing outside the gates holding up their finger eventually got in so "miracles" do happen... 

Shinedown, The Pretty Reckless and Diamante - 2022 The Revolution's Live Tour - Peoria, Illinois

  Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL April 9th, 2022

Review and Photos by Jeremy Rickman of JKR Photography

Shinedown, The Pretty Reckless, and Diamante brought a powerful show to the Peoria Civic Center. One of the most powerful sold-out shows in the Mid-west. Definitely, a show to see so get your tickets now!

Slipknot and Wage War - Knotfest Tour 2022 stops in Peoria, Illinois

 Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL April 7th, 2022

Review and Photos by Jeremy Rickman of JKR Photography

Corey Taylor brings Knotfest to Peoria, Illinois for a powerful evening of Metal

Sarah Jarosz - Grass Valley, California

Sarah Jarosz 

Grass Valley Center for the Arts

Grass Valley, California 

4/3/22

Bob Weir & Wolf Bros Spring Tour in Full Swing

Bob Weir & Wolf Bros winded though the Southeast with a dip into the Midwest this past week with stops in Nashville, Columbus, Asheville, Chattanooga, and Durham. Accompanied by a string a brass quintet, the band has expanded its musical scope with hat-tricks of sound that take most for a smooth ride with curves and hills.

Bob Weir & Wolf Bros

In Asheville, on a warm, March 24, evening, the city relented and let kids set up Shakedown for a good few hours before the show. Most made it in for the opener where Bobby performed solo acoustic with Dark Star and Bird Song. The Dark Star opener was a completion of the opener from Columbus a few nights earlier.

Jay Lane, Don Was, Jeff Chimenti, and Barry Sless joined Bob Weir along with quintet members Alex Kelly, Brian Switzer, Adam Theis, Mads Tolling and Sheldon Brown for a El Paso > Mexicali Blues that was snappy as tight mariachi brass band, with a pronounced pedal steel mastery by Barry Sless leaving it not hard to imagine there were swinging saloon doors at the entrance to the Thomas Wolfe Auditorium.

First set continued with Bob Weir original, Black-Throated Wind, with Casey Jones then lifting the show back before set break leaving many with energetic anticipation for what the second set had in store.

Dead & Company in Chula Vista, CA on 10/27/21

It was just another Wednesday night in San Diego but in Chula Vista it was far from ordinary with Dead & Company set up to play a one night stand at North Island Credit Union Amphitheater.

Foreigner Greatest Hits 2021 Tour Hits Peoria Civic Center Theater

 Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL July 24th, 2021

Review and Photos by Jeremy Rickman of JKR Photography

Next up for the return of Rock in Central Illinois Foreigner takes over the stage for the evening at the Peoria Civic Center Theater in Peoria, Illinois. This Sold Out show did not disappoint.

 

Bob Weir and Wolf Brothers with the Wolf Pack at the Greek Theater in Berkeley, CA on July 24, 2021

Going back to the Greek in Berkeley after so many years (actually decades) was a remarkable treat. The flashback floodgate was wide open from the first moment on the sidewalk out front waiting for the doors to open. Running into old friends, as well as making new ones, brought back one particular memory from the 80s of being “miracled” by some super cool passerby without even asking to a very sold-out Dead show at that exact same place on the sidewalk. Then there was that time when asked by UCB campus police what was in the brownies I was selling on the sidewalk. They still declined purchasing any even after telling them only chocolate, sugar, and love. 

Chicago plays in Peoria, Illinois with the return of Live concerts at the Civic Center

Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL July 24th, 2021

Review and Photos by Jeremy Rickman of JKR Photography 

The Classic powerhouse band Chicago returns to Central, Illinois kicking off the Peoria Civic Centers return to hosting music since early 2020 and the beginning of the Pandemic. 

Collective Soul Captivates in Central Florida

Collective Soul

Busch Gardens 

February 29, 2020

Tampa, FL

By Michael Yanko

Rock Legends Photographers

90's alternative rock band Collective Soul has become one of my favorite touring bands to see, hear, and photograph. The energy that they bring to the stage is contagious and it's very obvious that this band truly enjoys performing! This was my third time covering them in the last couple of years and each time has had the excitement of the very first time I saw them many years ago.

This particular show was the inaugural offering for what looked to be a promising concert series at  Busch Gardens' Food and Wine Festival.

The evening was very chilly for this time of year in Florida but that didn't stop thousands of fans from cramming into the outdoor venue to rock out with the band. 

Joe Bonamassa Thrills in Central Florida

Joe Bonamassa
Ruth Eckerd Hall 2-24-2020
Clearwater, FL 
Michael Yanko
Rock Legends Photographers

When Joe Bonamassa has a guitar in his hands, it's like an extension of his body. His smooth playing sounds so perfect it is like it is coming out of a machine. 

The Basement East...On the eve of destruction

March 5, 2020

Nashville, TN

Story by Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

Photos by Butch Worrell of One Heart Photo

It was a benefit show for Bernie Sanders, where progressive minded musicians in the Nashville community organized by Dean Moore had decided to show their love for Bernie on the eve of Super Tuesday. 

KISS End Of The Road Tour with David Lee Roth return to Peoria, Illinois

Peoria Civic Center - Peoria, IL February 15th, 2020

Review and Photos by Jeremy Rickman of JKR Photography

After 20 years KISS makes their triumphant return to Peoria, Illinois. Playing a soldout show local fans and fans from states all over the midwest came to the Heart of Illinois in welcoming KISS and David Lee Roth on their Final Tour. 

Styx Live in Port St. Lucie, Florida

MidFlorida Credit Union Event Center
(Formerly Port St. Lucie Civic Center)
Port St Lucie, FL
Michael Yanko
Rock Legends Photographers

It rained all day up until about about an hour before the 8PM show. It was damp and very windy, and yet that didn't stop thousands of fans from coming out to see Styx perform and the band certainly did not disappoint!

When friends tell me that they don't go to classic rock concerts anymore because "it isn't the original members," I tell them that many of the bands are as good or better than they ever were. 

Styx is definitely one of those bands. Although featuring only one original member,  James Young on guitar and vocals,

Dead & Company at The Forum in Los Angeles, Ca on 12/27/19

Five Finger Death Punch, Three Days Grace, Bad Wolves and Fire From The Gods Play the 105.7 Nutcracker Winter Concert

Peoria Civic Center Arena - Peoria, IL December 8th, 2019

Review and Photos by Jeremy Rickman of JKR Photography

Peoria, Illinois own 105.7 The X closed out the year with the annual Nutcracker Show Headlining with Five Finger Death Punch and joining them was Three Days Grace and for the first time in Central Illinois Bad Wolves and Fire From The Gods. 

Slayer - Farewell World Tour @ Salem Civic Center

Slayer brought the “Final Campaign” tour to Salem Civic center on November 5th. They may have arrived by bus but they entered the arena like a freight train.  This tour is said to be their final and they performed as if it was.