One of the last few stops on this masterclass tour was subsequently at the Arcada in St. Charles, Illinois; this venue is very intimate and nostalgic, with a retro looking diner and a high-class bar attached inside before actually walking into the theater. John 5 and Richie Kotzen hosted a wild rock infusion night inside this historically rich room.

The show consisted of three bands: BAND, INC., John 5, and Richie Kotzen, each bringing their own little flavor of rock ‘n ‘ oll. Band Inc., had a retro feel with a punk motion, and their singer had a gnarly voice and the attitude of Joan Jett. John 5 brought his classic horror and crazy solo work, with his face painted and walking on stage to “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” on the screen behind him. Richie and the feel-good, look-good rock vibe.

Late in the evening, at a longer-than-normal changeover, a stage hand took the microphone and said, “Due to technical difficulties beyond our control, John 5 cant play tonight,” and after an awkward moment, John came on stage shredding and tapping away. His set included a few different masks, a few instrumentals of his own, the Marilyn Manson version of “Sweet Dreams,” and a Mötley Crüe instrumental montage. John has been a household name – not because its the most common male name – through trials and triumph. John’s career started early on, notably playing guitar for Marilyn Manson, Rob Zombie, and more recently, Mötley Crüe. John didnt really ever stop shredding, and it was pretty great. A few highlights of the show were John’s lucky socks, his tech throwing out Halloween candy, and the hordes of guitar picks flying to the crowd. At the end of his set, a crowd shot was taken, and John had casually mentioned the picture is going on the insert of his new live album!

Richie Kotzen was the headliner, and he had something to prove to the crowd. Alumni to acts like Poison and Mr. Big, Kotzen hand delivered a homemade rock ‘n’ roll show with his pretty sky-blue Fender Stratocaster. His performance felt effortless, and his level of feel in his playing is exactly how he filled this room. His set included tons of different flavors infusing rock, soul, and jazz into his warm tone. His history dates back to when he was seven, inspired by Kiss to pick up a guitar. Since then hes put out more than 20 releases across singles, EPs, and full length albums mending rock, jazz, soul, and blues. His playing isnt flashy or tacky either; his sound has just been refined to something perfect to listen to on a mellow day. On stage, he kept things tight and focused – no crazy long speeches, no fillers, just playing.

This specific show among the rest of the tour was just another example of how timeless and innovative rock ‘n’ roll can get. Each band put in the work, and it clearly shows through the night. The venue pick could not have been more perfect, and the crowd could not have been more involved. Nights like this is what keeps the early-generation rock fans still coming and rocking out. It shows that even as music grows, the roots of rock ‘n’ roll are still alive and kicking. You don’t always need crazy-shaped guitars, low tunings, and insane vocal techniques to move a crowd.