Fans filled the Fox Performing Arts Center Oct 17 for a night of blazing guitars and theatrical rock as John 5 and Richie Kotzen co-headlined a powerhouse double bill, with Vern Daysel & the Burning Breeze opening the show. The night offered a mix of southern soul, technical mastery, and pure spectacle that kept the crowd locked in from start to finish.

Opening the evening, Vern Daysel & the Burning Breeze tore into a southern rock set built on thick blues riffs and grit. The South African-born frontman led the group through a mix of soulful originals and heavy jams, with tight musicianship and plenty of cowboy swagger. The crowd warmed quickly to their energy, thanks in part to their drummer’s driving rhythms and the interplay between the twin guitars and bass.

When John 5 took the stage, the room shifted from roots rock to something otherworldly. Best known as the former guitarist for Marilyn Manson, and later for his work with Rob Zombie and Mötley Crüe, John 5 brought his signature mix of technical precision and theatrical flair. Dressed in black leather and corpse-white makeup, he began the set behind a black Telecaster, moving seamlessly between blistering solos and eerie, cinematic melodies. Behind him, Alex Mercado powered through on drums with surgical intensity, while Richard Ramirez, who had been running tech throughout the night, joined toward the end to add deep, pulsing bass lines that drove the closing numbers.

John 5’s instrument changes were their own form of theater. He swapped guitars constantly, one filled with swirling liquid that caught the stage lights like something alive, another glowing with LEDs that pulsed in time with the music. Later, he switched to bass, then to banjo, turning the performance into a surreal, genre-bending showcase. Midway through the set, he removed his mask to reveal another, even more disturbing one beneath, earning a mix of laughs and cheers from the crowd. It was horror showmanship fused with virtuoso musicianship.

The setlist moved between thunderous metal, twangy country runs, and moments of almost delicate melody. It was a demonstration of range, personality, and raw joy in performance. Every note landed with precision, yet nothing about it felt calculated; it was simply John 5 being John 5.

Co-headliner Richie Kotzen closed out the evening with smooth, soulful vocals and intricate guitar work that balanced the night’s intensity with rich melody and groove. Together, the two guitarists built a night that celebrated musicianship, individuality, and the strange magic that happens when showmanship meets true skill.