BANDED

WHERE ARTISTS AND FANS BAND TOGETHER.

Dream Theater Brings Prog Perfection to Brady Music Center

Rebecca Potzner

Fans of all ages dawning their Dream Theater tees, made their way into downtown Cincinnati on March 19th for Dream Theater’s sold out show at Brady Music Center. 

Celebrating their 40th anniversary as a band, they treated each city to about 3 hours of pure Dream Theater. No openers. One intermission. Pure prog metal bliss. It was an unforgettable night of technical brilliance, emotional depth, and sheer musical power. From the start, the band showcased why they’re the undisputed titans of progressive metal. 

With the anniversary celebration came Mike Portnoy’s return to the band, a celebration in its own right. What a treat to witness the drum powerhouse that is Portnoy alongside John Petrucci’s flawless guitar work. Jordan Rudess brought pure magic to the mix on the keys, John Myung on the bass, and James LaBrie on vocals. 

I couldn’t help but notice throughout the show both Petrucci and Portnoy acknowledged the two younger men rocking out front row. Simple and genuine gestures like that can make fans for life and open the genre to a whole new generation.

This was my first time experiencing Dream Theater live and I hope it wasn’t my last. 

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PHOTOS: Stephen Wilson Jr. Is On Fire - Plays Sold Out Show in Cincinnati

Rebecca Potzner

Stephen Wilson Jr. brought his sold out tour to Bogart’s in Cincinnati on March 6th. Check out photos from the show below.

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PHOTOS: Baby Metal Sells Out The Andrew J Brady Music Center

Rebecca Potzner

Japanese kawaii metal band, BABY METAL, played a sold out Andrew J Brady Music Center in Cincinnati this past weekend. The venue was packed with fans who sang along and rocked out with the band with incredible enthusiasm. Check out shots from the show below and scope out tickets for upcoming tour dates here.

PHOTOS: Asking Alexandria + Memphis Mayfire play Cincinnati

Rebecca Potzner

Dirty Honey & The Band Feel Bring Real, Raw Rock N Roll to Cincinnati

Rebecca Potzner

If you’re craving some good ol’ rock ‘n’ roll, look no further than the Can’t Find The Brakes Tour by Dirty Honey with support from The Band Feel.

Both bands drip every ounce of what pure rock is all about. Sure, they’ve clearly got THE look…but DAMN, do they have the stage presence and sound. Soaring vocals, hearty rhythm, and guitar solos that will shoot through your blood stream straight to your heart.

The tour stopped in Cincinnati, playing the legendary Bogart’s and the energy was palpable. Fans traveled from all over including Sweden to catch the show.

Revving up the crowd, The Band Feel kicked things off with their own take on the iconic 70’s sound. The 4-piece from St. Louis gave us a taste of their EP dropping on October 25th.

Closing out the night, Dirty Honey got down and dirty bringing their discography to life. While each member exudes their own energy, they work SO well together on stage. It was the perfect mix of jamming, crowd interaction, and just a damn good time.

Don’t miss the Can’t Find the Brakes Tour! Check out the tour dates and get your tickets here.

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Pitbull Brings the Party to Cincinnati

Rebecca Potzner

If anyone knows how to throw a party, it’s Pitbull.

The international superstar brought his Party After Dark tour to Cincinnati’s Riverbend for a sold out show to close out their Summer season. With his music spanning a solid decade, it was no surprise that the crowd was comprised of a wide age range and quite a few bald caps.

T-Pain came out strong, dropping his bangers throughout the years and showing off his dance moves.

The lights went dark and it was time for Mr. Worldwide to take the stage! Bright Lights, big screens with neon graphics, and pyro took over along with a full band.

It was exciting to see Pitbull backed by a full band who exuded just as much energy as he did. The saxophonist even came out to the edge of the stage and worked the crowd.

Mr. Worldwide stepped onto the stage with a giant boom and was accompanied by 6 talented and incredibly beautiful dancers. The whole scene felt like a Miami/Vegas party! The energy was high as everyone sang and danced along with the,. Pitbull and the dancers worked the stage and kept the vibes high.

Pitbull was incredibly engaging with the crowd. Throughout the night, he’d invite the crowd to sing along with him (even if we were already doing so). He even took time to chat about the importance of music and coming together as people.

“Music reminds us that we Bleed the same blood, breather the same air. “

With a handful of collaborations, it only felt right for T-Pain to come back out to perform with Pitbull. Dressed in red and yellow suits, the two entertainers jumped around the stage performing ‘Hey Baby (Drop It to the Floor)’. The place was JUMPIN’!

As the night went on, Pitbull really showed us his true colors. He isn’t just a party guy, he also cares about his community. He shared with us a story about a teacher that changed his life and how he went on to open up a school in Miami. He went on to thank the crowd for showing up and supporting him so he can continue to support the school and help open up more schools in other communities.

A grateful king, Pitbull also took time to thank his dancers, his band, DJ, and even his production team. A high energy party is always a good time but a grateful host is truly the cherry on top.

Check out future Pitbull dates here.

Remember The Name! The Struts Rock the Andrew J Brady Stage with Support from Barns Courtney

Rebecca Potzner

The true test of a good band, at least in my opinion, is how well they can put on a live show. And DAMN, do The Struts know how to put on a show. From sound to movement to overall energy, these 4 guys have GOT IT.

With the release of their album Pretty Vicious late last year, The Struts have hit the road touring and they’ve brought a long another artist who passes the test with flying colors - Barns Courtney. Both artists captivated the audience at Andrew J. Brady in Cincinnati on July 28th. Check out photos from the show below and when you find yourself thinking, “could’ve been me…,” go buy yourself a ticket to the nearest show on this tour. You won’t regret it.

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Satch-Vai Tour Brings New Meaning To Incendiary Guitar Playing

Rebecca Potzner

Guitar virtuosos Joe Satriani and Steve Vai have embarked on a joint tour. The evening was stacked with two solo sets to showcase their individual talents following a collab set to close out the night.

It truly was an honor to see Satriani and Vai do what they do best. Check out photos from the night below and peep the tour dates to find a stop near you.

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MGK & Trippie Red Play Free Show In Columbus To Celebrate The Drop of genre: sadboy

Rebecca Potzner

Ohio boys, MGK and Trippie Redd dropped a collaboration album, genre:sadboy, at the end of March and celebrated with a free show for their fans. On April 4th, fans lined up around the block for the show at The Bluestone in Columbus, Ohio. The energy was incredible as the two performed songs from the new album and incorporated some of their solo work as well.

Check out photos from the show below and listen to genre:sadboy streaming everywhere now.

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Mitch Rowland Hometown Show Brings Debut Album to Life

Rebecca Potzner

There’s always something special about a hometown show. Artists spend years going to shows growing up, one day dreaming of making it on the stage. After years of seeing shows at Newport Music Hall, Mitch Rowland got to take that exact stage on March 19th with his band, performing HIS debut album. Truly a dream come true.

Harris Harper opened up the show with a soft and harmonious set. Harris on the acoustic guitar and her brother, CJ Harper, on the keyboard, the two truly captivated the audience.

Once it was time for Mitch to take the stage, the crowd started buzzing with anticipation. There were hoots and hollers…and even a few barks (IYKYK). Mitch was joined by a full band including his wife, Sarah Jones, on the drums.

Mitch and the band played his debut album Come June in it’s entirety, bringing it to life with a full and dynamic sound. Rowland’s vocals were rich and authentic while the band’s energy was in it as though they had written the music themselves.

Throughout the show, Rowland shared his gratitude for the support from fans and the full circle moment of playing back in Columbus, Ohio. More than halfway through the set, Rowland expressed that neearing the end was always hard because he didn’t want the show to end but…he does only have one album.

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