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| John 5 @ the Guild Theatre (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
Attending a John 5 concert isn’t just a night out; it’s an odyssey into the very soul of modern guitar mastery. His performance at The Guild Theatre in Menlo Park, CA this past Friday night, was a breathtaking showcase of virtuosity and showmanship, the kind of experience that reaffirms his legendary status in the world of modern rock guitarists. Known for his recent roles with Mötley Crüe and Rob Zombie, and his various collaborations with artists as diverse as Avril Lavigne, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Garbage, Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, and Alice Cooper (to name a few!), John 5 brought his singular guitar prowess to the tiny Guild chapel, and turned it into a cathedral of sound -- and the lucky few of us in attendance were his worshipers.
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| John 5 @ the Guild Theatre (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
From the moment he stepped onto the stage, the energy was electric, as though the air itself bristled with anticipation. With just the phenomenal Alejandro Mercado on drums to accompany him, John 5 transformed the evening into a celebration of instrumental brilliance. Mercado’s drumming, dynamic and precise, provided the perfect foundation for John 5’s sonic artistry, allowing every note and rhythm to punch above their weight.
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| John 5 @ the Guild Theatre (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
What makes John 5 truly extraordinary is his unparalleled ability to coax a universe of emotion and texture from his guitar. His playing is a kaleidoscope—fluid, fiery, and fiercely inventive. The setlist was a rollercoaster of moods, from blistering speed and technical wizardry to moments of haunting beauty. Each song was not merely performed but sculpted, with John 5’s fingers racing across the fretboard in ways that defied logic, leaving the audience mesmerized.
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| John 5 @ the Guild Theatre (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
Highlights of the evening included:
- "Six Hundred and Sixty Six Pickers in Hell, CA": A thunderous opener, brimming with relentless riffs and ferocious intensity.
- "Que Pasa": A fiery blend of groove and precision that radiated raw energy.
- "Crank It - Living With Ghosts": Here, John 5 merged frenetic speed with spellbinding theatrics, donning a color-changing mouth guard that turned a spectacular performance into a full sensory experience.
- "Howdy": Equal parts playful and electrifying, it showcased his knack for combining technical prowess with showmanship with an ever advancing speed and tempo in the back half of the song.
- "LA Xpress": A punchy groove infused pop number that exemplified his versatility.
- "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (Queen cover): A jaw-dropping performance where he simultaneously played rhythm and bass lines, proving there’s virtually nothing he can’t do with a guitar in hand.
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| John 5 @ the Guild Theatre (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
John 5’s ability to reimagine classic tunes, such as Les Paul's 1951 "How High the Moon", further underscored his depth as a musician. John 5 closed the show with a seamless medley of Mötley Crüe hits—including personal favorites of mine “Shout at the Devil” and “Home Sweet Home”— which was both a nod to his recent run of dates with the Crüe and a dazzling display of his technical brilliance.
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| Turning Jane @ the Guild Theatre (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
Opening the night, Turning Jane warmed up the crowd with their surprisingly powerful performance. The lead singer’s voice, eerily reminiscent of Heart’s Anne Wilson, soared through the theater, especially during their jaw-dropping closing Led Zeppelin medley. With any opener, I'm generally cautiously optimistic, but Turning Jane was great and I'd highly recommend catching their show next time they play the Bay Area.
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| John 5 @ the Guild Theatre (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
The intimate setting of The Guild Theatre allowed every intricacy of John 5's performance to shine. The audience wasn’t just hearing the music; they were feeling it—each bend of the string, each harmonic squeal, resonating with raw, visceral power. And John 5’s stage presence was magnetic. His theatrical flair and playful interactions—whether flashing his signature grin or engaging with fans—made the concert feel personal and immersive. He wasn’t merely performing; he was inviting the audience into his world, a place where technical mastery and unbridled creativity coexist.
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| John 5 @ the Guild Theatre (Photo: Kevin Keating) |
In sum, John 5’s performance was nothing short of a masterclass in modern guitar. His artistry defies comparison, blending technical perfection with an emotional depth that few can achieve. For anyone who loves the guitar, witnessing John 5 live is an experience that lingers long after the final note has faded—a reminder of what true musical genius sounds like.
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