Concert Review: Richie Kotzen & John 5 at Piere’s in Ft. Wayne, IN

On November 21st, 2025, the Piere's Entertainment Center in Fort Wayne hosted a triple bill of rock music, featuring performances by Band Inc., John 5, and Richie Kotzen.

The evening commenced with a captivating set by Band Inc., a surprise addition to the lineup that promptly seized the audience's attention with their exceptional musical proficiency. Led by lead vocalist/bassist Giuliana Lucia Amaral, the quartet delivered a dynamic performance, pounding out track after track. Notably, their rendition of a Led Zeppelin cover showcased the band's remarkable talent. Massachusetts-based heavy rock band, Band Inc. has opened for notable acts such as Ace Frehley and The Dave Matthews Band, demonstrating their potential to become a headlining act in the near future.

The highly regarded guitarist John 5 known for his work with various prominent artists, including Rob Zombie, Marilyn Manson, and Currently Motley Crue took to the stage proving that no matter what season of the year it is, it is always a chilling monster, Halloween vibe when he is on stage. John armed with an arsenal of many guitars; he shifted through showcasing each one melodically as he powdered through his set. As oversized towering low-lit pumpkins embraced the stage ghost made several appearances as John 5 worked through multiple masks adding to the monster, Halloween feel. John includes a Motley Crue montage towards the end of his show that is nothing short of epic.

With a back catalogue of more than 20 albums, Richie Kotzen headlined the evening in support of his latest LP release, Nomad. I truly enjoyed Richie's set as I have not seen him perform live previously. His show synchronized incredibly well while jamming and shredding with his bandmates while they delivered a pulsating live performance. From start to finish the show was non-stop all guitar from two of the greatest to ever play.