Concert Review: Treaty Oak Revival with The Huser Brothers Band at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, OR

So, something interesting happened while writing this review. I was about 90% finished. I was at the point where I was deciding which photos to add and waiting to see if the setlist would be posted online so I could include a few more details. To be honest, the article was pretty average. It was normal: the bands sounded great and they played their songs. Really, it was the type of review you’re going to find on pretty much any online publication.

All of those things are true—the band sounded great. However, as I was writing, something happened. I realized this was more than just a concert on a Saturday night. This truly was an experience. The Treaty Oak Revival experience, if you will.

So, I deleted my review, and I now present to you the story of Treaty Oak Revival in Portland, OR.

For me, when I’m covering a show, the coverage really starts days in advance. I’m a student when it comes to things like this. I like to research setlists, search for photos of the venue, and look for videos from previous nights to see the stage setup and lighting—all the things that are important to a photographer. This show was no different.

I got on Instagram as soon as I was approved to shoot this show and started looking at videos from the previous nights in Seattle and Spokane, WA. These searches probably changed my algorithm and, honestly, probably created this story. Watching those videos, the excitement started to build as I saw fans I had met at previous concerts absolutely having a blast. Saturday, May 2nd, it was finally my turn.

I arrived at Veterans Memorial Coliseum early. It had been a while since I’d been to a show here, and I wasn’t sure where the box office was. Normally, I already have my tickets in hand—this was the first time I had to pick them up here.

I’m not someone who goes to a lot of arena or stadium shows. As a fan, I love finding up-and-coming bands playing small, dimly lit, intimate venues—the kind of shows where you can talk to the band on stage and see the faces of every fan in the building. However, as a photographer, there really is something special about an arena show.

Maybe it was the fact that it was the first nice weather Oregon has had all year, or maybe it was just that it was a Saturday night, watching the crowd filter in. I really should have realized then how epic this night was going to be. Portland showed up and showed out. Ladies in their finest Western attire, fellas in pearl snap shirts shot gunning a few frosty beverages as they stood in line.

Had I been on my game, I would have started clicking photos right then—but alas, I was slacking, too busy mentally prepping and figuring out my game plan for capturing the show.

Breaking news: those plans flew out the window about two steps after I entered the building.

Finally, it was 7:00 PM and time to meet my Veterans Memorial contact, Kat, who checked me in and escorted me to the photo pit. As we walked through the venue, I realized this was my first time here since the remodel. The arena felt updated and modern. In the past, it always felt like walking into a giant cave. Now, it feels like a mini version of the Moda Center next door.

Arriving at the photo pit about 30 minutes before the first band played was a treat—not something that happens at every show. That extra time allowed me to introduce myself to security, which I always like to do. Not all heroes wear capes; these are the folks I rely on to protect me from random crowd surfers coming over the rail.

It also gave me time to shoot the crowd and share my Instagram so fans could find their photos—something that becomes important later. I heard incredible stories: fans who had driven five-plus hours for the show, and even a few people who recognized me from previous concerts. I’ll probably say this many more times, but this crowd was amazing.

Then it happened—the PA music faded, the stage sound took over, and the arena lights dimmed. It was time for the opening act: The Huser Brothers Band. Coming into the night, I didn’t know much about them, but after this set, I needed to know more.

Hailing from Waco, TX, the Huser Brothers are a relatively new band, with their first EP released in 2018. They’ve already shared the stage with powerhouses like Gary Allan, Koe Wetzel, and Parker McCollum, just to name a few. They were the perfect table-setters, blending classic country, rock ’n’ roll, and a hint of blues.

Lead singer Josh Huser has a fantastic voice—just enough twang and style to solidify their country sound. He walked the perfect line between chatting with the crowd and keeping the momentum of the set rolling. Younger brother Zach, on drums, was an absolute animal. If you ever see them live, watch the back of the stage.

While editing later, I couldn’t get over how incredible they looked in timeless black and white—just straight-up badass. Since I didn’t know their catalog going in, there weren’t specific songs I was hunting for, but by the time I got back to my car, “Tired of Runnin’” and their latest single “Little Mistake” had been added to nearly every Spotify playlist I own.

“Little Mistake” especially hit home—it made me smile and reflect on a younger chapter of my own life.

I shoulda never called your telephone so late after I had been drinkin’...Little mistake, little mistake, yeah.

Another standout moment was their tribute to Three Doors Down singer Brad Arnold, who tragically lost his battle with cancer this year. The rock and blues influence in this band runs deep. I wasn’t alone in being impressed—between sets, fans were gushing, and Instagram stories after the show were filled with Huser Brothers shoutouts.

Head to https://www.huserbrothers.com/ and find a show near you—you won’t be disappointed. Within three years, these guys will be headlining their own arena tours. They’re that good.

During intermission, I wandered the floor looking for interesting people to photograph. That’s when it really hit me how special this crowd was. Typically, a country show plays country between sets; punk shows play punk. This Portland crowd? They were here to party. Country radio hits rolled into Creed, Nelly, and everything in between—and the crowd sang every word like the artists were on stage.

I met incredible people: fans reminiscing about FairWell Festival, photographers talking gear, strangers who felt like lifelong friends. You could’ve told me the entire crowd carpooled together, and I would’ve believed it—well, except for the two ladies in the stands who decided to throw hands. But hey, is it really a country party without a little rowdiness?

Then the PA went silent again. The opening lines of “Port A” rang out, and Treaty Oak Revival exploded onto the stage. Portland lost its mind—and from that moment on, most of the night became a blur.

Treaty Oak Revival isn’t just another country-rock band. They’re leaders of what I’d call punk country. Energy on max. From the first note, it was time to rage.

Sam welcomed us into the ranks of the Degenerates—a badge I wear proudly. He spoke about their roots, the Crystal Ballroom, WheatStock Festival, and never forgetting where they came from.

By the time “Boomtown” hit, the place erupted—beer flying, bodies moving, chaos everywhere, like a 90s Warped Tour with cowboy boots.

Another standout moment for me was “Sunflower.” On the album, it never clicked. Live? It changed everything. Watching couples sway together, hearing fans talk about using it for their first dance—it just hit differently.

Sam’s openness about sobriety throughout the night resonated deeply with me. That vulnerability made “Ode to Bourbon” especially powerful—a song meant for those we’ve lost too soon.

The encore was something special. Instead of the usual “Leaving Hell,” Portland was treated to

“Crazy Eddie” by Reckless Kelly. I lost it. Reckless Kelly is one of my all-time favorites—and the reason I fell in love with Texas country music.

The story didn’t end when the house lights came up.

The next morning, while editing and sending photos, my Instagram feed was flooded with content from the show. Every fan had a story. Marriage proposals. Long drives. First concerts. Creators flown in last-minute. A fan base connected in a way you don’t see often.

That’s when I knew I had to tell this story.

Maybe it was Portland. Maybe it was Treaty Oak Revival. Maybe it was the weather. But something special happened that night. You don’t leave a TOR show the same. You leave sore, sweaty, bruised, soaked in beer—but buzzing.

To my fellow Degenerates: thank you. To the Veterans Memorial staff and security: thank you. To the Huser Brothers: thank you for becoming my newest obsession. And to Treaty Oak Revival—thank you for letting me be a part of this moment.

Check out https://treatyoakrevival.com/ and find a show near you.

Lastly, shoutout to the fellow photographers in the pit—@shotsbylawson, @3gmedia, @picswithpaige. Being surrounded by that level of talent just fuels the fire.

The Treaty Oak Revival Degenerates