SEVENDUST and Theory of a Deadman Concert Review and Photos
SEVENDUST and Theory of a Deadman – Riverside Municipal Auditorium – September 20, 2026
When the house music cut out and the lights went dark in the 1400 capacity Riverside Municipal Auditorium on Sunday, the electricity in the air was tangible. Having just seen a great set from Theory of a Deadman, people were jammed up against the barricade awaiting the formidable SEVENDUST. Instead, they heard what I believed to be an AI funk track blasting through the PA system with lyrics that stated, “SEVENDUST has arrived…about to decimate your earholes. With big hits formulated from the 90’s to present day. You’ve got SEVENDUST in the dressing room getting ready to do it right. So, if you’re here in Riverside tonight, it’s gonna be the night…SEVENDUST is here!”
SEVENDUST
I had applied to photograph this show a month ago, just before learning I’d landed a job shooting a movie. Getting photo/press approval is never guaranteed, and I assumed that I would be turned down, which after securing the new full-time job, was somewhat of a relief, despite SEVENDUST being a bucket list band for me. The concert was 100 miles away from my house on a Sunday night, and my alarm would go off at 4:15am the following morning to head off to work...and then I got the email on Friday that I’d been approved. I was beyond excited at the prospect, and tried to keep my reservations about sleep pushed to the back of my brain – nobody said rock & roll was easy.
Drummer Morgan Rose recently revealed that the band almost retired two years ago, but instead decided to push harder than they ever had, and the current The Dead/Seven Tour is the culmination of that. It’s hard to know what might be going on within a band, or with members’ personal lives, but this night proved beyond a doubt that SEVENDUST were exactly where they were supposed to be, and doing it at the highest level of their 32-year (and counting) career. These guys are the real deal, and Riverside was treated to a masterclass in showmanship, high-decibel aggressive music, and sheer badassery.
The crowd surfers materialized during the first song and didn’t slow down throughout the set. Vocalist Lajon Witherspoon attempted to fist-bump each and every one, and tried to pull the first surfer up onto the stage, before security shut it down over his animated protests. As with the crowd surfers, the mosh pit was active and spinning all night long, but then it’s hard to image “Face to Face” blasting away and the floor not going wild.
Lajon is as cool a frontman as there is, but I also have a fascination with drummers, and you’d be hard pressed to find one as interesting to watch as Morgan Rose. From his vocals and hand gestures while playing, to his unique technique and choices that seem perfect yet incomprehensible, he is a force of nature, and impossible to take your eyes off. His partner in crime in all things low-end and rhythmic is Vinnie Hornsby on bass, who spent much of the night cruising from stage left to stage right and pointing out to fans in the crowd. John Connolly and Clint Lowery provided the powerful and dizzying dual guitar attack that SEVENDUST is known for.
Some nights are perfect, and this was one of them. SEVENDUST is a great band, and seeing them live put it all into perspective – their setlist had all of the songs you know and love, and hearing them performed live truly made the music come alive.
SEVENDUST are:
- Lajon Witherspoon – Vocals
- Morgan Rose – Drums
- Vinnie Hornsby – Bass
- John Connolly – Guitar
- Clint Lowery – Guitar
Setlist:
1) One
2) Denial
3) Is This the Real You
4) Crucified
5) Praise
6) Waffle
7) Enemy
8) Angel's Son
9) Black
10) Rumble Fish
11) Face to Face
Theory of a Deadman
Theory of a Deadman hung out in the dark on stage left waiting to go on as Neil Diamond’s “Sweet Caroline” played in its entirety, and the audience went crazy singing the all the words note for note. People were already excited with the buildup to the show, and this put them over the edge - all before the band even took the stage.
Canadian band Theory of a Deadman have been on the scene for over 25 years, and are one of the most fun rock acts on the road. They’ve had huge radio hits like “Bad Girlfriend”, “Lowlife”, and “Rx (Medicate)”, and those songs are favorites live, but their set is so much more. From vocalist Tyler Connolly throwing shirts out into the audience, to him pacing the stage taking Polaroids of fellow band members in action, before tossing the developed photos into the crowd, to crowd sing-alongs to cover songs (GNR’s “Paradise City”, Ozzy’s “Crazy Train”, Blur’s “Song 2”), this set had a little of everything – mostly a good time.
It was during the first of two cover song sing-along medleys that Tyler started banging out the notes to pop artist Vanessa Carlton’s “A Thousand Miles” on a keyboard. He stopped playing long enough to say, “Riverside’s very own Vanessa Carlton…let’s bring her out!”, only to (jokingly) realize that she not only wasn’t from Riverside, but also wasn’t going to make a surprise appearance. Joey Dandeneau masterfully manned the drum kit, and hit them with unbelievable force, while Dave Brenner provided the screaming guitars and Dean Back brought the low-end tones to life.
The great songs and hugely entertaining set were accompanied by amazing production value. The wall of light directly behind the drum kit was like a fifth member of the band, interacting with the performers and bathing them in pulsing illumination. Huge kudos to lighting director Kyle Dean for creating such a unique visual spectacle.
Song after song rang out and the audience sang along with every single one. This band’s music can’t be put in a box, with different songs touching various genres stylistically. While this approach might not work for all bands, its inclusivity actually brought more people to the party, and it is appealing even if you don’t know the songs or band – it’s timeless music that you can easily dance or tap your foot to, while others nearby might use the pulsing beat to push their neighbor in the pit to. Theory of a Deadman was great live, and their set made for a genuinely fun night out.
Theory of a Deadman is:
- Tyler Connolly – Vocals/Guitar
- Dave Brenner – Guitar
- Dean Back – Bass
- Joey Dandeneau – Drums
Setlist:
1) Barricade
2) Ambulance
3) Blow
4) Winnebago (Lay Low)
5) Bitch Came Back
6) Santa Monica
7) Not Meant to Be
8) Wicked Game
9) Don't Stop Believin' / A Thousand Miles / Jump / (snippets)
10) Lowlife
11) Hate My Life
12) Rx (Medicate)
13) Paradise City / Crazy Train / Song 2 / (snippets)
14) Bad Girlfriend
Brooks Robinson is an LA-based concert photographer, and 30+ year freelance camera operator for film, television, and music videos. He has photographed some of the largest film/TV projects in history, and hundreds of music videos in MTV's heyday.
