John 5 at Arcada Theatre in St. Charles: A Night of Virtuosity, Legacy & Leather

Nov 24, 2025 admin_bitlc Features, Music News, Reviews 0

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By James Currie

John 5’s annual pilgrimage to the Chicago area has become something of a tradition, an unspoken pact between the guitar virtuoso and the Midwest fans who have watched him evolve from one of rock’s most sought-after hired guns into a solo artist with a distinctive, ferocious identity. His appearance at the historic Arcada Theatre in St. Charles Saturday night wasn’t just another stop on the tour, it was a full-throttle celebration of the many chapters of his career and a reminder of why he remains one of the most captivating guitarists working today. And also his latest album release, ‘Ghost’.

This tour pairs him with fellow shred legend Richie Kotzen, a matchup that feels both obvious and inspired: two guitarists who cut their teeth in the trenches of big-league guitar rock, yet carved their own paths through relentless creativity. Though Kotzen didn’t join John 5 onstage at the Arcada, his presence on the tour added weight to the night, an unspoken challenge that John 5 rose to effortlessly.

It’s easy to forget how long Chicago audiences have been part of John 5’s narrative. From his days bending glam-metal into new shapes with David Lee Roth, to the shock-theater insanity of Marilyn Manson, to the industrial hard rock grit of Rob Zombie and finally the stadium swagger of Mötley Crüe, each era has left fingerprints on his playing. Those influences surfaced throughout the performance not in imitation, but as part of the DNA of his style. Something he’s done since picking up the six-string as a youth.

He still pays tribute to the artists who shaped him and this show ended with an extended, crowd-erupting Mötley Crüe medley. It wasn’t a cover thrown in for nostalgia; it was reverence, muscle-memory, and joy all braided together. And the Arcada crowd, shoulder-to-shoulder in a true full house, roared in appreciation like it was a stadium show.

John 5 walked onstage in his now, trademark black leather motorcycle jacket and patchwork leather pants, an outfit that has become just as synonymous with him these days as his Telecasters. But true to form, he performed with no shoes, only socks, giving the whole night the intimate, quirky vibe of a mad scientist at work in his laboratory.

Few guitarists treat their instrument collection like characters in the show but John 5 is one of them. Throughout the night he cycled through an arsenal of guitars, sparkling Teles, retro shaped six strings, custom oddities and even pulled out a banjo and mandolin (that have become synonymous with his live shows Hee-Haw moment), both of which he shredded with the same ferocity as his main electrics. It was less a display of versatility and more an affirmation: strings are strings, and he’s mastered them all.

This set leaned heavily into his solo career, reminding us why his fans and fellow musicians revere his personal work even more than his high-profile band day gigs. With material pulled from both his earliest albums and from John 5 & The Creatures, the performance felt like a curated journey through his evolving artistry.

The setlist included fan favorites and deep cuts alike, including:

• “Season of the Witch” – 2017’s ‘Season of the Witch’ with the Creatures
• “Strung Out” – a new track off his latest album, ‘Ghost’
• “Crank It – Living With Ghosts” – another Creatures track off 2019’s ‘Invasion’
• A dazzling cover of Morgan Lewis’ “How High the Moon”
• “Que Pasa” – sans Dave Mustaine, off 2012’s ‘Sinner’
• “Moon Glow” – also off the new album, ‘Ghost’

Every piece was delivered with pinpoint precision, yet never felt clinical. His ability to weave melody through technical firepower remains unmatched. I liken him to the professor of guitar like Neil Peart is to drums.

Longtime fans noticed the shift in production. Gone were the inflatable monsters and the Halloween-store chaos of his early solo tours. The massive banks of horror-movie TVs? Also gone.
Today’s John 5 stage show is stripped back, but not stripped down. He still wears a couple mask randomly throughout the show including Grandpa Sawyer from the original Texas Chainsaw Massacre movie, a woman’s face and his own grimace.

A couple glowing pumpkins lined the front of the stage, a playful nod to his horror-themed aesthetic. And as he said during the show, “I love Halloween. Halloween should be all the time.” Behind him, a massive towering video screen ran a curated loop of Texas Chainsaw Massacre clips, pacing the length of the entire set and ending precisely as the show did. It was eerie, stylish, and focused—much like the performance itself.

Even his band setup has evolved. What was once the muscular trio with standout bassist Ian Ross has become a leaner, more distilled configuration with just a drummer and backing tracks. At first glance it seems minimal, but it only further spotlights the main attraction: the guitar. That’s not to say he didn’t have a bassist, as his longtime friend, guitar tech, road manager Richard Ramirez and yes, that’s his real name. Ramirez came out for the Crue jam at the end.

Midway through the show, John 5 launched into a comedy-tinged skit, summoning his road manager Ramirez, to the stage for a moment of lighthearted banter and showmanship. As true John 5 fans know his love of all things Halloween, Ramirez came out caring a classic plastic pumpkin bucket full of little trick r treats to pass out to the crowd with John soloed. It broke the intensity just long enough to re-energize the crowd and made the performance feel personal, like a peek behind the curtain of life on the road.

For a guitarist whose skills often surpass the original players in the bands he’s joined, John 5 remains remarkably humble. He never overshadows, never belittles, and never rewrites history. Instead, he pays tribute, lifts up the music, and honors the institutions that gave him the platform to grow.

By the end of the night, as the Arcada Theatre shook with applause, John 5’s gratitude poured out as sincerely as his playing. He thanked the crowd repeatedly, soaking in the energy that he so clearly thrives on. The response was thunderous, heartfelt, and unrelenting.

Chicago has watched this man become one of the greatest living guitarists, not just for his ability, but for his dedication, his humility and his unwavering love of live performance. In St. Charles, on this chilly November night, John 5 didn’t just play a show, he shared the story of his life with six strings, a wall of sound, and comfy socks on his feet.

For more on John 5, click here

For photos from the show, click here

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• Arcada Theatre, concert review, Illinois, john 5, live, marilyn manson, Motley Crue, rob zombie, Tour 2025

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